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A/C.3/42/SR.32

Summary record of the 32nd meeting : 3rd Committee, held on Tuesday, 3 November 1987, New York, General Assembly, 42nd session.

Extracted Text

United Nations
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
FORTY-SECOND SESSION Official Records*

THTRD COMMITTEE
32 nd meeting
held on
Tuesday, 3 November 1937
at 10 a.m.
New York

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 32nd MEETING
Chairman: Mr. RITTER (Panama)
CONTENTS
AGENDA ITEM 88: NATIONAL EXPFRTENCE IN ACHIEVING FAR-REACHING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGES FOR THE PURPOSE OF SOCIAL PROGRESS (continued)
AGENDA ITEM 89: QUESTION OF AGING: REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (continued)
AGENDA ITEM 90: POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES INVOLVING YOUTH: REPORTS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (continued)
AGENDA ITEM 93: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD PPOGRAMME OF ACTION CONCERNING DISABLED PERSONS AND THE UNITED NATIONS DECADE OF DISABLED PERSONS: REPORTS OF THF SECRFTARY-GENERAL (continued)
AGENDA TTEM 94: *** PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICF. (continued)
AGENDA ITEM 141: INTERREGIONAL CONSULTATION ON DEVELOPMENTAL SOCIAL WET FARE POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES (continued)
AGENDA ITEM 104: INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST TRAFFIC IN DRUGS (continued)

Distr. GENERAL
A/C.3/42/SR.32
A/C.3/42/SR.32 5 November 1987
********

87-56671 7249S (E)

ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

A/C.3/42/SR.32 English Page 2
The meeting was called to order at 10.25 a.m.
AGENDA ITEM 88« NATIONAL, EXPERIENCE IN ACHIEVING FAR-REACHING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGES FOR THE PURPOSE OF SOCIAL PROGRESS (continued) (A/C.3/42/L.3, L.23 and L.24)
AGENDA ITEM 89: QUESTION OF AGING: REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (continued) (A/C.3/42/L.16/Rev.1)
AGENDA ITEM 90: POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES INVOLVING YOUTH: REPORTS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (continued) (A/C.3/42/L.17, L.18, L.19 and L.20)
AGENDA ITEM 93: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD PROGRAMME OF ACTION CONCERNING DISABLED PERSONS AND THE UNITED NATIONS DECADE OF DISABLED PERSONS: REPORTS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (continued) (A/C.3/42/L.25)
AGENDA ITEM 94: CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (continued) (A/C.3/42/L.22)
AGENDA ITEM 141: INTERREGIONAL CONSULTATION ON DEVELOPMENTAL SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES (continued) (A/C.3/42/L.21)
Draft Resolution A/C.3/42/L.3
1. Miss BYRNE (United States of America), speaking in explanation of vote before the vote, recalled that at the 21st meeting she had announced that the United States would no longer adhere to the Declaration on Social Progress and Development. The Declaration had been adopted at a time when ideas about the role of Government in social development and in providing social welfare were very different. The United States had learned that Government, even in the richest countries, could not alone provide massive social welfare programmes on a scale such as that suggested in the Declaration. Individual needs varied so greatly that centralized social welfare schemes were often counterproductive to the effort to allow all individuals to become self-sufficient and independent. In the United States, the contribution of the private sector and of State and local Governments to social progress and development were an essential part of all effective social programmes.
2. The United States had consistently taken exception to language used throughout the Declaration which it could not endorse as c prescription for either social or economic development. As demonstrated by its decision not to participate in the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development, the United States categorically rejected the notion contained in article 27 of the Declaration that the achievement of disarmament would necessarily result in the channeling of resources into economic development or the promotion of social welfare. Consequently, her delegation could not participate in the action the Committee was about to take to commemorate the anniversary of a Declaration it did not support.

