(due to the presentation of the TRP'statement on eradication of crops, we have received this fax with the Afghani statement:

From: Permanent Mission of the Islamic State of Afghanistan

Embassy of the Islamic State of Afghanistan in Vienna

Third informal open-ended inter-sessional meeting of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs acting as preparatory body for the Special Session of the General Assembly

Introductory statement by Mr.Farid A. Amin

Acting Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Islamic State of Afghanistan

December 5, 1997

Thank you Mr. Chairman for giving me the floor. I think no one doubted your ability and leadership to successfully lead us this far.

Mr. Chairman,

I would like to apologize to all the delegates here to bore them at this late hour on Friday. Due to my other engagements, I could manage only to do this.

I just want to express my concern and of my government towards the issue of drugs and more imortantly towards the ambitious initiative of the Executive Director to eliminate illicit opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. I am of the view that even a half way rational minded person should be happy to see a drastic step taken to eradicate drugs from his or her country. I personally and on behalf my government appreciate this.

However, Mr. Chairman, I wish a seemingly the same or even limited willingness to eradicate drugs from the country was shown by the rulers of Southern Afghanistan where this operation is to take place in order to see a future for it.

The group in control of the vast areas from which over 96 per-cent of opium poppy is produced in Afghanistan, is the mercenary group called "The Taliban" who have:

1. Loudly said: "since drugs reach the streets of Europe and America, destroying the lives of infedels (the non-muslims), it is not only O.K., but also a holy trade".

2. Levied a 10 to 20 per-cent tax on poppy growers and drug traffickers.

3. Said, "farmers must grow opium poppy before they find a substitute for it".

Mr.Chairman,

I assure you, there is not a comparative substitute when it comes to profit, and that is what they mean here.

Not only this group of obscurantists have made their voice loudly heard to undermine any international convention of norm opposing their dictatorial rule, but have promoted the work of drug traffickers and thus harvested the profit.

Mr. Chairman,

Let me quote here an article by Remond Bonner in New York Times of December 3, 1997 issue;

"Mr. Arlacchi received some advices here in Islamabad at the end of a visit to Afghanistan intended to get the attention of the rulers to crack down on poppy growing, "We told him don't let the Taliban pull the wool over your eyes" said a senior European Diplomat who met Mr. Arlacchi on Friday along with representation from some twenty other countries concerned about drug trafficking."

Also Mr. Chairman, on the same day, December 3, in the meeting of the donor countries and institutions to Afghanistan, in the Conference Room number 6 of General Assembly Building in New York, many delegates expressed their doubts on the sincerity of the Taliban to go along with their commitment and to eliminate drug problem.

Mr. Chairman,

If I am not mistaken, his Excellency Mr.Arlacchi, the Executive Director, said on Wednesday in his statement that "In Pakistan, opium production dropped from around 800 tons in 1980 to 24 tons in 1997." If true, which I hope it is, then the Pakistani drug traffickers in link with the authorities of the government of Pakistan, namely the military have successfully shifted the operation beyond the western frontiers of their country into the southern region of Afghanistan. Production of poppy increased from 600 tons in 1994 to 2000 tons in 1996 after two years control of the Taliban in the area. This is not a success and does not deserve any greetings or congratulations because the problem has increased in the region. The Pakistani authorities have taken advantage of the political-military instability in Afghanistan, carrying their business out in the "no man's land" areas of Afghanistan, and yet claim victory in their own country while filling their pockets with profit coming from Afghanistan.

Mr. Chairman,

Our infromation reveals that in Helmand province in the South and in Nangarhar province in the East of Afghanistan, the poppy plants are eye-catchingly tall and will be ready for harvest in June 1998.

Mr. Chairman,

We hope this step of the UNDCP is not a practical arrangement of the ground to encourage governments to make deals with the puppet regime in Kabul, but merely an action to result in eradication of drugs from Afghanistan.

One last thing Mr. Chairman,

UNDCP is the body we depend on and trust to do the task of drug eradication rightly. However we do not want to see continuation of the "status quo", not worst than that want we as a result of this initiative a boost in the inhuman agendas or creeds of the Taliban, leave alone financial assistance to be misused by them of which I was assured by Mr.Arlacchi personally and I thank him for that.

Thank you.