AMERICAS
The leaders of some American States have struck a new alliance against drugs. The new covenant gives to the Organization of American States the evaluation of anti-drug efforts of each State. This multilateral evaluation system, which will be finalized at the Summit of the Americas in Chile, will substitute the US yearly 'Certification' program that caused many problems for Latin American countries.
(INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE 15/4)
FRANCE
Paris - The local Court has fined Act Up President Philippe Mangeot, for 30,000 French Francs. Mr. Mangeot distributed the treaty "J'aime l'ecstasy" (I love ecstasy) in 1997. The purpose of the organization is to ask the abrogation of the 1970 drug law that, according to Mr. Mangeot, impedes any debate on the matter.
(LIBERATION 9/4)
BOLIVIA
During the last four years, the anti-drugs police, with the backing of the U.S., have tried to eradicate coca crops in southern forests. The result is that in 1994, Colombians have cultivated some 45,000 hectares of coca; last year 800,000. The persistence of the demand has made Colombians plant more coca to fight the eradication projects. The new technique to destroy crops consists of spraying fields with a new aggressive substance. Environmentalists fear that this new solution will damage forests.
(THE ECONOMIST 11/4)
WORLD
The latest Department of State report on drugs is a mix of hopes and delusions, victories and defeats. The production in Latin America is dropping (the biggest success of the anti-narcos war in 1997), but the war is not won. In Moscow, a gram of cocaine is $300, three times the New York price.
(L'ESPRESSO 16/4)
IRAN
The UN anti-drugs programme, lead by Italy's Pino Arlacchi, will open an office in Teheran to support the country's war against drug-traffickers and restart wheat production all over the country. During the last 10 years, there have been at least 10,000 executions of traffickers. Right after the war against Iraq, Iran declared a 'religious' war on drugs.
GREAT BRITAIN
UK is invaded by heroin produced by the Talibans. In 1997, The police have confiscated the record amount of 1.5 tons, 95% of which come from Afghanistan. The amount of heroin is so huge that in some suburbs it is sold at the price of a pint of beer.
(THE TIMES 12-15/4)
ITALY
Alcoholics and chronic drug addicts are no longer indictable, they cannot be held responsible for the crimes they commit; their situation is compared to the provisions regarding mentally disturbed people in the Criminal Code. This decision has been confirmed by a Constitutional Court; Italian Rightists have criticized the Court saying that in this way addicts will have a 'license to commit crimes', rehab organizations are saying that one cannot transform addicts into mentally retarded by law.
(CORSERA, IL GIORNALE, IL MESSAGGERO, IL SOLE 24 ORE, LA REPUBBLICA, LA STAMPA 17/4)
WORLD
Washington - UNDCP Director Pino Arlacchi has recently said at a press conference that the international drug-trafficking mobs are organizing themselves to take advantage of the upcoming Football World Cup in France. On that occasion, the market will be invaded by a huge amount of drugs. Mr. Arlacchi has confirmed that the U.S. and Europe remain the most profitable markets for drugs.
(FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE, NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 17/4)
CZECH REPUBLIC
President Havel has sent back to the Parliament the new law on drugs. The bill, voted by the majority of deputies in February, was forwarded to the Senate in March. The contrast between the President and the Parliament lies in the norms that extend the penalties limited dealers also to consumers.
(NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 16/4)
BOLIVIA
With a big protest of 'campesinos', the Army and the police have started to destroy illegal coca crops. The Government wants to eradicate 10,000 hectares per year - a quarter of the existing fields. Moreover, even if coca fields have been legalized in the last five years, those who destroy their crops will receive some money from the Government.
(INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE, NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 15/4)
GERMANY
Representatives of the Heath and Justice Dept. have declared that the Saar region, following the examples of Hessen and Hamburg, wants to establish some "health outpost" for serious drug addicts. The decision was made public after some debate with the Procurator of the Republic.
(FRANKFURT ALLGEMEINE 21/4)
SINGAPORE
The Government wants to reinforce the severe drug laws proposing the death penalty for people caught with big quantities of 'Ice' and ecstasy. Up to now, the capital punishment was reserved to marihuana, morphine and opium trafficking.
(FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG, SUDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 21/4)
BELGIUM
With a brief sent to all Procurators of the Kingdom, the Justice Department invites to consider cannabis consumption as of the lowest judicial priorities of the Government's agenda. This is trying to strike a balance between the French and the Dutch approach.
(LE MONDE 21/4)
GERMANY
The current situation of the "socio-health" offices for drug addicts is as follows: in Frankfurt every day 900 doses of narcotics are delivered to 300 patients; cost: 2 million German Marks per year. Also Hamburg has four offices, while in Hannover there is one that functions since last December. Some more are planned to be opened in Munich, Berlin and in the Westfalen region.
(FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG 22/4)
ITALY
The Ministry of Social Affairs has prepared an anti-drug campaign to limit the damages produced by ecstasy. It is an educational campaign made of slogans like: "do not mix pills with alcohol" or "drink lots of water". This minimalistic approach is not liked by the prohibition community led by the rehab community of San Patrignano.
(LA STAMPA 22/4)
FRANCE
Paris - A center for addicts rehabilitation, that was recently opened in Rue Beaurepaire, is dividing the population. The center, which is part of the national program of risk reduction, will allow addicts to shoot drugs in a safe environment. The association Republique-Canal Saint Martin (200 members) does not agree with the project and has promised opposition.
(LIBERATION 21/4)
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