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3. Mr. NENEMAN (Poland) said that when the *** had been adopted by the General Assembly, the membership of the United tons was much the same as it was now. Unlike many earlier documents, the Declaration was a very representative document emanating from the common experience and wisdom of developed, developing and socialist countries. Its importance for social progress was comparable to the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for the observance of human rights. Not all the provisions of the Declaration were acceptable to all delegations, but that was true of any major United Nations document because the United Nations was a universal and diverse organization.
4. The Declaration set high standards in the field of social progress and development, which helped explain its topicality and longevity. At the time of its adoption, General Assembly resolution 2543 (XXIV) concerning its implementation had also been adopted, inviting Governments and the United Nations to be guided by the provisions of the Declaration.
5. Over the years the Declaration had been a source of coherent and well-defined guidelines. The aim of draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.3 was to provide for a modest, solemn programme of observance in 1989 of the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration and to seek the views of States on the impact of the Declaration on their policies and programmes. He hoped that the draft resolution would be adopted by consensus, as had been the case in the Commission for Social Development and the Economic and Social Council.
6. Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.3 was adopted without a vote. Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.23
7. Miss KAMAL (Secretary of the Committee) said that she had been informed that in operative paragraph 4, the word "work" should be changed to "activity".
8. Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.23, as amended, was adopted without a vote. Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.24

9. Miss BYRNE (United States of America), speaking in explanation of vote before the vote, said that her delegation would be obliged to vote against draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.24 because it referred to a multitude of documents which the United States had opposed in the past. All those documents and resolutions contained ideas, principles and language which were unacceptable to her Government.
10. At the request of the representative of the United States of America, a recorded vote was taken on draft resolution A/C.3/42/L/24.
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, eahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus,

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Czechoslovakia, Democratic Kampuchea, Democratic Yemen, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, German Democratic Republic, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Agalnst: United States of America.
Abstaining: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Federal Republic of, Israel, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
11. Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.24 was adopted by 106 votes to 1, with 11 abstentions.
13. Ms. LEGWAILA (Botswana), Mr. SHIRAMBERE (Burundi), Mr. AYINA (Cameroon), Mr. RAMIREZ-MARDONES (El Salvador), Mrs. IBRAHIM (Nigeria), Mr. KABASHA (Rwanda) and Mr. MAPHALALAMR (Swaziland) said that they had intended to vote in favour of draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.24.
Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.16/Rev.1
13. Misa KAMAL (Secretary of the Committee) said that she had been informed of minor drafting changes in operative paragraph 6. She added that Barbados, Costa Rica, C6te d'lvoire, Federal Republic of Germany, Senegal and the United States of America had become sponsors of the draft resolution.
14. Mrs. ALVAREZ (Dominican Republic) suggested that the English text of operative paragraph 6 should be brought into line with the Spanish text.
15. Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.16/Rev.1, with minor drafting changes, was adopted without a vote.
Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.17
16. Miss KAMAL (Secretary of the Committee) said that Cameroon had become a
sponsor of the draft resolution.

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17. Miss BROSNAKOVA (Czechoslovakia) said that in operative paragraph 3, the words "to lay special emphasis on" should be changed to "to take due account of the words "by States" should be added after "implementation".
18. Miss BYRNE (United States of America), speaking in explanation of vote before the vote, said that her delegation was obliged to vote against draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.17 because it believed that the opportunity to work and receive an education was best provided by a society which respected individual liberty and fundamental freedoms. Moreover, it was self-evident that the provision of educational and employment opportunities was a worthy goal for all societies. That goal was best achieved by unleashing the talents of individuals so that they could produce the economic growth and expansion which created opportunities for all.
19. Mr. HAMER (Netherlands) suggested that in the title of the draft resolution, the words "by States" should be added after "the implementation".
20. At the request of the representative of the United States of America, a recorded vote was taken on draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.17.
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Kampuchea, Democratic Yemen, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, German Democratic Republic, Germany, Federal Republic of, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libyan Arab ***, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, ***, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia.

