International co-operation needed to battle security threat posed by illegal drugs, say participants in OSCE meeting

VIENNA, 28 June 2007 - International co-operation is crucial to combat the security challenges posed by illegal drug trade and abuse, a representative of the Spanish OSCE Chairmanship told an Expert Conference on the threat of illicit drugs, organized by the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit and the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

"Illegal drug trafficking challenges not just our societies' health and social structures, but also their overall security," said Ignacio Baylina Ruiz, Counsellor at the Spanish Permanent Representation to the International Organizations in Vienna. "The response must be reinforced international co-operation with a balanced approach addressing both demand reduction and supply reduction."

Baylina noted that the UNODC's new World Drug Report confirmed that production in opiates has increased, affecting the 56-country OSCE area.

"With this in mind, we must deploy every effort in activities aimed at enhancing cross-border co-operation and intelligence-sharing in fighting illicit drug trafficking," he said.

The conference aims to promote exchange of information on the production and trafficking of illicit drugs. Participants will also discuss the implementation of drug-related OSCE commitments and consider how international co-operation in the fight against illicit drugs can be improved.

Kevin Carty, the Senior Police Adviser to the OSCE Secretary General, said that the OSCE could play an essential role in the fight against drugs by mobilizing political will.

"The OSCE can act in a unique way to advance the international co-operation in combating illicit drugs," he said, adding that the Organization could provide support by "assisting governments in ratifying and implementing international legal instruments and also providing political backing to initiatives from other specialized International Organizations."

The two-day expert conference concludes tomorrow.