U-N DRUGS / SECOND DAY

INTRO: WORLD LEADERS ARE HOLDING A SECOND DAY OF TALKS TODAY (TUESDAY) AT
THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE GLOBAL DRUG PROBLEM. THEY ARE WORKING ON A
POLITICAL DECLARATION, TO BE ISSUED WEDNESDAY, PROMISING BROAD NEW
INTERNATIONAL MEASURES TO FIGHT DRUG CONSUMPTION AND TRAFFICKING. V-O-A'S
UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.

TEXT: THE SECOND DAY OF THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S SPECIAL SESSION ON THE
WORLD DRUG PROBLEM OPENED WITH SPEECHES FROM THE HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OF
KYRGYZSTAN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AND MOROCCO.

PRIME MINISTER BASDEO PANDAY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SPOKE ABOUT THE WIDE
RANGING NEGATIVE IMPACT THE DRUG TRADE IS HAVING ON THE ENTIRE CARIBBEAN
REGION.

/// PANDAY ACT ///

THE METAMORPHOSIS OF THE ILLICIT TRADE OVER THE LAST DECADE HAS CREATED NEW
AND COMPLEX PROBLEMS FOR THE REGION. WE ARE EXPERIENCING A RESULTANT RISE
IN SERIOUS CRIMES. THE UNEMPLOYED POPULATION IS BEING EXPLOITED BY THE
TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS BOTH AS AN AVAILABLE LABOR FORCE AND A CONSUMER
MARKET. WE HAVE ALSO WITNESSED IN OUR COUNTRY A DRAMATIC ESCALATION IN OUR
COUNTRY OF THE DRUG ADDICTION RATE, PARTICULARLY AMONG OUR YOUNG ADULT
POPULATION.

/// END ACT ///

THE MORE THAN 150 DELEGATIONS ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE ARE COMPLETING WORK
ON A POLITICAL DECLARATION ON THE WORLD DRUG PROBLEM. THE DECLARATION
STRESSES THE NEED FOR AN INTEGRATED, INTERNATIONAL APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM
AND IDENTIFIES ILLEGAL DRUGS AS A THREAT TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF
ALL MANKIND.

THE DECLARATION ALSO PROMISES TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE ILLICIT CULTIVATION
OF COCA AND CANNABIS AND SET UP PROGRAMS FOR INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION IN
THE AREAS OF PUBLIC HEALTH, SOCIAL WELFARE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OVER THE
NEXT DECADE.

THE DECLARATION IS EXPECTED TO BE APPROVED WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE CLOSE OF
THE CONFERENCE.

SOME NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE CONFERENCE
SAYING IT IS ADVOCATING POLICIES THAT HAVE PROVEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN MANY
COUNTRIES. THEY SAY THE UNITED NATIONS IS PLACING TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON
LEGAL MEASURES TO CONTROL DRUG ABUSE AND SHOULD INSTEAD SEE IT AS A HEALTH
PROBLEM.

Checked-by: Richard Lake