VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0981/01 3021935
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281935Z OCT 08 ZDK
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5195
INFO RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0734

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000981 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR INL, G/TIP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KCOR KCRIM AORC UNGA
SUBJECT: UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE DISCUSSES CRIME PREVENTION, 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL 
 
¶1. SUMMARY:  During the UN General Assembly Third Committee's 
formal discussion on crime prevention, criminal justice, and 
international drug control, speakers agreed that trafficking 
in drugs, weapons, and persons, and money laundering were 
cyclical and linked to terrorism, requiring coordinated 
international efforts.  Some Member States noted that the 
abuse of some drugs, like cocaine and opium, had declined, 
meanwhile abuse of cannabis remained a problem and abuse of 
amphetamines was on the rise.  The need for more attention to 
the care and rehabilitation of drug users was a common theme. 
 Several countries highlighted the decade review of 1998 UNGA 
Special Session commitments that reinforce the implementation 
of the three drug conventions.  The Millennium Development 
Goals were consistently referenced, with many speakers noting 
that achievement of these goals was necessary to eliminate 
some of the underlying causes of crime, such as poverty.  The 
UN Office on Drugs and Crime noted its support for the 
creation of a new General Assembly Global Action Plan against 
trafficking in persons, which was echoed by several other 
speakers.  The UN Office on Drugs and Crime also solicited 
more funding to carry out its "broad and wide" mandate, and 
many developing countries pleaded for more assistance to 
bolster their efforts in these matters.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. In three formal meetings on October 9 and 10, the UN 
General Assembly (UNGA) Third Committee discussed crime 
prevention, criminal justice, and international drug control. 
 Experts from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the 
International Organization for Migration, and the African 
Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of 
Offenders spoke, along with representatives from 49 
countries.  INL A/S Johnson delivered the U.S. statement, 
which focused on the need to eliminate corporate and public 
corruption in line with the UN Convention Against Corruption. 
 He also underscored the importance of the UN Convention on 
Transnational Organized Crime, and highlighted progress in 
the fight against drug trafficking in Colombia and 
Afghanistan, as well as the ongoing review of the 1998 UNGA 
Special Session commitments.  The complete text can be found 
at www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov (press release #267).  The 
Millennium Development Goals were consistently referenced, 
with many speakers noting that achievement of these goals was 
necessary to eliminate some of the underlying causes of 
crime, such as poverty.  Developing countries called upon the 
developed countries to fulfill their assistance commitments, 
and noted the need for greater overall funding to bolster 
their efforts to address the problems of crime and drugs. 
 
UNODC'S EFFORTS DRAW MIXED PRAISE, CRITICISM 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime 
(UNODC) Antonio Maria Costa underscored the correlation 
between weak socio-economic performance and weak rule of law, 
which he said caused the "vicious cycle" of countries too 
poor to fund capable governments being vulnerable to crime 
and violence.  The Indian PermRep disagreed with Costa, 
emphasizing the need to stop blaming the drug problem on 
underlying causes and to focus instead on implementing 
strategies to tackle the immediate, concrete causes of crime, 
like terrorism financing.  While many speakers noted 
appreciation for the UNODC's efforts, they also mentioned 
that funding constraints were preventing the office from 
fulfilling its broad mandate, which Costa also conceded.  The 
UNODC's closure of its regional office in Barbados drew 
criticism from the Caribbean nations, which said the closure 
left a "vacuum" in regional crime prevention and drug control 
efforts.  India also criticized the closure, noting that the 
Caribbean was a "hotbed" of drug-related activity. 
 
