Narcotics
UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE VIENNA (UNIS)
For information only - not an official document
Vienna, 9 February 2004
The United Nations Information Service Vienna invites you to a
Press Briefing
International Narcotics Control Board (INCB):
Drug Control in Afghanistan
on
Thursday, 12 February 2004, at 12:00 noon
at the
Vienna International Centre (VIC)
Press Briefing Room C03
With the growing illicit cultivation, manufacturing and trafficking in
opiates, the drug situation in Afghanistan continues to be very serious.
The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) urges the international
community to fully support Afghan authorities in addressing the drug
control situation in the country.
Speakers include:
Dr. Philip O. Emafo
President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)
Dr. Zalmay Rassoul
National Security Adviser, Afghanistan
* * *
For further information about the press briefing contact:
Ms. Sasa Gorisek, Associate Information Officer, UNIS
Tel.: +43-1-26060-3348
Email: sasa.gorisek@unvienna.org
* * *
Please present this invitation along with a valid identification
document
upon entrance to the Vienna International Centre (VIC)
United Nations Information Service Vienna (UNIS)
P.O.Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Tel.: (+43-1) 26060 4666, FAX: (+43-1) 26060 5899
Email: UNIS@unvienna.org
United Nations Correspondents Association Vienna (UNCAV) leitet nachstehende
Information von UNIS (UN Information Service Vienna) an seine Mitglieder
weiter:
UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE VIENNA (UNIS)
For information only - not an official document
UNIS/NAR/773
14 March 2003
SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPEAN STATES MEET TO COORDINATE COUNTER-NARCOTICS
ACTIVITIES
VIENNA, 14 March (UNIS) - Yesterday the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC) hosted the 2nd Steering Committee Meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria,
for its ongoing regional project, "Strengthening of Capacities for the
Collection and Analysis of Criminal Intelligence in South-Eastern Europe."
The Heads of Criminal Police Departments and criminal intelligence experts
from seven nearby countries attended the meeting: namely Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovenia. UNODC representatives from
its headquarters in Vienna, Austria, as well as from UNODC's Regional Field
Operations Unit, chaired the meeting, which also involved the participation
of members from the current Greek EU Presidency and Mini Dublin Group.
The $2.2 million project that is funded by the British Government and the
Principality of Liechtenstein was launched in October 2001. It is to assist
Ministries of the Interior in the region to utilise modern
intelligence-based policing methods to efficiently and effectively target
key criminal organisations in order to disrupt their operations.
The latest Opium Poppy Survey, published by UNODC in October 2002,
indicates a high level of opium cultivation in Afghanistan, which might
result in increased trafficking of heroin in the Balkan Region. UNODC is
running a range of activities in Afghanistan and Central Asia aimed at
strengthening the capacity of countries in the region to monitor and
interdict drug trafficking. South-Eastern Europe by virtue of its
geographical position remains pivotal to UNODC's strategy.
UNODC believes the success of its activities in South-Eastern Europe lies
in timely identification and targeted development of projects in key areas
of both supply and demand reduction. Coupled with effective field-based
implementation, coordination and partnerships with donors, UNODC stands
ready to spearhead technical assistance to support the fight against drugs
and organised crime in the Balkans.
* *** *
United Nations Information Service Vienna (UNIS)
P.O.Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Tel.: (+43-1) 26060 4666, FAX: (+43-1) 26060 5899
Email: UNIS@unvienna.org
Visit our homepage: www.unis.unvienna.org
United Nations Correspondents Association Vienna (UNCAV) leitet nachstehende
Information von UNIS (UN Information Service Vienna) an seine Mitglieder
weiter:
For information only - not an official document
Background Release
UNIS/NAR/772
26 February 2003
INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD IN ANNUAL REPORT:
ILLICIT DRUG ECONOMY HINDERS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
VIENNA, 25 February (UN Information Service) -- The overwhelming share of
the profits made from illicit drug trafficking does not occur in countries
where illicit drug crops are cultivated, but in countries where finished
products are illegally sold and abused. This is the key message of the
International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) annual report released here
today. This is the first time that the Vienna-based independent expert
body, which reviews the global drug situation annually, has focused its
attention on the impact of illicit drug cultivation, trade and abuse on
overall economic development.
