Iran General Statement at the 67th Commission on Narcotic Drugs
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Statement
By
H.E. Dr. Eskandar Momeni, Secretary General of the Drug Control Headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran
at the 67th session of Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)
Vienna, 14 March 2024
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Mr. chairman,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Distinguished delegates,
At the outset, I wish to thank the UNODC secretariat for organizing this meeting. One of the most important challenges of the current era is narcotic drugs, synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances as well as the pain and hardships that I describe as the silent genocide. Of course, today we are facing another clear act of genocide against deprived people of Gaza, for which it is hoped that the UN would adopt practical measures to save particularly lives of thousands of innocent women and children who are prone to famine and starvation.
In line with the implementation of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration, as well as international treaties and conventions, the Islamic Republic of Iran has adopted a balanced strategy in the field of drug control in the past five years and has carried out appropriate measures aimed at promoting public security and health that are as the following:
1- Strengthening the fight against the drug supply and transit via enhancing intelligence measures at the border and crossing points and intensifying the fight against money-laundering. During the past five years, almost 4,450 tons of different types of drugs originating in Afghanistan have been seized due to the dedication of my colleagues and the martyrdom of 50 members of law enforcement agencies. While welcoming any move that would lead to the reduction and termination of drug cultivation and production in Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran has not yet witnessed considerable reduction in drug trafficking originated in Afghanistan. For instance, in the past fifteen days, two cases of drug seizures were made in the course of two operations amounting to approximately 4,800 kilos of drugs destined to a certain European country. Meantime, one has witnessed a considerable rise in methamphetamine seizures originating in Afghanistan in the past one year similar to the previous years;
2- Formulating and implementing the Comprehensive Document on primary prevention with the maximum coverage through a project known as helpers of life in different centers including families, educational settings, work places and communities:
3- Formulating and implementing the Comprehensive Document on treatment and harm reduction through the quantitative and qualitative development of treatment centers and maximum involvement by NGOs and the private sector through the establishment of 7,200 centers, diversifying treatment methods comprising pharmaceutical and psychosocial interventions, access to drugs for medical and scientific purposes, strengthening harm reduction programs by offering diverse services to risk-prone individuals and controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis C.
It should be noted that Iran's scientific achievements led to the establishment of the regional center for the study of drug abuse disorder treatment in Tehran in 2021 in collaboration with the UNODC secretariat:
4- Formation of a community-based approach in the area of Demand Reduction through empowering more than 2,700 NGOs, and establishing the non- governmental association of helpers of life with the participation of benefactors in all provinces.
Mr. chairman,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Bearing in mind Iran's all-out fight against World Drug Threat, and various related challenges such as, violence, terrorism, influx of refugees, illegal immigration, arms smuggling and armed confrontations, which sustains huge number of martyrs and financial casualties.
Consequently and considering the 2019 Ministerial Declaration and UN Guiding Princip les; I wish to seize the opportunity and present the Islamic Republic of Iran's stances and proposals:
1- Requiring continued and effective implementation of drug control projects in the region away from political considerations, selective approaches, restrictions in allocation of the needed funding and equipment, in particular the need for lifting the cruel and unilateral sanctions;
2- Necessity for the participation of the international community and the UN for an effective cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran aimed at strengthening the global fight against illicit drug activities, based on principle of common and shared responsibility;
3- Sharing successful lessons in various arenas such as combating the supply, and diversion of precursor chemicals, demand reduction, scientific exchanges, and controlling illicit activities in cyberspace and dark net via formulating a clear mechanism by relevant international bodies;
4- The Islamic Republic of Iran's explicit opposition with the reconsideration of the international drug control regime aimed for legalization which is tantamount to the destruction of humanity's legacy in this important arena;
5- Necessity of adherence by all States for the sustainable and effective implementation of the three international drug control conventions and maintaining the authority of the international drug control regime.
Thank you for your kind attention