AFGHANISTAN
United Nations Drug Control Programme, (UNDCP) UnderSecretary-General, Pino Arlacchi, has signed an agreement with the Talibans for the progressive eradication of crop - opium poppy - and its conversion. The deal was recently criticized by EuroCommissioner Emma Bonino and by large sectors of the international public opinion. Critics point out that Mr. Arlacchi is dealing with an illegitimate regime that denies and violates the most elementary human rights.
(LA STAMPA, LE MONDE 2/1. LA REPUBBLICA, PANORAMA 15/1)
ITALIA
The proposal of the Mayoralty of Rome and the Region of Lazio regarding the experimentation of a controlled distribution of heroin to Roman addicts has finally initiated a political debate: the center-left coalition and the radicals are in favor, the center right is against.
(IL GIORNALE 31/13)
GREAT BRITAIN
The case of William Straw, 17, Mr. Blair's right arm Jack Straw's son, recently discovered while dealing, has provoked an earthquake in the British political and media world. The journalist who bought some cannabis from the guy has been arrested - a rare case of arrest in investigative journalism. The case has re-opened a debate on the legalization in the country. Jack Straw opposes the legalization but favors medical cannabis.
(THE TIMES 30/12, 1-4/1, CORSERA, FRANKFURTER ALLGEMAINE 3/1, LA REPUBBLICA, IL MESSAGGERO 3-4/1, LA STAMPA 3-5/1, NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 5/1)
U.S.
After the failure of prohibition, the time has come to change the U.S. policy on drugs. Two articles - one of which by the Director of the Lindesmith Center founded by George Soros - advocate the decriminalization of cannabis and call for the controlled distribution of heroin and harm reduction policies.
(INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE 4-10/1)
SPAIN
Alfred McCoy, an expert on heroin trafficking, has written a book titled "CIA's Complicity in the World-wide Drug Trafficking" in which he condemns the counterproductive effects of the American repressive policies on the issue.
(CAMBIO 16-29/12)
COLOMBIA
The discovery of 10,000 checks coming from an account operated by the Cali' cartel, which were probably used to corrupt some influential members of the Colombian political scene, enlarges the scenario of public corruption involving journalists, politicians and bankers.
(FINANCIAL TMES 7/1)
MEXICO
The Governor of Chihuahua, Francisco Barrios, estimates that half a billion dollars per year is used by the Narcos of Juarez City in order to corrupt journalists, politicians and the police.
(EL PAIS 9/1)
AUSTRIA
Vienna - the local approach to the drug question is based on prevention, madicare, substitution and public security. The "Vienna Approach" has given positive results: during the last three years deaths by OD, as well as the percentage of consumers, has diminished. Since 1996, there are less youngsters involved in the business and/or in rehab centers. Despite this success, in the rest of the country the policy remains a mixture of repression, moderation and toleration.
(FRANFURTER ALLGEMEINE 7/1)
AUSTRIA
In the Voralberg area, deaths by drugs started 20 years ago. Since then 179 people (148 men) have died. Almost half of them died by overdose, the rest for drug-related questions: AIDS, hepatitis, suicides, incidents, killings.
(DUE PRESSE 8/1)
GERMANY
Hannover - Researchers at a local support center are carrying out tests on ecstasy outside discos. The initiative is considered with favor by politicians and the judiciary, with skepticism by the police. The latter fears that the whole operation can favor dealers and send an assuring message to young people.
(SUDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 8/1)
SWITZERLAND
Bern - On January 7, the "Citro" police operation, which targets drug trafficking, started. 75 officers out of 575 members of the local police, will be mobilized in order to make the city less appealing to dealers and consumers.
(NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 9/1)
GERMANY
In 1997, in the Bremen Region 46 people died by drugs, 30% less than the previous year. The city has lost the old appeal to narco-tourism. Nevertheless, all over Germany there remains an increase in the use of hard drugs.
(FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE 10/1)
ASIA-EUROPE
The historic "Way of Silk" between Europe and Asia has become the way of narcotics. The are many couriers and they are all poor, the police is corrupted, the barons of drugs are a sort of popular heroes. The trip starts in Afghanistan, which has become the leader of opium production in the world (2,800 tons a year), at the Afghani border a kilo of opium costs $50, when it reaches Osch, in central Asia, it is $500, eventually it goes to Saint Petersburg, where it is refined. When the product called heroin reaches Germany, costs 80 German marks per gram.
(DER SPIEGEL 12/1)
ALBANIA
In 1992, Agron Musaraj became the Minister of Internal Affairs of the first democratically elected Government of Premier Berisha. According to some countrymen Mr. Musuraj used to have strange contacts with Switzerland, and apparently is the most powerful dealer of Albania. After the last elections, he moved to Greece where apparently he lives a very wealthy life.
(NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 8/1)
ITALY
During the opening of the "Judicial Year", the General Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Ferdinando Galli Fonseca, has proposed the controlled distribution of heroin to serious addicts. The statement has been received with criticism by the center-right coalition and some other sectors of the public opinion. 47% of Italians recently interviewed for a survey, oppose the idea. The center-left Government is prudent because it says that there is no majority on the proposal.
(CORSERA, IL GIORNALE, IL MESSAGERO, IL SOLE 24 ORE, LA REPUBBLICA, LA STAMPA, 11-12-13-14/1, NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 12/1)
FRANCE
In November the Minister of Health, Bernard Kouchner, expressed his personal favorable position on medical cannabis. Mr. Kouchner has recently received a request to import 10 kilos of marijuana for medical purposes. The request was filed by the Movement for the Controlled Legalization (MLC) founded by the French lawyer Francis Caballero.
(LIBERATION 12/1, LE MONDE 13/1)
PARAGUAY
Some Italian missionaries and a journalist have been menaced by the local drug dealers. According to a denounce by Father Luigi Moretti, in 1997 mobs have killed at least 70 people in the small missionary community of Capitan Bano on the Brazilian border.
(CORSERA 14/1)
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