SIR The recent decision taken by the United States to
decertify Colombia as a country cooperating in the war
against drugs is highly unjust and deeply demoralising
for our government and people, who have a genuine
commitment to confronting the production and consumption of
narcotics. The illicit drugs industry is an international
phenomenon that must be dealt with on a global scale
through intergovernmental cooperation. In 1996 alone, our
country made a huge investment of more than pounds 800
million to attack various phases of the drugs industry. We
have mounted a successful campaign which resulted in the
fumigation and eradication of 73,581 acres of illegal crops
and the destruction of 938 processing laboratories and 114
clandestine airstrips. We have introduced tough new
assetforfeiture laws and are succeeding in dismantling the
remaining drug cartel organisations. Farreaching
sentencing and anticorruption reforms have also come into
effect. Governments should now combine in their support of
the United Nations International Board for Narcotics
Control, whose annual report has just been made public. The
United Nations Special Session on Drugs in 1998 should
provide the platform for a commitment to shared
responsibility in the battle against narcotics and a common
goal of cutting consumption. We deeply regret the arbitrary
decision taken to decertify our country when we are
achieving so much and wish to share openly the
responsibility for dealing with this scourge to mankind.
CARLOS LEMOS SIMMONDS VicePresident, Republic of Colombia