DRUG TRAFFICKING IN WEST AFRICA..ECOWAS EXPERTS DISCUSSED

Experts on drug and drug-related matters from the 15 ECOWAS Member
States began a two-day meeting today Sunday, 26th October 2008 in
Praia, Cape Verde to review the threats and challenges posed by the
drug scourge in West Africa and consider means to help strengthen the
fight against drug trafficking and related organized crime in the region.

The experts include those working on drug policy development and
implementation, drug enforcement and those active in social
development. Members of civil society organizations active in drug and
drug-related issues in West Africa are also participating in the
conference which theme is "Drug Trafficking as a Security Threat to
West Africa".

The meeting, which is being organized by ECOWAS in collaboration with
the Government of Cape Verde and in partnership with the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations
Office for West Africa (UNOWA), precedes a ministerial one of similar
nature that will take place on 28th and 29th October 2008, also in
Praia. It is expected to help increase the level of awareness of the
experts on the dimension of the negative consequences of the drug
challenge in the region and help them make appropriate recommendations
to the ministers.

In doing this, the experts will specifically consider two draft
documents which the ministers are expected to adopt.

These are the draft Political Declaration, which is expected to
provide the much needed political commitment by the governments of
Member States as well as the draft Regional Response Action Plan
against Drug Trafficking and Related Organized Crime in West Africa.
The response plan is in fulfillment of a directive by ECOWAS Heads of
State and Government that the Commission takes immediate steps to
respond effectively to the challenge.

It assigns responsibilities to different stakeholders and defines the
timeframe within which to expect tangible results to determined
projects and tasks. As a mark of their commitment to the anti-drug
war, civil society organizations from Member States, including their
umbrella body - the West Africa Civil Society Forum, met on 16th
October 2008 in Abuja to enrich the two documents.

At the experts meeting in Praia, participants are being treated to
some ECOWAS presentations including "Building a strong drug control
coordination mechanism in ECOWAS: The role of the ECOWAS Commission"
as well as "Drug trafficking and related organized crime and the
challenges of rebuilding and stabilization of post-war countries". The
UNODC will make a presentation "National integrated programme
framework strategy and cooperation with UN agencies and development
partners.

At the opening, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Gender and Human
Development, Dr. Adrienne Yande Diop, while recalling that the meeting
was convened in response to a directive by ECOWAS political leaders,
stated that it would serve to redefine the focus within the regional
and global contexts in order to engender strategies for a common fight
against drug trafficking, abuse and organized crime.

She tasked the participants to help facilitate the adoption, by
regional leaders, of the Political Declaration against Drug
Trafficking and an implementable and dynamic Response Plan that would
help stem the activities of drug criminals.

In his statement, the UNODC representative, Mr. Francis Maertens,
recalled the negative effects of the drug trade and noted that West
Africa has unfortunately become a transit region for the traffic of
illicit drugs.

He underscored the UNODC's readiness to provide the necessary
assistance to law enforcement agencies in ECOWAS Member States towards
the development of concrete measures to contain the drug scourge in
the region.

Mr. Maertens called for a firm and sustainable support from the
international community and a robust partnership that engages the
United Nations, ECOWAS Member States and other international
organizations in the fight against drug trafficking.

Speaking in a similar vein, the UNOWA representative, Mr. Leandre
Bassole, reiterated UNOWA's mandate which is to facilitate the
maintenance of peace and stability in West Africa. He expressed
concern over the increasing wave of trans-border criminality and the
need for ECOWAS, with the support of its partners, to mobilize
relevant expertise for a coordinated fight against drug
trafficking.

In her welcome address, the Minister of Justice of Cape Verde, Dr.
Marisa dos Nascimento Morais, reiterated the fact that drug
trafficking is a major threat to national defence and security of the
region and that a committed, coherent and coordinated combat against
the offence is an imperative to ensuring stability and socio-economic
development of the region.

Dr. Morais disclosed that Cape Verde has begun a national drug control
programme which, among others, addresses preventive action on the use
of illegal drugs, treatment of users, enhanced efficiency in drug
control as well as special border control at sea and air ports.

This, she added, has helped to strengthen international cooperation
within Cape Verdean territory. She expressed that hope that after the
Praia meetings, the fight against drug trafficking will go into a new
and stronger phase with the adoption of the Political Declaration and
Regional Response Plan which she described as fundamental instruments
that will strengthen the region's anti-drug trafficking measures.