Vienna Chapter
Madame Chairperson,
On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, allow me at the outset to
express our heartfelt congratulations on your election as well as that of
the members of the Bureau and to assure you our full support for the
successful conclusion of our work.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Officer in
Charge of the Office of the Executive Director for his introductory
statement. On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I should also like to
congratulate Mr. Antonio Maria Costa on his appointment as the new
Director-General of UNOV and Executive Director of ODCCP and to convey to
him the Group's support in his assignment.
While appreciating the preparations made for this session by the
Secretariat, the Group would like to stress the importance of making
documents available in a timely manner.
Madame Chairperson,
Regarding the Thematic Debate on "Alternative Development and
the Eradication of Illicit Crops", we hope that this will lead to a
better understanding of the difficulties in implementing the sustainable
alternative development strategy, and come up with feasible
recommendations on how the programmes can better assist concerned
developing countries. In this context, the Group recognizes the relevance
of market access to help developing countries to be more efficient in the
fight against the world problem of drugs. It is therefore, the view of the
Group that reinforcing and strengthening international cooperation
through, among other things, technical cooperation is important. The
Commission should ensure ways and means to achieve our aim of combating
illicit drugs more effectively.
Madame Chairperson,
The Group took note of the efforts of the International Narcotics
Control Board (INCB) and the UNDCP in trying to avoid gaps between their
reports. However, more efforts should be made to improve future reports.
In this regard the Group takes note of the concern expressed by INCB in
its 2001 report especially over the widespread abuse of cannabis among
others in a recreational setting and for leisure activities. The Group is
troubled that this alarming trend is encouraged by policies of
decriminalization in some States-Parties of such use of drugs and
preparatory acts, including cultivation, distribution, and possession.
Efforts to reduce and control the cultivation and abuse of cannabis
will be jeopardized by policies in contravention of the letter and spirit
of the international drug control conventions with potential repercussions
to other controlled drugs. The Group demands that the Commission address
this issue in order to guarantee the integrity of the entire international
drug control regime.
As we are confronting various forms of licit and illicit drug abuse,
it is pertinent that all relevant organs of the United Nations dealing
with this issue form a common view. Thus, we also encourage UNDCP and INCB
to find common synergy through holding more regular interactions and
meetings.
Madame Chairperson,
The Group is gravely concerned with the increasing trend of polydrug
use within the context of recreational settings and leisure activities
that are largely concentrated in certain regions of the world and could
easily spread to other parts of the world. The Group thus welcomes UNDCP
activities in developing strategies and prevention programmes for reducing
illicit drug demand, especially among young people. UNDCP should also
endeavor to encourage the sharing of experiences between countries that
have a history of dealing with the problem as well as those new to it.
With regard to Afghanistan, the Group feels that the international
community must build upon the recent developments and seize the
opportunity for a more meaningful engagement for the prevention of
re-emergence of opium poppy cultivation. Along this line, UNDCP must be
enabled to implement an effective alternative development programme for
Afghanistan. However, we have to be wary of the reappearance of this
situation in the region and other regions. It is therefore pertinent to
have a pragmatic and comprehensive approach to combating the production
and distribution of opium.
Madame Chairperson,
Although we appreciate efforts toward greater efficiency in the work
of the Commission, it seems that cutting our sessions to a mere five days
may not be the answer. Many developing countries are not represented in
Vienna and thus need more time within the Commission sessions to
appreciate the issues under discussion and to make concrete contributions.
Translations in all six languages of the United Nations could likewise not
be met in such a short time. The Commission should therefore further
consider its policy on the duration of future meetings.
Regarding the preparation for the Ministerial Level segment of the
forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs relating to the
follow-up to the 20th special session of the UNGASS Political Declaration
in 2003, the Group underscores the need to focus on the Commission's
unique role in strengthening our common commitment and objectives as set
out in the 1998 Political Declaration in particular on demand reduction
and international cooperation. The meeting should assess the progress
achieved and the difficulties encountered in meeting the goals and targets
set out in the 1998 Political Declaration. The Group endorses the draft
resolution on the preparation for the Ministerial Level segment of the
forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, relating to the
follow-up to the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, in
document E/CN.7/2002/L.11.
Madame Chairperson,
The Group would also like to express its support for efforts to
strengthen the UNDCP and the role of the Commission as its governing body
through continuing improvements in its management. While appreciating the
initiation of a system of joint informal meetings between the Office of
the Executive Director with various developed and developing countries,
the Group stresses the importance of maintaining the momentum of dialogue
in order to strengthen international cooperation. However, we request the
Secretariat to further improve the format of the meeting, preserve the
original purpose of the meeting as well as to avoid duplication with
inter-sessional meetings. We also await information about the new strategy
for resource mobilization, focused particularly on foundations, the
private sector and other sources. However, we should be careful not to
allow this strategy to become a source of burden, in particular for
developing countries that already have a considerable amount of debt.
The Group reiterates its concern over the decrease in the 2002-2003
budget. We would like to call upon major donor countries to meet their
international commitments.
Finally, as a part of the ongoing efforts aimed at better management
of the ODCCP, the Group calls for greater transparency in recruitment. The
Group requests the Secretariat to provide an informative report on the
existing breakdown of the posts in the ODCCP at all levels of the
hierarchy on a country by country basis. This will provide a clear picture
as to the actual extent to which each geographical region is represented
in the Secretariat.
Thank you.
|
|
|
|
| First
Page
Vienna Chapter |
G-77 Homepage |