U-N DRUGS / POLITICAL DECLARATION

INTRO: A UNITED NATIONS MEETING ON THE WORLD DRUG PROBLEM CLOSED WEDNESDAY
WITH PLEDGES OF NEW INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG
SUPPLY AND DEMAND. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS.

TEXT: THE THREE-DAY CONFERENCE CLOSED WITH PASSAGE OF A POLITICAL
DECLARATION SETTING DEADLINES FOR SPECIFIC MEASURES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST
DRUGS.

GOVERNMENTS AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPECIAL SESSION ON DRUGS PROMISE TO
ESTABLISH ENHANCED DRUG-REDUCTION PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, SOCIAL WELFARE
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT BY 2003. THEY PLEDGE TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE
ILLICIT CULTIVATION OF THE COCA BUSH, THE CANNABIS PLANT AND THE OPIUM
POPPY BY 2008.

THE DECLARATION ALSO ESTABLISHES PRIORITY AREAS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS.
THEY INCLUDE MONEY LAUNDERING OF DRUG PROFITS; JUDICIAL COOPERATION; THE
REDUCTION OF DRUG DEMAND PRECURSOR CHEMICALS, SYNTHETIC DRUGS AND THE
ELIMINATION OF ILLICIT CROPS.

THE DECLARATION STRESSES THE MAGNITUDE OF THE DRUG PROBLEM AND THE DAMAGE
IT COULD CAUSE TO SOCIETY IN THE 21ST CENTURY. IT ECHOES STATEMENTS MADE
AT THE CONFERENCE BY SPEAKERS SUCH AS GERMANY'S FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS
KINKEL -- SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER.

/// KINKEL INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///

DRUGS ARE A MENACE TO SOCIETIES EVERYWHERE -- A HYDRA-HEADED MONSTER
SPREADING ITS LIMBS AROUND THE WHOLE WORLD. THE ANNUAL TURNOVER OF THE
INTERNATIONAL DRUG CARTELS TOTALS 400 BILLION DOLLARS. THAT AMOUNTS TO
EIGHT PERCENT OF WORLD TRADE. BEHIND THIS FIGURE IS A TALE OF UNTOLD
SUFFERING.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

MANY OTHER SPEAKERS WARNED -- IF PROMISES MADE IN THE POLITICAL DECLARATION
ARE NOT FOLLOWED UP WITH ACTION -- THE WORLD'S YOUTH WILL BECOME THE
VICTIMS OF THAT NEGLECT.

NON-GOVERNMENTAL GROUPS ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE HAVE CRITICIZED SOME
ELEMENTS OF THE DECLARATION, SAYING IT FOCUSES TOO MUCH ON LEGAL MEASURES
AS A MEANS FOR FIGHTING DRUG DEMAND. THEY SAY IT PROMOTES A WIDE RANGE OF
ANTI-DRUG POLICIES THAT HAVE ALREADY FAILED IN MANY COUNTRIES -- A CHARGE
DENIED BY CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS.

Checked-by: Richard Lake