Director General/Executive Director
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime is very proud to support implementation of Colombia's historic peace agreement and its chapter on illicit drugs.
UNODC, in particular through our Colombia Office, actively assisted the peace process, namely with point four of the agreement on "Solving the problem of illicit drugs".
Allow me to take this opportunity to once again congratulate Colombia on this landmark achievement.
And now today we are signing a comprehensive technical assistance project on alternative development and crop substitution to support the Colombian people's efforts to make this agreement a reality.
The project reaffirms UNODC and Colombia's longstanding partnership, based on decades of close cooperation. Colombia currently represents the biggest national donor to UNODC's work in the world.
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of UNODC, and this agreement highlights the importance of addressing the challenges of drugs and crime to promote peace and security, human rights and development.
We are grateful for the confidence that Colombia continues to place in UNODC, and we aim to live up to this trust.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The illicit drug economy has been for far too long the fuel perpetuating tragic conflict and violence in Colombia and across the world.
Now with this project, we will work together to build and consolidate peace by helping to ensure that illicit drugs, cocaine as well as opium poppy, cannot act as spoilers.
UNODC will continue to do our utmost to be the partner that Colombia needs.
Thank you.