COLOMBIAN COCA CULTIVATION FALLS BY 30 PER CENT

(Reissued as received.)

VIENNA, 17 March (UN Information Service) -- The national survey conducted by the Government of Colombia and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reported 102,000 hectares of coca under cultivation as of 31 December 2002.  This represents a significant 30 per cent reduction compared to 2001, when the surface was 144,807 hectares.

ILLICIT DRUG ECONOMY HINDERS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SAYS INTERNATIONAL

NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD IN ANNUAL REPORT

(Delayed due to embargo.)

UN STUDY EXPOSES ORIGINS, DIMENSIONS AND IMPACT OF AFGHANISTAN OPIUM ECONOMY,

POINTS TO ALTERNATIVE

INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD SESSION TO FOCUS

ON DRUGS, CRIME AND VIOLENCE

(Reissued as received.)

VIENNA, 31 January (UN Information Service) -- The impact of drugs, crime and violence on individuals, families and neighbourhoods will be the focus of attention for the members of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) as they meet for their five-day session here from 3 February.

                                                            SOC/NAR/849*

KABUL MEETING DISCUSSES COUNTER-NARCOTIC STRATEGY

UN DRUG CONTROL OFFICE HELPS AFGHANISTAN DEVELOP ANTI-NARCOTICS MEASURES

AFGHANISTAN, NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES JOIN COUNTER-NARCOTIC FIGHT

GOOD GOVERNANCE AMONG TOP PRIORITIES FOR UN DRUG CONTROL

AND CRIME PREVENTION OFFICE

New Executive Director Sets Out Priorities on First Day in Vienna Post

(Reissued as received.)

TOKYO INTER-PARLIAMENTARY DRUG CONTROL CONFERENCE FOCUSES

ON SYNTHETIC STIMULANTS, AFGHAN DRUG PROBLEM

(Reissued as received.)