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Against: United states of America. Abstaining: None.
21. Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.17, as amended, was adopted by 131 votes to 1.
22. Ms. LEGWAILA (Botswana), Mr. RAMIRBZ-MARDONES (El Salvador) and Ma. ZINDOGA (Zimbabwe) said that they had intended to vote in favour of draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.17*
Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.18
23. Miss KAMAL (Secretary of the Committee) said that Costa Rica, Egypt, Indonesia and Poland had become sponsors of the draft resolution. She recalled that when the representative of Austria had introduced the draft resolution, he had replaced operative paragraph 5 with a new paragraph.
24. Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.18, as amended, was adopted without a vote.
25. Miss BYRNE (United States of America) said that although she had voted with the majority, her delegation considered the premise of operative paragraph 4 to be seriously flawed: government-funded make-work projects for youth did not contribute to economic growth, which was the only lasting generator of job opportunities.
Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.19
26. Miss KAMAL (Secretary of the Committee) said that Cameroon, Iraq, Malta, Peru, Thailand and Yemen had become sponsors of the draft resolution.
27. Mr. LINDHOLM (Sweden) and Mr. VOICU (Romania) suggested drafting changes in the interest of consistency.
28. Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.19, with minor drafting changes, was adopted without a vote.
Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.20
29. Miss KAMAL (Secretary of the Committee) said that the Byelorussian SSR,
Cameroon, Djibouti, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar and Rwanda had become
sponsors of draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.20.
30. Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.20 was adopted without a vote. Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.25
31. hiss KAMAL (Secretary of the Committee) said that the co-sponsors had removed the word "management" from the second line of operative paragraph 9, and that Kenya, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Guatemala and Sudan had become sponsors of the draft resolution.

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32. Mr. OULD MOHAMED LEMINE MOHAMED SALECK (Mauritania) said that draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.25 was important because the disabled accounted for a sizeable portion of the world population. Under the proper conditions, that group could contribute enormously to the social and economic progress of their countries.
33. His country recognized disabled persons as full-fledged citizens and had taken action for the prevention and treatment of disabilities, as well as for the rehabilitation and training of the disabled. Several schools had been established for the education of the disabled and they were employed in a variety of activities. His delegation was therefore proud to support the draft resolution.
It also drew attention to the urgent need to recognize the capacities of the disabled, rather than pity them, and to establish policies and structures and mobilize the resources necessary for the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons especially in the developing countries.
34. Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.25 was adopted without a vote. Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.22
35. Miss KAMAL (Secretary of the Committee) drew the attention of the Committee to operative paragraph 11 of draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.22, which requested the Secretary-General to report to the forty-third session of the General Assembly on the implementation of the draft resolution, taking into account the relevant recommendations of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control at its tenth session and of the Economic and Social Council. She informed the Committee that the tenth session of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control had been rescheduled from February 1988 to August 1988. The recommendations made by the Committee at its tenth session would therefore be considered by the Council at its first regular session of 1989, instead of 1988. In view of the rescheduling of the tenth session of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control, the Third Committee might wish to consider requesting the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the resolution to the forty-fourth session of the General Assembly, instead of the forty-third session.
36. Mr. BUSACCA (Italy) said that the technical point raised by the Secretary deserved the full attention of the Committee His delegation proposed deleting the words "and of the Economic and Social Council" from the fourth line of operative paragraph 11 of draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.22 because the Council might not have sufficient time to consider the report of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control before the next session of the General Assembly. Although his delegation had not had time to consult the other sponsors regarding that proposed amendment, he hoped it would be acceptable to them.
37. The CHAIRMAN announced that Colombia, Cuba, Greece, Netherlands, Philippines, Uruguay, Yugoslavia and the United States had become sponsors of the draft resolution.
38. Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.22 was adopted as amended without a vote.

