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June 1998 Open letter to all Heads of States on the occasion of the Twentieth Special Session Excellencies, The Twentieth Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on the World Drug Problem demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the international community to act against the formidable challenge of this ever-changing and complex phenomenon. At the end of the millennium, Governments have set forth the policies they wish to pass on to the next generation aimed at containing and eventually ending the evils of drug abuse. The international drug control system rests on the three treaties which were adopted in 1961, 1971 and 1988 and which have been ratified by more than 145 countries. The treaties require universal adherence and full implementation of their provisions to achieve the greatest possible effectiveness in resolving the world drug problem. The array of tools adopted by the Special Session will further this endeavour. The forceful political declaration and the result-oriented action plans will guide international drug control for years to come. They address the full range of drug control issues, including the problem of amphetamine-type stimulants, the elimination of illicit crops while encouraging alternative developments, the promotion of judicial cooperation, the prevention of money-laundering and the strengthening of precursor control. The declaration on the guiding principles of drug demand reduction represents the very first international agreement to counter drug abuse and will be an essential tool to reduce the demand for drugs. The documents adopted by the Special Session reflect the complexity of the problems before us and the willingness of the international community to address them. Governments should now translate these commitments into action and apply those tools fully and conscientiously so that the target dates set out in the political declaration can be achieved. The Board, within its mandate which Governments have given to it under the international treaties, will monitor developments towards such achievements. The Special Session has sent a clear and unequivocal message to the world -- that drugs represent a danger for our societies and that drug control is the collective responsibility of all nations. Only concerted action and genuine international partnership will lead to tangible and sustained success. This is an important statement, fit for the end of the millennium. Together, we can work towards a safer twenty-first century. Hamid Ghodse
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