SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN APPOINTS HIGH-LEVEL EXPERTS TO REVIEW PROGRESS OF UNITED NATIONS EFFORTS AGAINST ILLICIT DRUGS

Vienna, 9 March (UN Information Service)-- The United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, has appointed a group of thirteen high-level experts to undertake a comprehensive review of how the efforts against illicit drugs have evolved within the United Nations System since the General Assembly established the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) in 1991.

The thirteen experts are:

- Gustavo Albin SANTOS, Mexico

- Philip O.EMAFO, Nigeria

- Nobuaki ITO, Japan, Minister, Permanent Mission of Japan to the IO Vienna;

- Hans LUNDBORG, Sweden

- Alvaro Jose da Costa Mendonca e Moura, Portugal, Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Portugal to the UN Vienna;

- Nozipho Joice MXAKATO-DISEKO, South Africa, Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of South Africa to the UN Vienna;

- Daniela ROZGONOVA, Slovakia, Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Slovak Republic to the UN Vienna;

- Missouri SHERMAN-PETERS, Bahamas

- N.K.SINGH, India

- Joseph C.SNYDER III, United States

- Kalman SZENDREI, Hungary

- Peter THOMSON, United Kingdom

- Belisario Velazco BARANOA, Chile

The main aim of their work will be to recommend how to strengthen future international cooperation against illicit drugs, and to identify measures aimed at reinforcing UNDCP's activities in the field of drug control, including increased financial resources.

The experts group. which will hold its first meeting in Vienna 22-24 April, will be requested to prepare a progress report to be submitted to the Special Session of the General Assembly on international drug control, which will be held in New York 8-10 June 1998. A final report will be submitted by the experts to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-second session.

The Secretary-General had been requested by the Economic and Social Council to convene the group of experts through resolution 1997/37.

For further information, contact:

Sandro Tucci, Spokesperson for the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention

Ph: (43-1) 2135 5629 Fax: (43-1) 2135 5931

Mobile: (43-66) 210 50 29