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Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.21
39. Miss KAMAL (Secretary of the Committee) said that the co-sponsors of draft
resolution A/C. 3/42/L. 21 had introduced a new operative paragraph 9 which read:
"Reaffirms the decision of the Economic and Social Council that the Commission for
Social Development shall review at its thirty-first session the results of the
Interregional Consultation on Developmental Social Welfare Policies and
Programmes." Operative paragraph 9 as it now appeared in draft resolution
A/C.3/42/L.21 would become operative paragraph 10 of the amended draft resolution, and the words "to convey its views concerning the implementation of the guiding principles to the Commission for Social Development for consideration at its thirty-first session, in 1989, and in that paragraph would be deleted. She also announced that Colombia, Cuba, Italy and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic had become sponsors of the draft resolution.
40. Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.21 was adopted without a vote .
41. The CHAIRMAN invited Committee members to speak in explanation of vote on any of the draft resolutions adopted.
42. Miss BYRNE (United States of America), speaking in explanation of vote on draft resolution A/C.3/42/L/21 said that although her delegation had joined the consensus on that resolution, it had done so with reservations, in full keeping with its position after the Interregional Consultation on Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in Vienna. Her delegation considered that the principles the resolution wished to implement were too vague and self-contradictory to accomplish their avowed aims.
43. Mr. GALAL (Egypt) said that his delegation had supported all four of the draft resolutions on youth. However, in the interest of rationalizing the work of the Main Committees of the General Assembly, he urged those who had submitted the draft resolutions and all other interested delegations to meet before the next session of the General Assembly and to Endeavour to draft a single unified resolution on youth, as had been done at the current session for the draft resolutions on aging and the disabled.
44. Mr. HAMER (Netherlands) said that his delegation supported the statement made by the representative of Egypt regarding merging the texts of the draft resolutions on youth. He hoped that at the next session of the General Assembly the Third Committee would adopt a single resolution which would embrace all the cardinal points in the field of youth.
45. Ms. COLL (Ireland) said that her delegation appreciated the changes that had
been made in operative paragraph 3 and the title of draft resolution
A/C.3/42/L.17. As a result of those changes, the draft resolution better expressed the fact that the effective enjoyment of human rights by youth should be brought to the attention of the Commission for Social Development. However., the inclusion of the words "in conditions of peace" in the title of the draft resolution would not be conducive to maintairing a sharp focus on the obligations of States for the implementation of human rights.

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46. Mr. KRENKEL (Austria) said that his delegation had abstained from voting on draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.24 because it had reservations regarding the wording of operative paragraphs 4 and 5 concerning the submission of national reports on far-reaching social and economic changes for the purpose of social progress. The issues of economic changes and social progress had already been dealt with in other reports and studies. His delegation supported rationalizing reporting procedures in all fields. It also fully supported the statements made by the representatives . of Egypt and the Netherlands regarding merging of the draft resolutions on youth.
47. Mr. QUINN (Australia) said that his delegation had abstained from voting on draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.24 because it considered that operative paragraph 5 was of marginal value and represented a duplication of reporting in other areas, including that of human rights. His delegation would have hoped that the draft resolutions on agenda item 88 had contained more provisions regarding biennialization of consideration of the subjects under the item, which would allow greater rationalization of the Committee's work, as well as a more in-depth consideration of particular subjects. His delegation also fully supported the statement made by the representative of Egypt regarding consolidating the draft resolutions on youth.
48. Mr. VOICU (Romania) said that although his delegation attached great importance to the concept of rationalization of work, it thought that the Committee should not act too hastily. Rationalization of work was not synonymous with a mechanical merging of draft resolutions. Each resolution had to be examined on its own merits, and it would be difficult to cover all the aspects of the issue of youth in a single resolution.
49. The CHAIRMAN said that before concluding consideration of the second cluster of items, he wished to draw the attention of the Committee to document A/42/56-E/1987/7 entitled "National experience in promoting the co-operative movement", under agenda item 88. I: there was no objection, he would take it that the Committer wished to take note of that report.
50. It was so decided.
AGENDA ITEM 104: INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST TRAFFIC IN DRUGS (continued)
51. Mr. KASEMSRI (Thailand) said that the international community continued to face the problem of drug abuse. The threat to the well-being of mankind remained pervasive and had gained a terrible new dimension with the specter of AIDS. While some progress had been made since the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, only the groundwork had been laid. It was imperative that the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control and the Declaration should be translated into tangible results through the exercise of the necessary political will. Efforts to implement the guidelines adopted at the Conference must be made at the national, regional and international levels.
52. His delegation appreciated the report of the Secretary-General (A/42/594) , and supported the actions he proposed. It also favoured any effort to strengthen the

