UN HOSTS GLOBAL DRUG SUMMIT

Leaders from 185 countries will convene in New York on Monday to
participate in a general assembly session to tackle the escalating world
drug problem.

The 'Drug Summit' is expected to be the largest multilateral gathering ever
held to deal with illegal drug trafficking and abuse.

More than 30 prime ministers and presidents will attend the summit,
including leaders from the United Kingdom, Colombia, Italy, Canada,
Bolivia, the United States, France, Spain and the Ukraine.

Under Secretary General Pino Arlacchi, executive director of the UN's
International Drug Control Programme is optimistic about the event.

He said: "Narcotics and organised crime are the major threats to the world
in the next century.

"With the involvement of so many world leaders, we now have an opportunity
for the first time to meet a global threat with a global response."

The drug summit marks an historic opportunity as participating leaders with
differing policies on drugs will agree to the first global strategy to
control drugs.

This will include drafting an international agreement on demand reduction
and defining a framework to eradicate the illegal cultivation of opium,
coca (used in the manufacture of cocaine) and other narcotic crops in the
next ten years.

According to the organisers of the summit, the UN International Drug
Control Programme (UNDCP) demand and supply is still prevalent.

The UNDCP estimates that in 1997 more than 3,000 tonnes of opium were
available for heroin production. Around 330 tonnes of heroin were produced
in 1997 - eliminating seizures (30 tonnes per annum 1995-1996) - 300 tonnes
would have been available in the consumer markets.

In the case of coca, illegal coca-leaf production for 1997 would have
produced around 1000 tonnes of cocaine. With seizures of 300 tonnes of
cocaine per annum (1995-1996) up to 700 tonnes of cocaine may have been
available for consumption.

Global cannabis production estimates are subject to greater margins of
error due to its more widespread cultivation. From government estimates
supplied to the UNDCP, the global production of cannabis may be in the
region of 500,000 tonnes per annum.

Other topics of discussion at the drug summit include harmonisation of
member states' laws on money laundering, global efforts to expel drug
traffickers, and the exchange of information on drug cartels.

"This is a fight that can be won," says Mr Arlacchi. "The drug summit will
set benchmarks for nations and the international communities will hold each
state accountable for its commitments."