Counternarcotics issues

Russia, Moscow, 14 February 2006

Dear Friends,

Distinguished G-8 partners.

My name is A.Rogov /Deputy Head of Department on New Challenges and Threats, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia/.

First of all we are happy to see you in Moscow and hope, that you’ll enjoy you stay in our city. Second it’s a double pleasure to have our meeting at St. Valentine Day. We hope that the spirit of St.Valentine would prevail today. I want also to mention that there is something symbolic that we take a lead in G8 after the United Kingdom, which was the first Western Nation that opened Russian in 16 Century. I just want to remind you that four centuries ago English merchants seeking the north-east passage to China arrived unexpectedly in the white sea and discovered new markets in Russia. After some delays the english were forwarded to Moscow and received with honor by Tsar Ivan the Terrible who entered into long negotiations for a union with Queen Elizabeth. Much water has passed under the bridge since that time. Now we are all partners and allies in the fight against new challenges and threats that swept the planet and endanger our basic values, including security, stability and democracy.

I hope, that your meeting would help to better our counter-narcotics cooperation and coordination and open up new perspectives in the fight against global narco-threat.

Now I want to say a few words about our agenda.

First we propose to focus on the Russian initiative to hold an international high-level conference on narco-trafficking from Afghanistan "Paris Two-Moscow One", which we consider as an important input into global counter-narcotics efforts. After that our UK experts would brief us on the key priorities highlighted in the National Drug Control strategy in Afghanistan. In the second stage of our job we would consider matrix on Afghanistan and matrix on Columbia.

During or after lunch we’ll finalize our discussion.

Now with your indulgence I want to switch to the first topic of our agenda and share some ideas on the situation in Afghanistan and the Russian initiative to convene "Paris Two-Moscow One" Conference.

Afghanistan. (I borrowed these findings documents from the UK position paper):

• UNODC reports, that opium poppy cultivation has decreased by 21%;
• Government institutions are taking shape in Kabul;
• The Government of Afghanistan has launched the counter Narcotics Trust Fund which provides a mechanism for donors to donate directly to the Counter Narcotics effort;
• Law Enforcement is increasing in strength;
• There is some progress in Alternative Livelihoods programs, but as our British partners note, it is a long-term effort.

At the same time despite good faith efforts on the part of the Central Afghanistan Government, we are concerned about increased opium production in this country. Afghan poppies have become the principal source of heroin for the international criminal community. Afghan opium alone could probably satisfy world heroin demand. Global heroin traffic can not be reduced unless there are important reductions in Afghan opium poppy cultivation. In other words Afghanistan is still on the verge of becoming a narcotics state.

Since drugs in Afghanistan are both the cause and effect of corruption and terrorism new increases in cultivation and production are still quite possible and loaded with strategic consequences for Afghanistan, as well as for the entire international community. We are especially concerned with the trend of migration of opium cultures to border areas affected by security threats as well as general increase in cultivation.

Just a few comments about current narco-situation in Russia.

According to our estimates five to six million Russians use illegal drugs on a regular basis. (By the end of 2004 the number of officially registered addicts in Russia amounted to 400.000 people.)

With the rapid expansion of drug trafficking, there has been a significant increase in drug-related criminal activities. Within the last decade the number of drug-related crimes increased 14 fold.

The rise in heroin trafficking cause the increase of the number of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C cases. (Total number of HIV-positive reported cases in Russia amounts 335.000, with the overall prevalence rate now at 1%.) In September the Government of Russia adopted Comprehensive counter-narcotics federal programme for the period 2005-2009 that combines education, health and law-enforcement. The co-ordinator of this programme is the Federal Drug Control Service.

This programme sets up a goal to reduce drastically (16-20%) by 2010 the level of drug abuse in Russia. Now with your indulgence I want to show some slides, which illustrate the impact of the Afghan drug trafficking. Slide 1 On this slide you see the major routes of heroin trafficking from Afghanistan through Russia to Eastern Europe. It’s important to note "northern route" is becoming one of leading artery for the illicit transportation of Afghan opiates.

Slide 2 On this slide you see that Afghan heroin through Russia destined for European markets, Japan, and even USA and Canada. In other words it confirms the global character of this problem.

