DRUGS TALKS OPEN IN JAPAN

A two-day international conference on drug control has opened in Tokyo,
with attention expected to focus on ways of stopping production of opium
and heroin in Afghanistan.

In an opening speech, the former Japanese Prime Minister, Ryutaro
Hashimoto, said it was desperately important that the Afghan economy be
revived without reliance on the growing of opium poppies.

Japan is one of the main donors for the programme of reconstruction in
Afghanistan.

The meeting has been organised by the United Nations and is being attended
by representatives from more than 35 nations.

Russia is reported to be offering the use of its satellite-launching
centres for a proposed global scanning programme to identify poppy fields
and other drugs trade facilities.