ITALY
Mr. Raffaele Costa, Italian MP (Freedom Alliance) and mayoral candidate for the city of Turin, has vehemently criticized the "nationalization" of the therapeutic communities for drug addicts. Mr. Costa points out that this is due to the "increased controls which harm the communities' autonomy". Mr. Carmelo Palma, member of the board of directors of the CORA, former city counselor of Turin, has noted that Mr. Costa, in a document dated 1993, released when he was Minister of Health, stated the necessity of controls for the communities. The following year, Mr. Costa, in another document on methadone, highlighted, going against the demonizing slogan "Methadone the State's drug", the utility of the use of such a substance.
ITALY
"Il Secolo d'Italia", newspaper of the National Alliance (center right), has recently launched a campaign against the legalization of drugs, proposing the collection of signatures against a referendum on legalization. The planned referendum will not be voted anyway, because the Italian Constitutional Court has ruled it unconstitutional. The "Secolo d'Italia" seems to be the only Italian newspaper not aware of the Court's decision. The CORA has asked NA to collect signatures to put pressure on the Italian Parliament to take up without prejudice the too often delayed discussion of the various proposals of laws on drugs.
THE PARIS APPEAL: "AGAINST PROHIBITIONISM ON TREATMENT, FOR THE FREEDOM OF THERAPIES"
The CORA adhesion campaign to its appeal continues. The appeal urges the European Union to grant the free circulation, within the Union, of citizens (under treatment for their drug addiction) and the freedom of medical therapy for doctors. A first deadline is set for next June when, at the European Parliament, there will be an audition of a delegation of German policemen who support the controlled distribution of heroin to drug addicts.
Adhesions can be e-mailed to: HYPERLINK mailto:cora.belgique@agora.stm.it cora.belgique@agora.stm.it
NEWS FROM THE WORLD
ITALY
The discos of Emilia-Romagna will have a new specialist in their staff: the assistant for "stoned youngsters". The new profession will be covered by an expert trained in public service, who should be able to recognize the symptoms of the assumption of substances and treat users adequately.
(LA STAMPA, 17/04)
RUSSIA
Millions of acres of "wild" cannabis has made Russia the paradise of cheap "soft drugs". Every year there is an increase in drug trafficking of about 100%. Last March 16, an ad hoc international conference was held on the matter in Moscow.
(LE MONDE, 16/04)
SPAIN
Mr. Gonzalo Robles, the chairman of the Spanish "National Plan on Drugs", has said that the President of the Portuguese Parliament has called for the legalization of drugs only after the death of his daughter caused by drug abuse. The chairman's statement has been criticized by some representatives of the Socialist Party.
(EL PAIS, 1617/04)
ITALY
Due to the incredible increase in the production of marijuana in Albania, the crop can no longer be stored in loco but must be immediately shipped (by rubber boats) and sold to Europe. Connections between local mobs and the Bari mafia, as well as the Colombian narcos have emerged.
(LA REPUBBLICA, 22/04)
WORLD
The use of narcotic substances, primarily morphine, is the best known therapy against pain. The prejudices that surround the medical use of morphine, limit its possible applications.
(TIME 28/04)
FRANCE
Dr. Olievenstein, head of the Paris Marmottan Centre, is in favor of the legalization of drugs. In a recent debate he motivated his position underlining the fact that there are millions of non addicted consumers of drugs. Dr. Nahas, Director of the Research Institute Inserm, is against legalization because he considers cannabis harmful.
(LE FIGARO 23/04)
FRANCE
The Minister for Internal Affairs has presented the final report of the "War on Drugs". The document indicates an increase in the consumption of cannabis and a decrease in the use of heroin. The quantity of drugs confiscated by the Police has also increased.
(LE FIGARO, LIBERATION, LE MONDE 24/04)
SPAIN
Interpol experts, gathered in Alicante, have warned that narcos are using illegal immigrants for their trafficking. The route of drugs goes from Western Africa to Europe, through Spain.
(EL PAIS 25/04)
ITALY
Metz, France. During a conference of WHO, Italian "Drug rehabilitation communities" have been criticized. The reason for the complaint lies in the accentuation of the "depersonalization" process induced by the addiction. Therapies should, on the contrary, focus on the autonomy of the individual who is willing to quit.
(CORRIERE DELLA SERA 28/04)
MEXICO
The US has decertified Colombia for the second year in a row, while they have closed an eye on Mexico. In its fight against illegal drug abuse Mexico could learn from Colombia, though, starting from its police who are very diligent according to Mexican standards.
(NEWSWEEK 02/05)
AUSTRIA
The spokesman of the Ministry of Health has illustrated the new criteria of the law on narcotics and drugs recently approved by the National Council. It is a midway between "therapy instead of punishment" philosophy and the Netherlands' liberalization. For the officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the new law is working in the right direction. The parliamentary opposition parties don't agree: Independents say it is too liberal. Greens and Liberals say it is too restrictive and ask for liberalization.
(DIE PRESSE, 22/04)
SWITZERLAND
On February 1996, the Commission of experts of the Federal Council presented a report on the modified law on narcotics. The President of the Commission spoke of the depenalization of consumption and the adoption of consequent measures. A further argument for the debate comes from the State Prosecutor of Zurich, who proposes a compromise based on the acceptance of reality of the drug consumption to work towards its elimination.
(NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG, 22/04)
COLOMBIA-USA
Colombia and the United States are fighting over the extradition of Justo Pastor Perafan, a Colombian trafficker involved in money laundering arrested recently in Venezuela. In 1995, Mr. Perafan was indicted by a New York Court for drug trafficking and illicit enrichment. He is also wanted by the Italian, Panamese and Costa Rican police.
(EL PAIS, NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG, 17/04)
THE NETHERLANDS
The Dutch Minister of Justice has rejected the criticism towards her country's liberal policy on drugs coming from other European States. According to Ms. Winnie Sordgrader, the trafficking in Europe is favored by the open frontiers. 50% of the hashish confiscated in the Netherlands comes from Belgium and France; 80% of the heroin travels through the Balkans and Germany.
(NEUE ZURCHER ZEITUNG, 23/04)
GERMANY
According to Ms. Nicole Morsblech (FDP), the youngest deputy of Mainz, in a country in which alcohol and nicotine are admitted, and where the production of wine is funded by the State, the criminalization of hashish and marijuana is not understandable. Ms. Morsblech's declaration has touched a critical issue in the Rhine Palatinate political agenda. In that region the cultivation of tobacco has a very long and well established tradition. The German Minister for viticulture, a member of FDP himself, also comes from the province.
(FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG, 23/04)
GERMANY
Debate at the Chamber of Deputies on the legalization of hashish and other derivatives of cannabis, proposed by the Green Party. The environmentalists also propose a law to the Federal Council for the legalization of points for the public distribution of drugs authorized by the State.
(FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG, 26/04)
USA
The Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional a law of the state of Georgia, in which an anti-drug test was mandatory for political candidates. The law was judged as a breech of personal rights.
(SUEDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG, 17/04)
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