Slide 3 It’s evident that there is no heroin without precursors. The brown arrows show illegal trafficking in precursors and the regions of their origin.

(Maybe representatives of the Russian agencies will provide any additional comments on this topic.)

To sum up: unless strong and effective measures are taken in the course of 2006, we risk "witnessing a reversal in Afghanistan".

One of these measures is an initiative by the Russian Government to convene in June (preliminary dates 26-28) international ministerial Conference "Paris two-Moscow one".

I want to remind you that more than 55 countries and international organizations sealed a pact in Paris at the Ministerial Conference on Drug Routes from Central Asia to Europe, hosted by the Government of France in May 2003. On that occasion, they agreed, inter alia, on the need for stronger and better coordination in border control and law enforcement, to limit the illicit trafficking of opiates from Afghanistan through West, Central Asian and European countries. UNODC was invited to act as a "clearing house" mechanism, and to provide comprehensive information and analysis on action priorities and assistance requirements.

The Paris Pact Initiative aims at strengthening border control and Law enforcement measures and improving regional cooperation in West and Central Asia, the Commonwealth of Independent States and among countries along the "Balkan Route".

The Paris Pact initiative currently covers projects until the end of 2006. In other words we’ve got less than one year left. In this regard we believe that "Paris Two-Moscow One" initiative would top our agenda.

We hope that the Conference will focus on broadening the scope of the Paris Process and introduction of new topics into it, promote stronger forms of cooperation and elaborate new action priorities. It’s important to avoid any politisation of the Conference and to make it as practical as possible. An in-depth Study will be prepared by UNODC to get a clear picture and analysis of the drug trafficking from Afghanistan, and effects on the region.

It is planned that the Conference will review which outcomes of the Paris-2003 Conference were realized and which were not and give start to new initiatives and projects. The approval of such new initiatives on the Ministerial level will ensure political will and commitment.

We work closely with UNODC on agenda and content of Moscow Conference, and the Office is our key partner in the organizing and holding this event and the "Clearing House".

We understand that the planning of the "Paris Two-Moscow One" Conference will be in line with the outcomes of the London Conference on Afghanistan. I want to note, that Afghanistan Compact identifies three priority areas, and places counter-narcotics cross-cutting theme.

A few words about our vision of the agenda of "Paris Two-Moscow One".

The 1st day - Plenary session during which UNODC will make a stock taking presentation of the Paris Process, and various delegations will speak on what has been done since Paris-2003 Conference.

The 2nd day - three Working Groups will meet simultaneously:

• on health issues (drug abuse, demand reduction and HIV/AIDS);
• on border controls and drug and precursor trafficking;
• on related crime to illicit drug trafficking (trafficking in arms and humans, corruption, money laundering and financing of terrorism);
• at the end of the day the Plenary session will reconvene to frame the recommendations of the Working Groups and finalize the report to the Ministers.

The 3rd day - Ministerial Segment. Ministers will review the results of the first two days, adopt the recommendation and the final Declaration.

In the context of Paris Pact regional initiatives and Institution building, I’m happy to inform you, that during the 7th Meeting of the Parties to the Memorandum of Understanding on sub-regional Drug Control co-operation a decision was taken by five Central Asian countries, Russia and Azerbaijan to set up a Central Asia Regional Information and Coordination Centre. CARICC will be staffed by Law enforcement officials from the countries of the region. It will compile and analyse intelligence on drug trafficking and coordinate regional Law enforcement operations against criminals.

The establishment of the CARICC is an important step forward in strengthening counter-narcotics cooperation in our region. We hope that Moscow Conference would take a proper note of this significant development. Now my assistants will circulate Draft Agenda of "Paris-Two-Moscow-One".

At the end of February we will E-mail draft of the final statement of Paris-Moscow conference for your comments. We are willing and ready to work with all our G-8 Partners to make Paris Two-Moscow One Conference a success. We count on your support and assistance.

Thank you for your attention.

Now I want to give the floor to any delegation or representative wishing to elaborate on that subject.

Now i want to give the floor to the British delegation, which would brief us on the key priorities in the National Drugs Control Strategy in Afghanistan.