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(Mr. Kasemsri, Thailand)
cole of international, bodies in the co-ordination of drug control activities, including increased support for the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control (UNFDAC). Financial constraints, as discussed in paragraph 30 of document A/42/594, could have a crippling effect on the collective efforts of the United Nations system in its campaign against drug trafficking it was incumbent on Member States to take steps to resolve that problem.
53. The preparation of a draft convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances was another positive development in the fight against drug**]abuses a convention would complement and strengthen existing international drug control instruments.
54. As part of its territory was situated in the "Golden Triangle", Thailand had been familiar for many years with the problems of drug abuse and illicit trafficking. His country's war against illegal drugs consisted of a two-pronged strategy. The first, law enforcement, had been implemented through a number of stringent measures against drug traffickers, which had significantly disrupted the smuggling of heroin through Thailand to foreign destinations. The second, preventive education, was aimed at children, youth and hill tribesmen in opium-growing regions. Projects for the treatment and rehabilitation of addicts also received extensive support. The crop-substitution programme, initiated by the King of Thailand in 1969, and aimed at improving the welfare of the hill tribesmen, had proven to be highly successful. Under the progiamme, acreage formerly under opium was used for the cultivation of other cash crops, resulting in a significant reduction in the opium crop. In *** connection, his delegation wished to express its deep appreciation to the United Nations system, UNFDAC in particular, for its support and assistance.
55. At the regional level, his country had co-operated with the other members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to implement recommendations of that body's meetings of the Senior Officials on drug Matters. That had led to the development of measures, especially in the field of law enforcement, to suppress drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the region. Efforts exerted under the aegis of the regional united Nations offices, Bangkok in particular, had added an important dimension to that regional co-operation.
56. Thailand, as a long-standing member of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, had participated actively in United Nations efforts to combat the drug menace. However, reduction in the supply of drugs often led to the development of new sources and, consequently, efforts to eradicate drug trafficking were often beset with difficulties. It was only through concerted action based on the determination of the international community that the common goal could be achieved, and his country was resolved to continue to do its part in that effort.
57. Mr. ABRAHAM (Hungary) said that the drug abuse situation in the world had reached alarming proportions, and his country had therefore welcomed the convening of the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The

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(Mr. Abraham, Hungary)
Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control (ICDAIT) contained a wide range of suggestions and recommendations which could help to strengthen the system of drug control and intensify the fight against illicit traffic in argues. While not legally binding, the Outline reflected the collective will of States to take effective action. In that connection, he emphasized the urgent need for States that were not yet parties to the international conventions governing the control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances to ratify or accede to those instruments.
58. As emphasized by both texts adopted at ICDAIT, the United Nations system played an important part in efforts to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking. Consequently, his country strongly supported the continuation and strengthening of the control functions and respective roles of the International Narcotics Control Board, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the Division of Narcotic Drugs and the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control.
59. Decisions on the proposals contained in the Secretary-General's report on ICDAIT were bound to influence United Nations activities in the long term and should only be taken following careful study by experts in the field. His delegation believed that the General Assembly at its forty-second session should adopt the report as a whole and refer the proposals to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs for its consideration. Moreover, all decision-making should be deferred for one year.
60. While drug abuse did not constitute a major social or public health problem in his country, cases of abuse of some pharmaceuticals for non-medical purposes and of forged prescriptions were on the increase. His country was one of the first in the world to organize regulatory drug control and to introduce compulsory registration of pharmaceuticals. Thus, the entire drug distribution network in his country was under the strict control of the competent national health authorities.
61. At the same time, his Government was aware that drug abuse had become a universal phenomenon and that international co-operation to combat the problem was necessary. His Government was participating in those international efforts in the following ways: (a) by providing the relevant United Nations bodies with Information concerning the international legal trade in certain drugs in order to facilitate the prevention, monitoring and tracing of drug diversions; (b) by taking an active part in the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking; (c) ** tupporting the development of the proposed draft convention against illicit traffic; (d) by offering co-operation to the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control; and (e) by strengthening national control measures.
62. Mr. OSHAN (Brunei Darussalam) said that drug abuse and illicit trafficking, with the destruction of human values and disruption of law and order it brought in its wake, had increased to the point where the security and stability of nations was threatened.
63. Although the drug abuse problem in his country was minimal, his Government was
nevertheless aware of the dangers and had taken the appropriate preventive steps.

