17 April 2003
Transcript: U.S. Sees Progress in Achieving Drug Reduction Goals
(Dobriansky speaks at ministerial conference on narcotic drugs) (970) Effective global action to control drug trafficking requires a wide-ranging effort recognizing the complex links between drug use, health problems, economic conditions, and criminal activity, said Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky April 17. She spoke as head of the U.S. delegation to a U.N.-sponsored meeting assessing the world's progress in combating drug problems. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the U.N.'s policy-making body on drug issues, is hosting more than 145 delegations in Vienna to discuss international progress in meeting the goals of the Ten-Year Action Plan Against Illicit Drugs, approved in 1998 by the U.N. General Assembly. Dobriansky said the Bush administration's National Drug Control Strategy for 2003 is consistent with the core priorities of the General Assembly's commitments, emphasizing prevention of drug abuse, treatment for drug users, and dismantling of the business of the drug trade. "We have already seen encouraging declines of drug use among our young people. We understand that prevention efforts must also be complemented with drug treatment," Dobriansky said. "In that light, President Bush recently announced a 3-year, $600 million commitment to treating the addicted." The under secretary also stressed the importance of supporting alternative development opportunities for those reliant upon drug crop cultivation, specifically citing strides made in Colombia and Afghanistan. In order to remain focused on the ten-year goals for reducing drug trafficking, Dobriansky discouraged a movement toward easing drug laws. "We must resist calls for lenient drug consumption policies," she said. "We know that these policies fail to sustain our important efforts as represented by the international narcotics conventions." Following is the transcript of Dobriansky's remarks. (begin transcript) STATEMENT OF PAULA DOBRIANSKY UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR GLOBAL AFFAIRS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS MINISTERIAL SEGMENT April 17, 2003 Mr. Chairman. On behalf of the United States Government, President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell, I am honored to be here in Vienna at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs Ministerial Session. I'd like to recognize several members of my delegation, including Ambassador Kenneth Brill, Deputy Director for Supply Reduction at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Dr. Barry Crane, and our senior drug law enforcement official, Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Director John Brown. The United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Drugs was a landmark event at which the world community made major commitments in the area of counternarcotics. Those attending the Special Session realized the difficulty they would face, but they firmly resolved to take practical action toward combating the world drug problem. The high level of participation at this ministerial session, organized to examine the progress we have made over the past five years, underscores that illicit narcotics pose a truly global problem, affecting rich and poor countries alike, and particularly our young people. Confronting this scourge requires a global effort. It requires recognizing the link between financing terrorism and narcotics trafficking, between drug abuse and economic and social decline, between drug cultivation and damage to the environment, and between drug abuse and health problems, including HIV/AIDS. It also requires recognizing that integrative measures - combining alternative development with law enforcement with eradication - are essential. This scourge, quite simply, demands action by each and every one of us. Two months ago, the United States unveiled President Bush's new National Drug Control Strategy for 2003. Made up of three core priorities directly supportive of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session commitments, the strategy calls for: --Stopping drug use before it starts --Healing America's drug users, and --Dismantling the business of the drug trade I am pleased to report progress in our demand reduction efforts. Specifically, we have already seen encouraging declines of drug use among our young people. We understand that prevention efforts must also be complemented with drug treatment. In that light, President Bush recently announced a 3-year, $600 million commitment to treating the addicted. This initiative will allow treatment providers, religious and other community organizations, workplaces, and schools to help drug users receive the treatment and support services that are best suited to their individual needs. We should not, indeed we must not, abandon addicts to a lifetime of addiction to dangerous and debilitating drugs. The General Assembly Special Session also placed special emphasis on alternative development and illicit crop reduction. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports positive achievements in crop reduction in Bolivia, Peru, and Laos since 1998, as well as Thailand's success in sustaining prior gains. The United States is a strong supporter of such programs, and is also deeply committed to working with Colombia to uphold the rule of law and support its democratic institutions. Colombia achieved unprecedented, dramatic success by eradicating more than a third of the coca crop over the last two years, according to UN estimates. We also strongly support Afghanistan's courageous fight against opium cultivation that threatens that country's future. I want to underscore the importance of mainstreaming counternarcotics issues in development projects in that country and elsewhere. By mainstreaming, I mean ensuring that all development assistance - bilateral and multilateral - integrates counternarcotics into development strategies. Despite our successes, we still have a long way to go. We must work domestically, and more importantly, cooperate internationally to achieve our urgent objectives. We must resist calls for lenient drug consumption policies. We know that these policies fail to sustain our important efforts as represented by the international narcotics conventions. The world has made progress toward the goals established in 1998 - such as the achievements in reducing global cocaine and heroin markets. By working together, we will reach our common ten-year goals with a rededicated commitment toward a healthier and more stable society. (end transcript) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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