The INCB categorically dispels the myth that drug trafficking may
constitute a route to prosperity by stressing that illicit drug production
prevents economic growth and does not lead to sustainable development in
the long-term. According to the report, the farmers growing the illicit
crops do not make the profits: in fact, only one per cent of the money
ultimately spent by drug abusers is earned as farm income in developing
countries. The remaining 99 per cent is earned at various other points
along the drug trafficking chain.
The report also notes the destabilizing effect of illicit drug production
on the state, economy and civil society, which is damaging long-term
economic development. Therefore, the Board concludes that national
long-term economic development is not possible without an effective drug
control system.
Afghanistan: need for comprehensive and coherent strategy
The Board continues to focus considerable attention on the drug cultivation
and drug trafficking situation in Afghanistan. As regards the link between
economic development and drug trafficking, the INCB is using the example of
Afghanistan to show how the illicit drug trade can destabilize a country.
As the Board points out, massive increases in opium production in the early
1990s helped fuel civil wars, and evidence suggests economic growth
declined and living standards fell.
In reviewing the most recent drug related developments in the country, the
Board stresses that Afghanistan has to develop a comprehensive and coherent
national drug control strategy to include all drugs illicitly cultivated,
produced and trafficked. Sustainable and peaceful development in
Afghanistan will not be possible without addressing the drug problem in its
totality, according to the INCB.
Recognizing the efforts of the current Government, the Board calls for
comprehensive and urgent support and cooperation from the international
community as well as from countries in the region. The Board also stresses
that eradication of illicit opium poppy can only be achieved if relevant
laws are fully respected and implemented, while sustainable alternative
livelihoods are provided for farmers.
Morphine: overproduction with under supply
The danger that the worldwide legal market in opiates for pain relief may
get out of control with supply currently exceeding demand is highlighted by
the INCB. The Board warns that cultivation and production levels are far in
excess of medical consumption and an increased risk exists that stocks
could be diverted to the illegal drugs market. The INCB adds that despite
the worldwide surplus of licit opiates for pain relief, these opiates are
often not available in many developing countries. Medical consumption of
morphine has increased in the developed world and ten countries account for
80 per cent of morphine consumed worldwide.
Synthetic drugs: chemical control
Synthetic drugs like Ecstasy could become the main future illicit drugs
according to the Board. These drugs are very difficult to control because
they can be made cheaply and easily anywhere in the world as long as drug
traffickers can obtain the necessary chemicals. The INCB has, therefore,
launched a major initiative to stop the chemicals needed to make synthetic
drugs, such as Ecstasy, from reaching the clandestine laboratories where
they are made. Project Prism aims to cut off the supply of chemical
precursors and to identify and arrest the traffickers. Similar
international tracking programmes coordinated by the Board have already
focused on the international control of the precursors used in the
clandestine manufacture of heroin and cocaine.
Regional highlights
Illicit cannabis cultivation continues to be widespread in Africa
especially in Morocco. African law enforcement authorities expressed
concern that trends in Europe and North America towards liberalizing or
even legalizing non-medical use of cannabis will undermine the efforts of
African countries to counter illicit cannabis cultivation, trafficking and
abuse.
Reduced availability of cocaine and heroin in North America has pushed up
prices. Drug seizures at airports and border crossings in Canada and the
United States have decreased possibly because drug traffickers feared
detection due to increased border controls following the terrorist attacks
in the United States on 11 September 2001.
In South America the drug problem is increasingly being linked to political
and national security issues. Guerrilla and paramilitary groups in Colombia
control drug trafficking and laboratories and are exchanging illicit drugs
for firearms.
More than 70 per cent of worldwide seizures of amphetamines took place in
countries in East and South-East Asia mainly China and Thailand.
China has become the main destination and transit area for heroin
consignments and there have been significant increases in heroin seizures
in China during the last five years.
The Board wants to see more international cooperation between law
enforcement authorities to tackle global large-scale trafficking in Ecstasy
which continues to be illicitly manufactured in Europe for the global
market.
