UNITED | E |
Economic and Social Council | |
Distr. E/RES/2001/15 | |
2001/15. | International cooperation for the control of narcotic drugs |
The Economic and Social Council, Concerned with the health and welfare of humankind, Recognizing that the medical use of narcotic drugs continues to be indispensable for the relief of pain and suffering and that adequate provision must be made to ensure the availability of narcotic drugs for such purposes, Deeply concerned by the magnitude of and rising trend in the illicit production of, demand for and trafficking in opiates, Emphasizing that the need to balance the global licit supply of opiates against the legitimate demand for opiates for medical and scientific purposes is central to the international strategy and policy of drug control, Recognizing that the control of narcotic drugs is the collective responsibility of all States and that, to that end, coordinated action within the framework of international cooperation is necessary, Taking into account the social and cultural aspects of poppy cultivation in the traditional supplier countries, India and Turkey, and the dependence of large segments of populations in rural areas of those countries on the licit production of opium poppy for a living, Acknowledging the sacrifices and costly efforts made by the traditional supplier countries in order to ensure secure methods of poppy cultivation and to prevent diversion from licit to illicit channels, Reaffirming the guiding principles of existing treaties in the field of narcotic drugs, in particular the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961,59 and the system of control that they embody, Having considered the Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1999,60 in which the Board points to the overproduction of opiates, 1. Calls upon all Governments to support the traditional supplier countries in a spirit of international cooperation and solidarity in drug control; 2. Underlines that international trade in narcotic drugs, without distinction as to source or kind, is subject to the control provided for in the related international conventions, the implementation of which is essential in order to counter the world drug problem; 3. Reconfirms that the new variety of Papaver somniferum (opium poppy) with a high thebaine content comes under the international control regime established by the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961,59 and must be controlled in the same way as other varieties of Papaver somniferum containing other alkaloids; 4. Requests the International Narcotics Control Board to monitor the cultivation of this new variety of Papaver somniferum, the production of thebaine from it and the international trade in thebaine accordingly; 5. Commends the Government of the United States of America for the 80/20 rule applied in its import of narcotic raw materials, which has contributed greatly to global efforts to maintain a lasting balance between the supply of and demand for opiates. 40th plenary meeting 59/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 520, No. 7515. 60/ United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.XI.1. |