Risposta dell'International Narcotic Control Board al documento presentato dal Partito radicale sull'INCB report for 1997
United Nations International Narcotics Control Board
Vienna International Centre
10 November 1998
Dear Mr. Cappato,
Thank you for your letter of 3 September 1998 which contains a statement of your point of view regarding certain aspects of the Board' s Report for 1997. I have shown your letter to the Board and they have asked me to reply on their behalf.
The Board, true to its mandate to " provide the mechanism for a continuing dialogue" with Governments, supports board, open discussion of the important issue with which it deals on behalf of the international community. As stated in the first chapter of its 1997 Report, such a discussion, especially of risk factors, should take account of "the broader socio-cultural-setting" as well as "long-standing cultural norms."
The Board' s Report noted that "legalization of the non-medical use of drugs ... can be seen as a part of the general discussion of the subject ..." In this connection, the Report stated that "drugs issues which are of concern to and which will affect the majority of the people should be the subject of a balance debate." Political campaigns, the Report stated, "need to be met with rational arguments." The Board remains open to receiving expressions of opinion, including those of alternative views.
Additionally, the Board' s Report noted that "objectivity rather than sensationalism" should characterize such a debate and that understanding or exaggerating the dangers of drug abuse is unwise: "the frequent calls by politicians to respond to drug abuse by introducing more severe punishment reveals a powerful lack of understanding of the nature of drug abuse and, in particular, of drug dependence."
I trust this information will allay your concerns, and request that you bring it to the attention of the signatories of your draft statement.
Very truly yours,
H. Schaepe
Secretary of the Board
Mr. Marco Cappato
Transnational Radical Party
866 UN PLaza Suite No. 408
New York, NY 10017
U.S.A.