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(Mr. Osman, Brunei Darussalam)
It had attempted to promote public awareness of the dangers of drug abuse and had launched a national empaign to contain it, stressing community participation in that effort. His country's overall strategy was based on the development of effective preventive measures, strengthening of law enforcement agencies, provision of sufficient deterrent capabilities, strengthening of treatment and rehabilitation facilities and supporting international efforts to curb production and trafficking.
64. Eradication of the drug problem involved regional and international co-operation. His country was a member of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and had undertaken a number of collective projects with other members of that group. ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Masters also met regularly to discuss and exchange ideas on ways to combat drug abuse. In addition, his country collaborated closely with its dialogue partners, who had also greatly assisted ASEAN.
65. The International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was of great significance in the efforts of the international community to eradicate the drug menace. The success of the Conference, based on the political will of nations to take collective action, had been reflected in the Declaration produced by the Conference. His delegation fully endorsed the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control, whose recommendations could serve as guidelines for all Governments and organizations.
66. Reaffirming his delegation's strong commitment to the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, he announced that his country would make a contribution of $US 5,000 to UNFDAC in the hope that it would assist that body in carrying out its mandate.
67. Mr. MOULTRIE (The Bahamas) said that the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking had been convened in response to the growing severity and complexity of the drug abuse problem throughout the world. The Declaration was a reflection of the political will of States to take collective and decisive actions on the drug problem, and the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control provided the framework within which that action might be taken. The commitment and consensus of ICDAIT must now be translated into concrete action, which should be spearheaded by the United Nations.
68. A number of useful suggestions for future drug control efforts had been presented in the report of the Secretary-General. on ICDAIT. While not wishing to pre-empt the work of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, his country wished to express its initial reaction to a number of matters raised in that report. Follow-up to ICDAIT was a long-term process and would be undertaken by international drug control bodies. His delegation regretted that financial constraints and the recruitment freeze had impaired the capacity of those bodies to perform effectively. Resources for those bodies should be restored to former levels and additional resources should be provided. As greater emphasis was being placad on prevention and reduction of demand and treatment and rehabilitation, his delegation hoped that the required expertise in those areas would be harnessed. That expertise could be a viable and cost-effective alternative to the appointment of special rapporteurs.

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English
Page 13
(Mr. Moultrie, The Bahamas)
69. The establishment of an international clay for drug abuse control could be useful in raising public awareness of the dangers posed by illicit drugs and the positive efforts to counteract the problem. The launching of an international year, however, might not achieve the desired impact and that issue would be3t be raised in the context of the second international conference envisaged for 1992.
70. The review of the reporting price urea of the international drug control programme could serve a useful purpose in helping to rationalize those procedures. However, adding that task to the agenda of the tenth special session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs would further increase its workload. Unless the time allotted to the tenth special session was extended, the Commission could not reasonably be expected to perform its tasks effectively.
71. Inasmuch as the illicit drug trade crossed national boundaries, effective drug control was dependent on the development of sustained co-operation between States Yet, for many developing countries, difficulties could be created when expectations of their participation in international drug control were out of line with their capabilities. Their ability to meet international obligations was dependent to some extent on the level of international assistance they received. UNFDAC had become an invaluable source of funding and expertise for developing countries, including The Bahamas. Therefore, his country endorsed the Secretary-General's appeal for States to contribute generously to that fund, and wished to acknowledge the substantial contribution made by Italy.
72. Although The Bahamas produced no narcotics raw materials, it was used by international drug traffickers as a transit point owing to its strategic location. That illicit traffic was the root of all drug control problems in The Bahamas.
73. Action taken to counteract the problem included the adoption, in January 1987, of an act to provide new powers for tracing and freezing the proceeds of drug crimes and a confiscation order to be imposed on persons convicted of drug offences. Further measures included parliamentary bills to amend the 1973 Defense Act and the 1965 Police Act to provide for compulsory drug testing of the security forces, and a bill to enable sentences of life imprisonment to be imposed in certain cases of possession of dangerous drugs. His country continued to co-operate with the United States in joint interdiction exercises, for which a joint task force had recently been established. The two countries had also recently signed an agreement for mutual law enforcement assistance.
74. Those activities were in keeping with the provisions of the draft convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic 3ubstances. His country regarded work on that text as of top priority; it also attached great importance to the ratification of, accession to and implementation of existing international drug control treaties: The Bahamas had become a State party to the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. The establishment of the Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Latin America and the Caribbean Region, as a standing body of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs should help to co-ordinate drug control activities in the region. Contact between that body and those of other regions

