Conference on "Drug Routes from Afghanistan"
Moscow
Mr. Chairman, Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the outset, my delegation would like to congratulate the Government of Russian Federation for taking this important initiative to address the complex issue of growth in narcotics trade from Afghanistan, and its spread through different routes from Central Asia and the Balkans to rest of the world. The high level of participation today confirms the importance international community attaches to combating this global menace.
Conference on "Drug Routes from Afghanistan"
Moscow
Mr. Chairman, Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the outset, my delegation would like to congratulate the Government of Russian Federation for taking this important initiative to address the complex issue of growth in narcotics trade from Afghanistan, and its spread through different routes from Central Asia and the Balkans to rest of the world. The high level of participation today confirms the importance international community attaches to combating this global menace.
I would like to compliment the Government of President Hamid Karzai for making sincere efforts to combat the drug mйnage. Its policy of weaning away farmers from poppy cultivation and taking stringent action against those who are engaged in narco trade is a sound combination of understanding and firmness in dealing with the problem. President Karzai has even started a new Ministry of Counter Narcotics to spearhead the fight. Tackling this menace and c arrying it forward along with the complex and difficult task of nation building, is extremely challenging.
As has been brought out in the working group discussions, this issue is also inextricably linked to the security and stability of Afghanistan and of the region, which in turn is crucial for the economic reconstruction of Afghanistan. There will also be long-term social and economic effects, if the Afghan economy is not shielded from the influence of drug money.
The destructive nexus between narcotics cultivation and terrorism confronts the international community once again. One of the most destructive legacies of war-lordism in Afghanistan was the spread of poppy cultivation. The deadly crop is available again to finance terrorism in Afghanistan, with ominous consequences for the country and the whole world.
In view of the magnitude and complexity of this problem, no country can fight it on its own. The problem has to be tackled at the supply end, as well as on the demand side. Further, drug routes traverse different countries from sources to destinations. Accordingly, bilateral, regional and multi-lateral cooperation has to be recognized as a key element of any strategy in combating the menace of drug trafficking effectively.
Mr. Chairman,Indias commitment to fight the menace of drugs remains steadfast. India is a party to the 1961 Single Convention, 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and 1988 Convention on Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. India is also fully committed to implement its commitments arising out of the Political Declaration and the resolutions adopted at the June 1998 Special Session of United Nations General Assembly. The Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 constitutes the statutory framework for drug law enforcement in India. The Act also incorporates provisions for the control of precursor chemicals. Recognizing the need for financially throttling the terrorist organizations and organized crime groups, India has also enacted a comprehensive Anti-Money Laundering Law.
Combating opium cultivation is one of the projects India is working on in Afghanistan as part of its assistance programme. We have prepared a pilot project focusing on Community Development and Integrated Rural Development, in a select area, that will help people move away from production of narcotics. The Government of both Afghanistan and India are keen to implement this project and are working early on its finalization and implementation.
Afghanistan requires all possible international assistance in its fight against illicit narcotics production. The world has previously witnessed how drug money, through its linkages with terrorist activities could impact on the peace and stability of the region. Afghanistan cannot risk another round of instability. The international community must remain involved on a sustained basis in assisting the Afghan government in curtailing and eliminating this menace.
Ladies and Gentlemen, India is fully committed to working with the people and the Government of Afghanistan to rebuild their country. Our partnership today embraces a multi-dimensional cooperation programme, including education, health, telecommunication, transport, civil aviation, agriculture and irrigation, industry, power generation and transmission, human resource development and many other areas. Our total pledge for Afghanistans reconstruction is more than US $ 650 million and I am happy to announce that we have been progressing satisfactory with all the projects undertaken with all the projects undertaken by us. We believe that rapid economic development is the answer to the problems of not only narcotics but also terrorism. In addition the international community should synergise demand reduction and supply reduction in a more aggressive manner. I would like to reiterate our commitment to work with the Government and the people of Afghanistan, the regional countries along with the trafficking routes and other members of the international community in achieving development and reconstruction in Afghanistan.
