, AK: June 10, 1998.
Mr. President,
This General Assembly's Special Session on drugs provides us with a unique opportunity to examine successes and shortcomings in tackling the world drug problem. In the ten years that have passed since the adoption of the 1988 Convention much has been accomplished. But we still have a long way to go.
Mr. President,
The international drug control treaties have been created with the explicit purpose of protecting life and health. What these treaties have failed to do is to provide a proper framework for the vital element of "demand reduction". We are, therefore, deeply satisfied that this Special Session will put demand reduction high on the international drug control agenda by adopting a Declaration on Guiding Principles on Demand Reduction. These principles are a welcome and necessary addition to the treaties. The Declaration recognizes the very broad range of issues that are covered by the term demand reduction, stretching from prevention of first-time use all the way to reducing the negative consequences of drug abuse.
The declaration is an important step in the right direction. But we should not stop there. The next step should be to evaluate the results of our past efforts in order to find out what works and what does not. In discussing new strategies, let us not get trapped in the ideological disputes of the past. Let us instead base our discussions on facts and on the practical experiences we have gained over the years.
Mr. President,
We strongly believe that the only way to tackle the drug problem effectively is by means of an integrated and balanced approach that includes both demand reduction and supply reduction. For production and consumption are two sides of the same coin.
In combatting drug cultivation and production, we have several instruments at our disposal. These include alternative development and law enforcement measures, which should be applied on a case by case basis. We therefore welcome the action plan on eradication of illicit drug crops and on alternative development. In this plan the basic principles for effective alternative development programmes are established. We urge all countries and organisations to apply these principles to the best of their abilities.
Drug trafficking, by its nature, does not respect national boundaries. It calls for concerted action at all levels. As far as action within and by the European Union is concerned, I would like to refer to the speech of the EU Presidency. A region of particular interest to us is the Caribbean, a major transit area, in which parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, namely the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, are situated. We will continue to support the implementation of the Barbados Plan of Action. This presents an excellent framework for coordinated regional action, and is as yet the only one of its kind. In addition, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has recently taken the initiative to explore the possibilities for a formal agreement between the countries in the region to strengthen maritime cooperation.
Related to both drug production and trafficking is the fast growing problem of moneylaundering. This Special Session will approve a resolution, setting out the basic principles for efforts to counter it. As a next step, we should agree on a global set of measures to implement them. The Kingdom of the Netherlands, which plays an active role in the Financial Action Task Force as well as in its Caribbean branch, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force, will be happy to contribute to the establishment of such measures.
Mr. President,
Allow me to share with you some of the experiences of the Netherlands' demand reduction policy. Our primary aim is to protect health and social-well-being and to reduce the harm and risks associated with drug abuse. Within this context, we believe that drug users should not be criminalized for their habits, but, on the contrary, should be provided the help they need. This policy has shown some positive results.
First, our policy prevents drug users from going underground, where we cannot reach them. We have identified the various user groups and we know their habits. This has enabled us to develop targeted policy measures, which are more effective. By bringing it out into the open, drug use has become less glamorous. The clearest example of this is the use of opiates. For young people in the Netherlands now, heroine is for losers. Very few of them would think of trying it.
Secondly, thanks to a high standard of treatment, care and risk reduction, including methadone and needle exchange programmes, morbidity and mortality among drug users are relatively low. Such measures are also important to society in general, since they reduce the spread of infectious diseases such as Tuberculosis, AIDS and Hepatitis.
Now, one may ask whether our programmes do not lead to an increase in drug abuse. Our experience is that they do not. On the contrary, needle exchange programmes, for instance, have not led to more intravenous drug use, but they have led to less people sharing needles. Consequently, few addicts in the Netherlands suffer from AIDS.
Mr. President,
Each country must bear in mind that it should not impose its system on other countries as the only right and proper one. This would deny the specific circumstances of the drug problem that vary from country to country. In regional and international discussions we must find out what is the best approach for our peoples, based on experiences and arguments. We in the Netherlands believe that we are on the right track, encouraged as we are by results and figures. We have a wealth of experience in demand reduction programmes and are willing to contribute to the further development of the guiding principles on demand reduction and their implementation.
Whether the world will ever be completely free of drugs remains an open question. Control of drugs and drug related problems seems a more attainable goal. As we all know, even to reach this objective takes all the resources, both political and financial, that we can bring to bear. The Kingdom of the Netherlands stands ready to play its part. We look forward to working together with all of you.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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