DATE=5/5/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-231745
TITLE=OAS DRUG GROUP (L ONLY)
BYLINE=WILLIAM KAUFMANN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A WORKING GROUP OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES 
SAYS IT IS CHARTING AMBITIOUS NEW GROUND BY TRYING TO DEVISE A 
MECHANISM TO EVALUATE THE HEMISPHERE WIDE WAR ON DRUGS.  AS VOA'S
WILLIAM KAUFMANN REPORTS THE WORKING GROUP OF THE INTER-AMERICAN 
DRUG ABUSE CONTROL COMMISSION HAS JUST HAD ITS  ORGANIZATIONAL 
MEETING (TUESDAY) IN WASHINGTON. 

TEXT:  CANADIAN SOLICITOR GENERAL JEAN FOURNIER CHAIRS THE GROUP 
WHILE PABLO LAGOS, CHILE'S DIRECTOR OF DRUG CONTROL POLICY WAS 
NAMED (TUESDAY) AS VICE CHAIRMAN. 

MR. FOURNIER SAYS IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME THE GROUP WILL 
SEEK TO NEGOTIATE THE FIRST ASPECTS OF THE DRUG EVALUATION 
MECHANISM. 

                   /// FIRST FOURNIER ACT ///

         AND THOSE WILL INCLUDE, PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, THE 
         MODALITY, WHO WILL DO WHAT AND HOW AND THE FREQUENCY OF 
         THE EVALUATIONS.  ALL 32 COUNTRIES MAKING UP THE WORKING
         GROUP HAVE AGREED TO SUBMIT THEMSELVES VOLUNTARILY TO 
         THIS EVALUATION.  OUR OVERALL GOAL IS TO PROVIDE 
         FEEDBACK AND ASSISTANCE TO COUNTRIES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE
         OUR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE PERFORMANCE. 

                         /// END ACT ///

THE HOPE IS TO CREATE A SINGLE, OBJECTIVE MULTINATIONAL STANDARD 
TO EVALUATE SUCCESS IN EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE DEMAND AND SUPPLY 
OF DRUGS AS WELL AS FIREARMS AND MONEY LAUNDERING. 

MR. FOURNIER SAYS THE TASK IS ENORMOUS BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS NO 
LONGER ONE DIMENSIONAL. 

                   // SECOND FOURNIER ACT ///

         THE CARRIBEAN, LATIN AMERICANS, CENTRAL AMERICANS, 
         MEXICANS U-S AND CANADA, WE ALL KIND OF SHARE TOGETHER 
         IN BEING, UNFORTUNATELY, PRODUCER, TRANSIT AND CONSUMER 
         COUNTRIES AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE TO 
         WORK TOGETHER.  

                         /// END ACT ///

ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE IN RESOURCES. 

MR. FOURNIER SAYS NEXT YEAR'S U-S DRUG CONTROL BUDGET OF 
17-BILLION DOLLARS IS LARGER THAN THE NATIONAL BUDGETS OF MANY 
SMALLER NATIONS. 

                    // THIRD FOURNIER ACT ///

         THAT IS PART OF THE CHALLENGE OF BUILDING A MECHANISM 
         THAT IS CREDIBLE, THAT IS EFFECTIVE, THAT REFLECTS THE 
         NATURE OF THE PROBLEM IN INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES AND THAT 
         WILL PROVIDE FOR EFFECTIVE ACTIONS IN COUNTRIES AS LARGE
         AS THE UNITED STATES AND IN COUNTRIES AS SMALL AS 
         URUGUAY. 

                         /// END ACT ///

THE WORKING GROUP OF THE O-A-S'S DRUG CONTROL COMMISSION WILL BE 
MEETING ABOUT EVERY TWO MONTHS, HOPING TO HAVE ITS MECHANISM IN 
PLACE BY THE NEXT SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS TO BE HELD IN CANADA 
ABOUT TWO YEARS FROM NOW. (SIGNED)

NB/WJK/KL

05-May-98 4:54 PM EDT (2054 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.