U-N DRUG CONFERENCE CLOSES

INTRO: ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST CONFERENCES ON THE GLOBAL DRUG PROBLEM
ENDED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN NEW YORK. MORE THAN 150 NATIONS PROMISED NEW
MEASURES TO FIGHT THE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF ILLICIT DRUGS. V-O-A'S
MAX RUSTON REPORTS ON THE CONCLUSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SPECIAL SESSION ON THE WORLD DRUG PROBLEM.

TEXT: FOR THREE DAYS -- FROM EARLY MORNING TO LATE NIGHT -- HEADS OF STATES
AND GOVERNMENT MINISTERS SPOKE FROM THE PODIUM IN THE HALL OF THE UNITED
NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. REPRESENTATIVES OF COUNTRIES FROM AFGHANISTAN TO
ZAMBIA, FROM EVERY CONTINENT, SPOKE AT THE CONFERENCE. THE COMMON THEME IN
THOSE SPEECHES WAS A WARNING THAT DRUGS POSE ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS
THREATS TO PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

IN RESPONSE TO THAT THREAT, THE MORE THAN 150 NATIONS REPRESENTED AT THE
CONFERENCE ISSUED A POLITICAL DECLARATION PROMISING WIDE-RANGING MEASURES
TO FIGHT DRUGS. THEY PROMISED INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN PUBLIC HEALTH
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PLEDGED TO VIGOROUSLY ATTACK BOTH THE SUPPLY OF AND
DEMAND FOR NARCOTICS.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE U-N INTERNATIONAL DRUG PROGRAM, PINO ARLACCHI,
ANNOUNCED APPROVAL OF THE DECLARATION.

/// ARLACCHI ACTUALITY ///

THE END OF THIS MEETING MARKS THE START OF A NEW CHAPTER IN GLOBAL DRUG
CONTROL. WE HAVE SENT THE WORLD A MESSAGE OF HOPE THIS WEEK. THE DECADES
OF NATIONS POINTING FINGERS AT EACH OTHER ARE FINISHED.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

SOME SPEAKERS WARNED THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WILL SUFFER THE MOST IF PROMISES
MADE AT THE CONFERENCE ARE NOT FOLLOWED UP WITH ACTION -- A CONCERN ECHOED
BY DOZENS OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AT THE CONFERENCE. THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS ALSO QUESTIONED THE EMPHASIS GOVERNMENTS ARE PUTTING ON LEGAL
MEASURES TO FIGHT DRUGS, SAYING THE PROBLEM SHOULD INSTEAD BE SEEN AS ONE
OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

THE DECLARATION SPECIFICALLY PLEDGES TO CUT THE PRODUCTION OF OPIUM POPPIES
AND CANNABIS BY THE YEAR 2008 AND TO IMPROVE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION BY
2004. GOVERNMENTS ALSO AGREE TO PURSUE A COMMON SET OF PRIORITIES,
INCLUDING EFFORTS TO STOP MONEY LAUNDERING AND THE CONSUMPTION OF SYNTHETIC
DRUGS.

Checked-by: Richard Lake