Roundup: UN special session on drugs concludes with emphasis on cooperation despite differences

Cooperation as a key tool in combating illegal drugs was a prevalent theme among speakers during Thursday's concluding sessions of the three-day UN General Assembly Special Session on drugs here.

Over the three days, participants stressed at the special session that more than ever before, the global consensus recognizes that the solution to the world drug problem lies in a more humane, public-health oriented, human rights compliant, evidence-based approach that addresses this issue in all its complexity.

But despite its continuing cooperation with the international community, Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Alexander Khloponin, read an "address" to the Special Session by President Vladimir Putin which said, "the challenge of illegal production and distribution of drugs has reached an unprecedented level."

Illicit drug trade, which has become one of "the most aggressive" forms of transnational crime, "poses a real threat to the state and society, claiming the lives and ruining the health of millions of people," the Russian leader said, adding that the proceeds of drug cartels "serve as a source for financing terrorist and extremist groups."

"Clearly, it is only by consolidated and concerted efforts, fully exploiting the potential of the three UN drug control conventions, that this evil can be effectively resisted," Putin said.

"This address confirms the special attention paid by the Russian leadership to countering global drugs challenge," said Khloponin.

Cross-border drug expansion is "posing direct threat to state security. It is obvious that we must take immediate decisive and coordinated steps in the face of a problem of such a scale," he added.

"We hope that the outcome of the Special Session will contribute to developing and strengthening international anti-drug cooperation," said Khloponin.

Jigmeddash Bayartsetseg, justice minister of Mongolia, underscored some of the criminal undertakings resulting from the drug trade.

"The increasing trend of drug trafficking leads to not only growing drug demand, but also to an income source, which is directly interlinked with money laundering, corruption, and subsequently to transnational organized crime," she said.

"In Mongolia, drug related crimes have been increased by 69 percent and the number of women involved in drug related crime has been doubled in the last two years," she said.

Cyprus Health Minister Georgios Pamboridis, who said his nation agreed with the European Union position which opposed the death penalty in drug cases, addressed the challenge of illegal drugs and "negative related consequences."

"Drug policies should promote evidence based and cost-effective measures ... that have been implemented in the EU (European Union) and have proven to be effective as regards the reduction of drug-related deaths, crime and infectious diseases, harm reduction measures such as opioid substitution therapy, needle and syringe exchange programs," he said.

Pamboridis also urged states to consider increased access to controlled substances for use by the scientific and medical community; promotion of the participatory role of civil society and the scientific community regarding all aspects of drug policy, recognition of the different needs for men, women, young people and children, emerging psychoactive substances and the role of the internet on drug supply.

"The promotion of an effective law enforcement policy towards the illicit production, manufacturing and trafficking of drugs should also be an integral part of the balanced approach," he said.

Ambassador Tuvako No Manongi of Tanzania said his nation saw the Special Session "as presenting a watershed opportunity ... to rebalance and harmonize international and national policies on drugs."

"As we move forward, our objective must focus on reducing the number of people using drugs as well as those dying from drug use," he said.

"We should also ensure minor offenders do not end up in jail where their drug related problems might only get worse. We must promote a health and human rights approach to the drug problem," he added.

"We are conscious that this objective will only be successful as a result of a collective endeavor-nationally and globally," Manongi said.

"Tanzania has not been spared by the world drug problem. Illicit drugs trafficked from other regions are increasingly crossing our borders, and some remain in our communities. These have inflicted harm upon vulnerable people, including persons who already suffer from multiple forms of poverty."

Camillo Gonsalves, minister of economic planning, sustainable development, industry, information and labor of St. Vincent and Grenadines, also voiced concern about drug producing states.

"States that primarily supply, demand, or serve as transit points for narcotics have very different views on effective drug control strategies," he said.

"It is entirely possible that more lives have been lost to the war on drugs and rival drug gangs than to the actual abuse of drugs," he said. "At the same time, the obscene sums spent on interdiction, enforcement and eradication have nonetheless spawned the growth of a global illicit drug trade worth hundreds of billions of dollars."

"The Caribbean Community has established a Regional Commission on Marijuana to conduct a rigorous enquiry into the social, economic, health and legal issues surrounding marijuana use in the region and to advise whether there should be a change in the current drug classification of marijuana," said Gonsalves.

"However, the potential for liberalization of the legal status of marijuana should not be misconstrued as a case of 'if you can't beat them, join them,'" he said.

"Quite the contrary, it represents a strong desire to adhere to international commitments by properly focusing efforts and limited resources on the control of illicit drug flows, the rehabilitation of users, and an unyielding approach to the brutal criminal gangs that wreak havoc on our communities." Enditem