UN DRUG CONTROL OFFICE HELPS AFGHANISTAN DEVELOP ANTI-NARCOTICS MEASURES
VIENNA, 11 July (UN Information Service) -- The United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP) is helping Afghanistan to break a decade-long dependence on opium-poppy cultivation.� In close coordination with the country's Transitional Government and with the overall United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the ODCCP is implementing a broad range of projects aimed at strengthening Afghanistan's drug-control and crime-prevention capacity.� A progress report on 10 of the projects was presented at a meeting in Geneva today.
"The United Nations, and the international community in general, have been very generous.� However, ultimately, Afghan society needs to build its own institutions in order to beat the evil of drugs, crime and terror", Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the ODCCP, said.� At today's meeting of the Afghanistan Support Group in Geneva -- attended by Lakhdar Brahimi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General; Ashraf Ghani, Minister of Finance of Afghanistan; and donor countries -- Mr. Costa presented a progress report on actions undertaken so far, and future initiatives in addressing the drug problem in Afghanistan.� In 1999, the country was the source of 70 per cent of global production of opiates, equivalent to over 450 tonnes of heroin.� This year's production could be as high as 200-250 tonnes.
In Afghanistan, the Drug Control Programme is engaged in a wide spectrum of anti-drug activities.� These include monitoring of illegal crops, with ODCCP's Opium Poppy Survey being the world's most reliable estimate of the extent of narcotics cultivation in Afghanistan.� The report also highlights projects to help the Government establish a judicial framework consistent with international law and to set up effective drug-control and law-enforcement agencies.� Growing drug abuse in Afghanistan is emerging as a new problem:� for this reason, projects for demand reduction and narcotics prevention have been developed.
"Most importantly, farmers need to be helped to break the dependency on illegal crops.� Therefore, the United Nations has adopted a long-term approach aimed at offering Afghan farmers sustainable agricultural alternatives to drug cultivation", Mr. Costa said.
The ODCCP also works with other international partners, assisting them to include the drug-control element in their reconstruction and development projects.� Similar initiatives have been undertaken in Iran, Pakistan and Central Asian countries.
"Afghanistan’s drug problem affects the entire region.� We are working with all of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries, to develop joint measures", Mr. Costa said.
The ODCCP reopened its Kabul office in February.� Its staff includes programme officers and specialists running a broad range of projects.� In addition, about 100 people are engaged in monitoring opium-poppy cultivation.
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