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STATEMENT ON MR SIDNEY MUFAMADI, MINISTER OF SAFETY AND SECURITY, TO HEAD SOUTH AFRICAN DELEGATION TO UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPECIAL SESSION ON DRUGS IN NEW YORK, 4 June 1998
The United Nations is to hold an important global drug conference from 8 to 10 June 1998, in New York. The Special Session of the General Assembly, which will be attended by Heads of State and Government, will consider a number of important initiatives designed to combat the growing problem of illegal drug trafficking.
South Africa's delegation will be led by the Minister of Safety and Security, Mr Sydney Mufamadi and will include Ambassador JK Jele, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, as well as by relevant experts from Government Departments.
Ambassador Mxakato-Diseko is also the Vice-Chair of the Bureau of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs acting as preparatory body for the Special Session, as well as a member of the High-Level Team of Experts advising the UN Secretary General on the UN global drug programme.
The previous Special Session on Drugs, held in 1990, was broad in scope, but resulted in the implementation of national drug master plans. The forthcoming Special Session will be more ambitious, but more focused in its approach.
The most important issue to be considered by the Special Session will be a Political Declaration by all member states, reaffirming their strong commitment to international illicit drug control with eradication as a priority at both national and international levels.
A key element in this Declaration is to ensure action into the next millennium. An agreement on demand reduction and a 10-year plan for substantially reducing and eventually eradicating the illicit cultivation of opium and coca plants will be considered, in tandem with alternative development programmes. Solutions will be proposed to the problems of amphetamine-type stimulants and their precursors.
In addition, specific timetables will be proposed to strengthen and harmonise member states' laws on money laundering, and extradition of drug traffickers and information sharing on drug cartels will be considered.
The active participation of the South African delegation during preparatory meetings once gain has underlined South Africa's commitment to global co-operation in this field.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
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