Director General/Executive Director
25 November 2016
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Colleagues,
Welcome to the eighth meeting of the Steering Committee of the Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe, and the first for the new Regional Programme for 2016 to 2019.
Exactly one year ago, we launched this important new instrument outlining UNODC's work and priorities in this strategically important region.
I am very pleased to report to you today that this Regional Programme is bearing promising results already in its first year. My colleagues will brief you in more detail about these achievements shortly.
I would like to point out that the results of the Regional Programme were possible thanks to you, and to the commitment of the countries of the region - to the members of the Steering Committee, as well as partner organizations and observers to the Steering Committee, and of course the donors, including the EU and Turkey.
From the outset, I would like to thank all of you for your support to UNODC in this region and for your commitment to working with us in the future.
The inclusive process that was put in place by UNODC in the development of the Regional Programme provides a solid basis that helps to ensure that the Programme remains relevant, timely and flexible, and that it is ultimately owned by the countries of the region.
2016 was an important year for UNODC and the international community.
The General Assembly special session on the world drug problem was the culmination of years of intensive work and debate. I can see that the Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe is very much informed by the spirit of UNGASS and that the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are also reflected and promoted in its activities.
Through this and our other field office programmes, UNODC is contributing to SDG 16 which aims at, among other targets: promoting the rule of law; reducing illicit financial and arms flows; strengthening the recovery and return of stolen assets and combating all forms of organized crime; reducing corruption and bribery in all their forms; developing effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels; and preventing and combating terrorism and violent extremism.
At the same time, we are working in line with Goal 3 on health, which calls for strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse; and Goal 5, which highlights the need to eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls, including trafficking and exploitation.
UNODC is also providing solid research and analysis to sharpen understanding of the challenges we face in the areas under our mandate.
Last year, we launched a report on Drug Money: the illicit proceeds of opiates trafficked on the Balkan route.
Earlier this year, we launched an EU-funded initiative on measuring and assessing organized crime in the Western Balkans. This builds on the previous reports of this Office on drug trafficking along the Balkan route, and two rounds of studies on corruption in the Balkans.
I welcome this approach as it allows UNODC to contribute to a detailed picture of the problem, while assisting countries to address identified challenges through effective and tailored programmes.
We have also achieved effective links between the Regional Programme and our Thematic and Global Programmes, which reinforces our comprehensive and integrated approach to drugs, crime, corruption, health and terrorism, as well as supports the cost-effectiveness of our work, and the efficient use of resources.
Furthermore, UNODC's Inter-Regional Drug Control Approach and, in particular, the One UNODC Concerted Approach to Europe, West and Central Asia, are valuable, adaptable mechanisms which allow us to further optimize our work, using contemporary methods and enabling cooperation in real time across and between countries and regions.
Ladies and gentlemen,
UNODC is looking forward to advancing our work with you in the spirit of cooperation and partnership, towards tangible and concrete results in South Eastern Europe.
I count on your political and financial support to enable us to continue delivering efficiently and effectively.
Thank you.