DATE=5/5/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-231745
TITLE=OAS DRUG GROUP (L ONLY)
BYLINE=WILLIAM KAUFMANN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A WORKING GROUP OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
SAYS IT IS CHARTING AMBITIOUS NEW GROUND BY TRYING TO DEVISE A
MECHANISM TO EVALUATE THE HEMISPHERE WIDE WAR ON DRUGS. AS VOA'S
WILLIAM KAUFMANN REPORTS THE WORKING GROUP OF THE INTER-AMERICAN
DRUG ABUSE CONTROL COMMISSION HAS JUST HAD ITS ORGANIZATIONAL
MEETING (TUESDAY) IN WASHINGTON.
TEXT: CANADIAN SOLICITOR GENERAL JEAN FOURNIER CHAIRS THE GROUP
WHILE PABLO LAGOS, CHILE'S DIRECTOR OF DRUG CONTROL POLICY WAS
NAMED (TUESDAY) AS VICE CHAIRMAN.
MR. FOURNIER SAYS IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME THE GROUP WILL
SEEK TO NEGOTIATE THE FIRST ASPECTS OF THE DRUG EVALUATION
MECHANISM.
/// FIRST FOURNIER ACT ///
AND THOSE WILL INCLUDE, PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, THE
MODALITY, WHO WILL DO WHAT AND HOW AND THE FREQUENCY OF
THE EVALUATIONS. ALL 32 COUNTRIES MAKING UP THE WORKING
GROUP HAVE AGREED TO SUBMIT THEMSELVES VOLUNTARILY TO
THIS EVALUATION. OUR OVERALL GOAL IS TO PROVIDE
FEEDBACK AND ASSISTANCE TO COUNTRIES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE
OUR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE PERFORMANCE.
/// END ACT ///
THE HOPE IS TO CREATE A SINGLE, OBJECTIVE MULTINATIONAL STANDARD
TO EVALUATE SUCCESS IN EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE DEMAND AND SUPPLY
OF DRUGS AS WELL AS FIREARMS AND MONEY LAUNDERING.
MR. FOURNIER SAYS THE TASK IS ENORMOUS BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS NO
LONGER ONE DIMENSIONAL.
// SECOND FOURNIER ACT ///
THE CARRIBEAN, LATIN AMERICANS, CENTRAL AMERICANS,
MEXICANS U-S AND CANADA, WE ALL KIND OF SHARE TOGETHER
IN BEING, UNFORTUNATELY, PRODUCER, TRANSIT AND CONSUMER
COUNTRIES AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE TO
WORK TOGETHER.
/// END ACT ///
ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE IN RESOURCES.
MR. FOURNIER SAYS NEXT YEAR'S U-S DRUG CONTROL BUDGET OF
17-BILLION DOLLARS IS LARGER THAN THE NATIONAL BUDGETS OF MANY
SMALLER NATIONS.
// THIRD FOURNIER ACT ///
THAT IS PART OF THE CHALLENGE OF BUILDING A MECHANISM
THAT IS CREDIBLE, THAT IS EFFECTIVE, THAT REFLECTS THE
NATURE OF THE PROBLEM IN INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES AND THAT
WILL PROVIDE FOR EFFECTIVE ACTIONS IN COUNTRIES AS LARGE
AS THE UNITED STATES AND IN COUNTRIES AS SMALL AS
URUGUAY.
/// END ACT ///
THE WORKING GROUP OF THE O-A-S'S DRUG CONTROL COMMISSION WILL BE
MEETING ABOUT EVERY TWO MONTHS, HOPING TO HAVE ITS MECHANISM IN
PLACE BY THE NEXT SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS TO BE HELD IN CANADA
ABOUT TWO YEARS FROM NOW. (SIGNED)
NB/WJK/KL
05-May-98 4:54 PM EDT (2054 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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