DATE=2/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245734
TITLE=U-N / DRUGS / SATELLITES (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS (FRIDAY) IT HAS REACHED AN 
AGREEMENT WITH THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY TO PROVIDE SATELLITE 
MONITORING OF ILLICIT DRUG CROPS AROUND THE WORLD.  THE AGREEMENT
IS PART OF THE UNITED NATIONS' STEPPED-UP EFFORT TO COMBAT THE 
PRODUCTION AND ABUSE OF DRUGS WORLD-WIDE.  V-O-A'S U-N 
CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.

TEXT:  THE DIRECTOR OF THE U-N DRUG CONTROL PROGRAM, PINO 
ARLACCHI, SAYS THE AGREEMENT IS AN IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENT IN THE 
FIGHT AGAINST ILLICIT DRUGS.  HE SAYS IT WILL ALLOW THE DRUG 
CONTROL PROGRAM, THE U-N-D-C-P, TO DETERMINE ACCURATELY AND ON A 
WORLD-WIDE SCALE HOW EFFECTIVE ITS PROGRAMS ARE.

                      /// ARLACCHI ACT ///

         THE AGREEMENT WILL PROVIDE THE U-N-D-C-P WITH ALL THE 
         INFORMATION AND DATA ABOUT CULTIVATION OF OPIUM, COCA 
         AND CANNABIS IN MOST COUNTRIES THAT ARE AFFECTED.  
         COUNTRIES THAT ARE OBSERVED WILL BE THE OWNERS OF THE 
         DATA AND THE UNITED NATIONS WILL BE THE CO-OWNER OF THE 
         DATA.  THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENT BECAUSE FOR 
         THE FIRST TIME ... IT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE 
         DEVELOPED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE AGREEMENT ... WE COULD
         HAVE AN EFFECTIVE INSTRUMENT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE 

         SITUATION OF ILLEGAL CROPS AND WHAT ARE THE PROGRESSES 
         OR FAILURES IN OUR ACTIONS TO ELIMINATE THESE CROPS.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. ARLACCHI SAYS THE AGREEMENT IS ONE OF SEVERAL STEPS FORWARD 
IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS SINCE A MAJOR U-N DRUG CONTROL SUMMIT 
WAS HELD IN NEW YORK LAST YEAR.  HE SAYS THE U-N-D-C-P HAS ALSO 
HELPED RAISE 270 MILLION DOLLARS TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE WORK FOR 
COCA PRODUCERS IN PERU.  HE SAYS SIMILAR PROGRAMS, WITH FUNDING 
FROM INTERNATIONAL DONORS, ARE PLANNED FOR COLOMBIA AND OTHER 
COUNTRIES.

AT THE SUMMIT LAST YEAR, WORLD LEADERS AGREED TO FIGHT ILLICIT 
DRUGS PRIMARILY BY REDUCING CULTIVATION.  THAT PLAN WAS 
CRITICIZED BY MANY NON-GOVERNMENTAL GROUPS AS USELESS.  THEY SAID
DRUG PRODUCTION AND ABUSE SHOULD BE FOUGHT THROUGH DEMAND 
REDUCTION MEASURES, INCLUDING SOCIAL PROGRAMS IN DEVELOPED 
COUNTRIES.

MR. ARLACCHI SAYS HE IS CONVINCED THAT DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM 
BY REDUCING CULTIVATION IS ALREADY PRODUCING GOOD RESULTS.  
(SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/JO

19-Feb-99 3:13 PM EST (2013 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.