COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS

ACTING AS PREPARATORY BODY FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GA

VIENNA, July 7-9, 1997

Written Statement of the Transnational Radical Party

(prepared by Fabrizio Starace)

Item 3 (Measures to enhance the control and monitoring of precursors frequently used in the manufacture of illicit drugs)

Mr.Chairman,

We have to express a feeling of strong concern with regard to the discussion on the agenda item 3. We think that enhancing the control and monitoring of precursors of ATS will ultimately result in a mere tactical struggle, instead of a much needed strategical approach, more difficult to sustain, but in the end the most effective way to deal with the problem we are addressing in this meeting.

The paradoxical consequences of this nowhere policy are likely to be the continuous diversification of chemicals, whose effects are more harmful than those caused by substances currently in use. It should be considered, from this perspective, that consumers have presently no control over the quality of these substances, therefore exposing themselves and the broader community to major health and social risks.

As in the case of crops eradication programs, it is likely that the effort of controlling the precursors of ATS will result in a massive use of public money without any practical outcome.

This is particularly true as regards ATS, whose chemical characetristics allow the never ending diversification and proliferation of substances, as we have learned in the recent years.

Furthermore, we share the proccupations expressed yesterday about the need to consider the principles of effectiveness and of proportionality in order to avoid virtual recommendations which will not come, as we all know, to any practical result. The assumption that each country has the same political and technical capacity to implement measures listed in the discussion documents is far from reality. But only few seem worried about that: we have heard of no background analysis concerning the feasibility of the proposed measures and in particular no mention has been made of costs eveluations.

We believe that the current prohibitionist approach has resulted in a rigid paradigm which is the real issue in the endorsement of a flewible policy, suitable for the necessary adaptations imposed by the continuously evolving and puzzling problem represented by ATS use.

Thank you, Mr.Chairman.