The Russian Federation is being used as an alternative trafficking route
for illicit drugs from Asia into Europe. In 2001 law enforcement agencies
confiscated more than 75 tons of narcotic drugs, including 3.5 tons of
heroin.
The Board is concerned about the worldwide repercussions of the United
Kingdom's decision to reclassify cannabis requiring less severe controls
but welcomes the United Kingdom's announcement that it does not intend to
legalize or regulate the non-medical use of any internationally controlled
drugs, which would be in violation of the international drug control
treaties.
For further information please contact:
INCB
Tel: 00-43-1-26060-4163
Web address: www.incb.org
Or
UNIS
Tel: 00-43-1-26060-4666
Web address: www.unis.unvienna.org
(The Report and Press Kit will be available as of 26 February 00.01 GMT)
* *** *
United Nations Information Service Vienna (UNIS)
P.O.Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Tel.: (+43-1) 26060 4666, FAX: (+43-1) 26060 5899
Email: UNIS@unvienna.org
Visit our homepage: www.unis.unvienna.org
=
UNCAV leitet an seine Mitglieder nachstehende Meldung des UN Information
Service Vienna (UNIS) weiter:
Von: Johannes HEIHSENBERGER [mailto:Johannes.Heihsenberger@unvienna.org]
UNIS/NAR/770
31 January 2003
INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD SESSION
TO FOCUS ON DRUGS, CRIME AND VIOLENCE
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.
Studying the drug-crime-violence nexus and looking at its micro-level
impact is going to be the main focus of the Board's 2003 Annual Report. The
INCB monitors the world-wide drug abuse and trafficking situation and
issues an annual survey on its findings. Each annual report also devotes
special attention to a specific drug related issue in its lead, first
chapter. The reports of the Board are made public at the beginning of each
year, usually in late February.
The INCB chose the "drug-crime-violence" issue at its previous session
in November. During the current, the 76th session, the Board is expected to
outline the topic in detail to allow for the compilation of the chapter in
a draft form by its next session in May.
While the Board members are already planning the content of their 2003
report due in a year's time, the INCB will also review the final
preparations for the publication of its 2002 report. This latest report
will be presented to the press here in Vienna on 25 February. The 2002
Annual Report, apart from giving an overview of the world-wide drug
situation, looks in more detail at the economic dynamics of drug abuse and
drug trafficking.
At its current session the Board will also review a number of other drug
abuse and trafficking related issues and developments. It will discuss the
results of an expert group meeting that looked at how to harmonise the
defined daily doses (DDD) for narcotic drugs as currently various
quantities are used by different international organisations and entities.
The Board will also review the findings of a study that looks at the
various existing penalties in different countries for drug trafficking.
Another study prepared for the Board's current session focuses on the
topic of harm reduction, its definition and interpretation with regard to
the existing international drug control conventions. The issue of harm
reduction has been on the agenda of the Board since 1993.
The Board will also examine progress made and problems faced by
government in following international drug control treaties during its most
recent missions. Since its last session the Board has sent missions to
Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Slovakia.
The Vienna-based Board is a quasi-judicial monitoring body for the
implementation of the United Nations international drug control
conventions. It was established in 1968 in accordance with the 1961 Single
Convention on Narcotic Drugs. INCB is independent of governments as well as
of the United Nations. Its 13 members are elected by the Economic and
Social Council and serve in their personal capacity, not as government
representatives. Its sessions are held in private.
The current members of the Board are: Edouard Armenakovich Babayan
(Russian Federation); Madan Mohan Bhatnagar (India); Elisaldo Luiz de
Araújo Carlini (Brazil); Rosa Maria del Castillo (Peru); Philip O. Emafo
(Nigeria); Jacques Franquet (France); Hamid Ghodse (Iran); Nüzhet Kandemir
(Turkey); Robert Lousberg (Netherlands); Maria Elena Medina-Mora (Mexico);
Alfredo Pemjean (Chile); Rainer Wolfgang Schmid (Austria); and Jiwang Zheng
(China). The Presidency of the Board is currently held by Philip O. Emafo.