DRUGS:  SOME PROGRESS, BUT SITUATION FRAGILE 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. The UNODC Executive Director and many other speakers cited 
the latest World Drug Report statistic that occasional drug 
use has been contained to less than five percent of the world 
population, and severe drug use to less than 0.5 percent. 
However, as Costa cautioned, the situation is fragile, and 
greater emphasis must be put on drug prevention and treatment 
-- a sentiment echoed by many others.  The European Union, 
via France's statement, called for increased and broader 
"harm reduction" interventions.  There was consensus that 
although there was a global decrease in abuse of cocaine and 
opiates such as opium and heroin, illegal use of cannabis 
remained a problem, and the use of amphetamines was 
increasing, particularly in East Asia.  Israel noted a 
growing trend among youth of the illegal use of inhalants and 
legitimate medicines like cough syrup.  Many speakers noted 
the need for more efforts to limit the accessibility of 
precursor chemicals commonly used in the manufacture of 
 
 
illicit drugs, and Thailand stressed the need for better 
exchange of data and intelligence on chemical shipments. 
Several countries also noted the need for greater adherence 
to the three drug conventions. 
 
REGIONAL DRUG ISSUES 
-------------------- 
 
¶5. Several speakers noted that opium poppy cultivation, 
production of opium and heroin and transport from the 
Afghanistan-Iran-Pakistan region (but particularly 
Afghanistan) continued to cause problems throughout the 
world.  Afghanistan, for its part, acknowledged that the drug 
problem remained the biggest impediment to its long-term 
security, development, and effective governance.  The Afghan 
statement also noted the direct link between opium poppy 
cultivation/heroin production and terrorism, calling for 
increased international efforts to break the link.  Iran 
blamed the coalition forces in Afghanistan for accelerating 
opium cultivation, and said the Iranian government had 
dedicated significant resources to strengthening border 
control, claiming that it had been responsible for 80 percent 
of global opium and heroin seizures. 
 
¶6. Colombia highlighted its efforts to combat the 
"devastating" drug problem that had plagued the country, 
which the speaker deemed to have been successful, including 
aerial spraying of coca crops.  One reason for Colombia's 
success was the provision of productive alternative 
development programs for farmers who ceased cultivation of 
illicit crops.  Colombia called for greater donor support to 
alternative development programs.  Venezuela criticized the 
United States for singling it out as a drug producer; rather, 
the speaker said, Venezuela was being used as a transit route 
for drug trafficking, although it was engaged in several 
anti-drug initiatives.  Bolivia reiterated support for its 
citizens, right to use the coca leaf for "traditional 
cultural purposes."  Lebanon exercised its right of reply to 
counter Israel's indication that one of its neighbors was 
uncooperative in anti-drug efforts, stating that Lebanon was 
cooperative and pointing to Israel as the center of the 
"ecstasy" drug industry (citing U.S. and UN reports). 
 
ADDRESSING TRANSNATIONAL CRIME REQUIRES COORDINATION 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶7. Speakers focused on the "illicit interlude" of 
transnational organized crime, noting that trafficking in 
drugs, weapons, and persons and money-laundering were 
cyclical and often linked to terrorism (particularly drug 
trafficking).  Seriously combating these crimes would require 
intensified international coordination, several speakers 
noted.  There was consensus that corruption created a 
breeding ground for organized crime, and developing countries 
complained that without adequate resources, fighting 
corruption remained an "uphill battle."  Malaysia and 
Indonesia raised the issue of piracy in international waters, 
stressing that while the UN Security Council was examining 
the issue, other crimes linked to piracy, such as ransom, 
should be addressed by the third committee.  Cuba said it was 
"absurd" that "certain States" promoting illegal migration 
were working to establish guidelines for fighting it.  The 
speaker specifically referenced the Cuban Adjustment Act, 
which he said encouraged illegal migration and smuggling of 
Cuban citizens into the United States. 
 
CALLS FOR SUPPORT TO A NEW TIP ACTION PLAN 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶8. The UNODC Executive Director and a number of speakers 
called for support to a General Assembly Global Action Plan 
against Trafficking in Persons (TIP).  As Costa explained, 
the upcoming discussions in Vienna would address the legal 
and technical aspect of combating TIP, however, unified 
political will was also necessary.  The International 
Organization for Migration noted the potential value of an 
action plan, but emphasized that TIP could not be separated 
from the broader context of migration.  (The only group to 
speak in support of the Action Plan was the Commonwealth of 
Independent States, via Belarus' statement.) 
Khalilzad