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during meetings of the Commission should further enhance interregional co-operation and co-ordination. It was expected that the Sessional Working Group convened by the Commission during its thirty-second regular session would be the forum for addressing the problem.
75. His country reaffirmed its support for international drug control efforts, and undertook to adopt the requisite national measures. It assured the Co-ordinator of United Nations Drug Control-related Activities, and all international drug control bodies, of its continued support.
76. Ms. DU Yong (China) said that her delegation wished to join others in efforts to find a more effective response to the problem of drug abuse and illicit trafficking. In many areas of the world drug-related crimes of violence were increasing the problem was growing worse and called for concerted international action. The United Nations was accordingly playing an increasingly important role: the activities of its competent organs, the instruments promulgated or being drafted, and events such as the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and the resulting Outline and Declaration, would encourage Governments to participate more actively in a global struggle against drug abuse and would be useful in drawing up proposals for national measures against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
77. Effective action at the national level was the key to the success of efforts at regional and international levels. Governments should adopt practical measures at home in the light of their social and economic conditions. In addition, Governments must take an active part n international initiatives and in reaching international or regional agreements by participating in conferences on drug abuse questions and work on the draft convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Thirdly, international co-operation should be strengthened in areas such as the elimination and substitution of illegal production of narcotics, interdiction of illicit trafficking, reduction of demand and control of supply.
78. In recent years her country's law enforcement agencies had taken timely and effective measures against transit trafficking. It would continue vigorously to enforce the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. Guided by the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control, it would formulate or amend measures to prevent drug abuse and interdict illicit trafficking; and it would continue to strengthen its co-operation with United Nations bodies such as the International Narcotics Control Board and the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control.
79. Mrs. KAUL (India) said that the success of the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking demonstrated the high priority that the international community attached to the problem) the United Nations could rightly be proud of its leadership in bringing nations together in determined action against drug production, trafficking and abuse. The problem had to be attacked on all fronts; it would be wrong to view the illicit supply of drugs merely in terms

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(Mrs. Kaul, India)
of demand or to think that demand would be automatically suppressed by strict enforcement action to curtail supply.
80. The drug problem had assumed international proportions, causing serious
problems for transit countries like her own. Although the problem of transit
trafficking, with the resultant increase in new criminal elements and ' incidence
of addiction among young people, particularly in the cities, had not*****
assumed alarming proportions, the Government was seriously concerned, ever, and
had adopted preventive and enforcement measures. A comprehensive law enacted in
1985 provided for strong deterrents, including a minimum prison sentence of
10 years for a first offence and a minimum of 15 years for a repeated offence. A central Narcotics *** Bureau organized action against illicit trafficking. The large quantities of drugs seized by the authorities testified to the success of its efforts. The anti-drug trafficking struggle had been a strain on national resources; that why the fight against the drug menace should be regarded as an international nd a collective responsibility, backed by the efforts of individual Governments.
81. The need for increased cooperation national administrations was
obvious, and was broadly envisaged in the draft convention against illicit traffic
in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Regional action to combat drug
abuse had been identified as a major area of co-operation in her country's region.
A technical committee formed by member countries of the South Asian Association for
Regional Co-operation, meeting earlier in 1987, had made valuable suggestions for
increased co-operation, including the areas of treatment and rehabilitation for
drug addicts, the member countries had also participated actively in meetings of
ONLEA.
82. India fully supported the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control, through which all control drug systems should be channeled, it had made a financial contribution to the Fund for 1987 and would continue to support it in future. India, as the world's largest producer of licit opium, had always been interested in that area of United Nations activity. It was a contracting party to all major international treaties and conventions on drug abuse control.
83. India's opium cultivation and production licensing and control system had been accepted as a model and incorporated in the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The country's stringent controls had kept diversion for illicit cultivation to a minimum. Opium cultivation had in fact been reduced in recent years, and efforts were being made to reduce it further.
84. in that connection, she drew attention to General Assembly resolution 3G/168, which approved the Strategy and basic five-year programme of action formulated by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. The Strategy called upon countries which produced or manufactured opiates to exercise restraint and restrict their production and manufacture mainly to domestic requirements. The Strategy also stressed that importing countries should obtain their requirements from traditional supplier countries. Implementation of the Strategy's provisions would help to

