United nations office for drugs and crime (UNODC)

on behalf of the following Member States

Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Egypt,  El Salvador, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Viet Nam

This year marks the 50^th anniversarysince the International Narcotics Control Board was established in 1968.We underscore that the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 and other relevant international instruments constitute the cornerstone of the international drug control system and continue to commit to their full and effective implementation which depends on their universal application. Today the three drug control conventions are among the most widely ratified legally-binding international documents, benefiting from near-universal adherence,which reflects the broad international consensus embodied therein.

On the occasion of its 50^th anniversary, we commend and support the work of the International Narcotics Control Board as an independent treaty-mandated body to monitor in close consultation and cooperation with States their compliance with thedrug control conventions. We encourage the Board to continue tosafeguard the integrity of the international drug control system and to assist Governments in effectively addressing the increasingly complex persistent and emerging challenges related to the global drug control.

We encourage the Board within its treaty-mandated role to continue to foster dialogue with the Governments of the Member States and provide necessary assistance to enable them to fulfill their legal obligations under the drug control conventions in order to achieve the overall goal of ensuring health, safety and welfare of mankind. We assure the Board of our unwavering commitment to continue our cooperation with it, consistent with the three international drug control conventions and based on the principle of common and shared responsibility.