Mr. Chairman,

Delegation of Ukraine shares the concern expressed by the previous speakers on the complex situation created in connection with proliferation of the illicit narcotic drugs trafficking and their abuse actually in all the regions of the world.

Referring to the statements made by many of the delegations, the problem of struggle against proliferation of the narcotic drugs, their illicit production and distribution is one of the most important and acute problems in most of the states.

Despite the efforts taken at both national and international levels, the scale of the illicit trafficking and proliferation of narcotic drugs continue to incrase, thus presenting a considerable hazard to public health and human life, undrmining economic and political foundations of states and seriously jeopardizing stability and national security of the ever greater number of countries.

For the countries of the transition economies the illicit drug trafficking presents even a more acute problem, adversely affecting the foundations of their statehood, ever burdening difficult processes of creation and development of their independent national economies which are on the way.

Over the last five years, the number of the drug-related crimes roes more than 5 folds in Ukraine. The number of the narcotic drugs abusers in the country has been increasing annually by several tens of thousand. Every year there is a growth in number of the drug abuse and the impounded narcotic drugs. In particular, there is a negative trend that some criminal structures attempt to make use of the unutilized capacities of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries of Ukraine which have no orders and therefore are not presently engaged in operation, in order to arrange therein for the production of chemical substance which are used for manufacturing narcotic drugs.

A dangerous situation that has taken shape causes justified concern both of our Government as well as other members of the world community and dictates the urgent need to strengthen and develop the comprehensive international cooperation in the fight against various aspects of drug abuse and their illicit trafficking, primarily through the United Nations.

Owing to vigorous international activity within the framework of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and the work of the International Narcotics Control Board, they managed to elaborate and implement a series of significant arrangements in this sphere and adopt a number of documents to combat drug abuse.

I would like to stress the importance to observe the provisions of the UN GA Resolution 48/12 on the necessity to strenghten cooperation against the illicit production, demand, sale and trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

Mr.Chairman,

The Ukrainian delegation would like to express satisfaction with the outcome of the 39th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs as well as the results of discussions of the issue on the development of international cooperation to fight illicit production, traffic, sale and distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances at the 51st UN General Assembly.

Of great importance is the consistent implementation of the earlier adopted decisions and recommendations, the most significant of them are resolutions of the General Assembly on international drug control, as well as the measures taken by the Governments to implement the Global Programme of Action adopted by the General Assembly at its 17th special session.

The Ukrainian delegation highly appreciates the work of UNDCP and supports its complex approach to assigning the same importance to the reduction of the illicit demand for and supply of drugs and to the fight against illicit drug trafficking. We welcome the activity of UNDCP aimed at the accession of all states to the principal international drug control instruments and fulfiment of the commitments thereof, namely, harmonization of national legistaltion with the provisions of these instruments.

Today, one of the priority guidelines of the work of the Programme, in our opinion, is improving the coordinated activity of the UN appropriate bodies aimed at reducing production and sale of narcotic drugs, strengthening drug-control institutions at both national and international levels.

Of paramount importance, in our views, is compliance by all states with the rules of the international law mechanism on drug control, including the Single Convention on Narcotid Drugs of 1961, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 and the Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988. In this connection, we would like to note that Ukraine is a party to the three above-mentioned international instruments.

In order to institute the rules of international law in national legislation, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the national Programme against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking for 1994-1997. Within its framework, a number of Laws of Ukraine on the drug traffic pattern, countermeasures and measures aimed at enhancing criminal responsiblilty for illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors have been adopted. Inter alia, the rules on procedures of export and import operations in this sphere were fixed. The Government of Ukraine attaches a special importance and renders financial support to the provision of scientific researches on important problems of drug abuse, which is incorporated in the scientific-cum-technical part of the National Programme. Among these, it is the first time that the researches covering elaboration of methods and instruments for express-detection of substances in biologiacal media are used, as well as the perspective pharmacological means of

tretment of drug addicts by making use of modern computer methods of artificial intellect and methods of psychocorrection modulation programmes in rehabilitation of drug addicts.

In order to provide interaction of all the Government establishments and public organizations, the National Council to coordinate the Fight against Drug Abuse as well as the National Committee on Prevention of Drug Abuse and AIDS being the central executive body, were established the Narcotics Control Committee, assigned with the main tasks as follows: participating in elaboration of the state policy in the sphere of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues and precursors circulation in Ukraine; implementation of control on the circulation procedures of products of this category, as well as interaction with the UN International Narcotics Control Board, and Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

A special independent division to combat drug trafficking business was set up within the structure of the Ministry of Interior. As a result, in particular, the rate of drug abuse-related crime detection has considerably increased. There is a provision of proper arrangements aimed at improvement of interaction between the interior bodies, customs services and national board guard in the fight against drug trafficking. Measures are taken to upgrade the level of the scientific back-up and technical equipment of the said services, including substantial government funding for this purpose. In particular, a provision in interministerial databank covering information on the persons engaged in illicit drug trafficking and psychotropic substances. The National Council to Coordiante the Fight against Drug Abuse adopted the Concept of Control over Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotrpic substances and Precursors in Ukraine, which determines the priorities of state policy in combating illicit traffic in and demand of

drugs.

Revelations and liquidation of the international narcotics drug syndicates, including that of the stable channels of drug trafficking only become possible on the basis of wide and comprehensive cooperation of the interested special sevices and their subdivisions. The law enforcement authorities of Ukraine signed the agreements on cooperation against illicit drug trafficking with all CIS countries and a number of the European and Asian states. Presently there is a work on the way in order to enlarge the geography covered by this type of arrangements, including that of the North American Continent.

The measures and enactments taken against this kind of crime in Ukraine were thoroughly examined at the international level and highly appreciated by the UNDCP experts.

The Ukrainian delegation would like to express satisfaction with construcive relations between UNDCP and the Ukrainian relevant departments engaged in combating drug addiction.

Alongside, considering the ever expanding international dimensions of drug criminality as well as appearance of dangerous trends which imply the drift of Ukraine from transit country to the country of narcotics drug produce and consumption, the above measures can not be considered as sufficient. A lot of work is still to be accomplished. Inter alia the arrangements that might increase the efficiency of the fight against the evil should include additional efforts directed to atract funding and international assistance in order to ensure placing orders with the chemical and pharmaceutical industries of Ukraine, special training of personnel for customs and border services as well as special divisions of interior, fulfilment of the target scientific researches, provision of databank technical periphery, introduction of statistical reports submitted in compliance with the regulations of the new anti-drug abuse legislation and relevant UN conventions, rehabilitation of disabled drug addicts, provision of educatio

nal activity among youngsters, creation of medical-cum-social assitance centers to help children and teenagers inclined to drug abuse etc.

Mr.Chairman,

Appreciating effective steps, the international community takes to combat drug addiction, we would like to note again that the urgent priority is the implementation by all states of the recently elaborated isnstruments, decisions and recommendations, strict observance of all international Conventions in this field. The Ukrainian delegation supports the proposal to convene in 1998 a special session of the UN General Assembly to discuss the issues on combating illicit production, trafficking, sale and proliferation of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. In our opinion, the GA special session will promote coordination of joint measures on strengthening the international drug control mechanism as well as enhancement of effective activity of relevant international and intergovernmental bodies engaged in combating illicit drug trafficking.

Thank you.