U-N DRUGS / DEFENSE

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS TODAY (TUESDAY) REJECTED SUGGESTIONS THAT ITS
INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONFERENCE, NOW UNDERWAY IN NEW YORK, IS PROMOTING
UNREALISTIC PLEDGES AND INEFFECTIVE PROGRAMS. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS
FROM THE UNITED NATIONS.

TEXT: A U-N SPOKESMAN GAVE REPORTERS A LENGTHY DEFENSE OF THE DRUG
CONFERENCE IN RESPONSE TO AN EDITORIAL IN THE NEW YORK TIMES NEWSPAPER.
THE EDITORIAL DESCRIBES THE CONFERENCE AS "WELL INTENTIONED BUT
MISDIRECTED" AND SAYS THE POLICIES THE UNITED NATIONS IS SUPPORTING COULD
ACTUALLY HINDER EFFECTIVE DRUG PROGRAMS.

THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-N OFFICE FOR DRUG CONTROL, SANDRO TUCCI, SAYS THE
UNITED NATIONS DISAGREES WITH THESE OPINIONS AS WELL AS A STATEMENT IN THE
EDITORIAL QUESTIONING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE TALEBAN LEADERSHIP IN
AFGHANISTAN AND THE GOVERNMENT OF MYANMAR.

/// TUCCI ACT ///

THAT THE AFGHAN AND THE MYANMAR GOVERNMENTS ARE UNRELIABLE PARTNERS MAY BE
A VIEW OF SOMEBODY. IT MAY EVEN BE OUR VIEW. THE POINT IS THAT THESE ARE
THE PEOPLE THAT WE MUST DEAL WITH BECAUSE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
GROWING OPIUM AND THE ALTERNATIVE TO TRY TO WORK WITH THEM WOULD BE TO DO
NOTHING.

/// END ACT ///

THE EDITORIAL ECHOES THE CRITICISM OF SOME NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
AT THE THREE-DAY CONFERENCE ... THAT THE UNITED NATIONS IS SUPPORTING
STRATEGIES THAT HAVE FAILED IN THE PAST. IT SAYS CROP SUBSTITUTION, LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER PROGRAMS TO CUT DRUG SUPPLY RARELY DELIVER PROMISED
RESULTS.

MR. TUCCI REJECTS THE EDITORIAL'S CLAIMS, SAYING THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME
THE UNITED NATIONS IS GIVING EQUAL STATUS TO THE REDUCTION OF DRUG
CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION.

THE DRUG CONFERENCE IS SCHEDULED TO END WEDNESDAY WITH THE APPROVAL OF A
POLITICAL DECLARATION PROMISING INCREASED INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE
WAR ON DRUGS. THE DECLARATION SETS DEADLINES FOR REDUCING PRODUCTION OF
ILLICIT DRUGS AND ESTABLISHING INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION IN THE AREAS OF
LAW, PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE. BUT MANY LEADERS ATTENDING THE
MEETING HAVE WARNED THAT THE CONFERENCE WILL HAVE BEEN A WASTE OF TIME IF
ITS PROMISES ARE NOT FOLLOWED WITH CONCRETE ACTION.

Checked-by: Richard Lake