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(Mrs, Kaul, India)
alleviate the financial and socio-economic consequences for the producer countries of restricting output. Producer countries, including India and Turkey, had always stressed the importance of international co-operation in solving the problem of excess stocks, noted in the International Narcotics Control Board's latest report; the matter could not be viewed in a commercial context alone.
85. It was important to have a system of full reporting on all sources of opium traded internationally and to keep world demand and supply of raw materials for the licit manufacture of opiates under continuous review. In that context, her country appealed to producer and manufacturing nations to exercise voluntary restraint.
86. The draft convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances should include provisions to bring poppy straw within the dei***Lnition of controlled substances, since the commodity was susceptible to abuse, as reported by the International Narcotics Control Board. The progress made on the draft convention was welcome, as was the Declaration produced by the recent Conference as an expression of growing political will to combat the drug abuse menace. Moreover, the Outline was a source of important recommendations on all key issues which the United Nations and Member States should implement.
87. Mr. MARWAT (Pakistan) said that the unanimous adoption of the Declaration and Outline at the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking testified to the political commitment of the Organization's Member States to concerted action at all levels to eliminate the drug abuse problem. The measures taken at the Conference constituted a global strategy to fight a truly global menace and an agreed basis for further action.
88. One aspect hitherto given insufficient attention at the international level was the need to curtail and reduce demand for narcotic substances for illicit purposes. Much emphasis had been placed on curbing supply, but given the market dynamics, technical innovations, including synthetic drugs and organized trafficking, had created obstacles blocking progress, as the recent Conference had recognized.
89. The fourfold strategy of reducing demand, controlling supply, suppressing and punishing illicit traffickers and providing treatment and rehabilitation for addicts was a sound basis for a major assault on the drug menace. The United Nations system must reflect the priority attached to the task by the world community and the Member States' political commitment, which had to be translated into national programmes. The capacity of the United Nations system for promoting a co-ordinate and integrated approach must be enhanced} politicization of the problem and a selective and discriminatory approach must be eschewed; only sincere participation by all States would ensure success.
90. As pointed out in the Secretary-General report on the recent Conference (A/42/594), current financial constraints had impaired the capacity of both the secretariat of the International Narcotics Control Board and the Division of Narcotic Drugs to carry out their respective work programmes. Such constraints

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should not be allowed to affect adversely those programmes of special interest to Member States, particularly the developing countries. It was hoped that the situation could be rectified soon.
91. His delegation was not fully convinced that the Commission on Narcotic Drugs required the assistance of special reporters; the Division of Narcotic Drugs should be able to provide the required assistance for the task concerned and the Commission would need to rationalize its programme of work. His delegation supported the Secretary-General's proposal that the Outline should be issued as a United Nations publication and widely disseminated. The suggestions regarding reporting procedures required further thought. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs should also examine the proposal for a combined data system. The suggestions about increasing expertise in the Secretariat in all aspects of drug control and making that expertise easily available to developing countries were welcome. Lastly, the resources of the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control should be augmented.
92. His delegation was grateful to the Secretary-General tor reflecting, in his report, its proposal to establish an international drug abuse prevention resource centre within the United Nations. He hoped that the Commission on Narcotic Drugs would study the Secretary-General's suggestions carefully, so that the Council and Assembly could then take appropriate decisions. His delegation also supported the idea of observing an international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking each year; perhaps the General Assembly could take a decision on the matter at its current session.
93. Pakistan reiterated its firm commitment to the international campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. There was a national ban on poppy cultivation, and the Government had taken all possible measures, which had met with success and enjoyed broad support, to eradicate illicit production. The people's elected representatives, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions and the media all helped in arousing public awareness and according high priority to the issue. Illicit poppy crops had been destroyed voluntarily. The problem was compounded, however, by cross-border smuggling. Despite the problem of checking such flows because of the difficult terrain, the record of drug enforcement agencies was. impressive, most of the quantities involved having been seized. Domestic legislation provided for strict punishment of illicit trafficking, including life imprisonment. The country had also participated actively at the regional level, particularly within the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation, to combat drug abuse.
94. The Government and people of Pakistan were committed to eliminating the drug menace. Since the abuse of narcotics was forbidden by Islam, the nation had a religious obligation to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
The meeting rose at 12.50 p.m.