Mission to Albania
An INCB mission visited Albania from 31 October to 02 November 2007. The mission was conducted by Ambassador Melvyn Levitsky, member of the Board, accompanied by Mr. Adrian Moicean, Drug Control Officer of the INCB Secretariat.
The mission met with the Minister of Health, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Deputy Minster of Justice as well as with senior officials of ministries and government agencies involved in drug control in Albania. The mission also met with representatives of the Mini Dublin Group and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and visited Community Emanuel Albania, the sole non-governmental organization providing treatment services for drug addicts in the country.
The mission discussed with the Government measures necessary for the full implementation of the international drug control Conventions, including reporting to and cooperation with INCB in accordance with the Conventions, implementation of the National Anti-Drug Strategy 2004-2010, strengthening of administrative and legal structures responsible for drug control, measures to combat drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking, the availability of narcotic drugs for the adequate management of pain, data collection on production, trafficking and abuse of drugs as well as the need for provision of training to the competent authorities.
The findings of the mission will be reflected in the next INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2008.
Mission to the United Kingdom
An INCB mission visited the United Kingdom from 22 to 24 October 2007. The mission was conducted by Professor Tatyana Borisovna Dmitrieva, Second Vice-President of the Board and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Estimates, accompanied by Mr. Pavel Pachta, Deputy Secretary of the Board.
The mission held discussions with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Crime Reduction as well as with senior officials of the Home Office, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Justice and HM Revenue & Customs. The mission also visited the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). The discussions focused on the policies of the Government of the United Kingdom in respect of drug control, including cooperation with INCB on issues regarding the maintenance of a global balance between the licit supply and demand of opiate raw materials and reporting to INCB under the international drug control treaties.
The findings of the mission will be reflected in the next INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2008.
Mission to Viet Nam
An INCB mission visited Viet Nam from 03 to 05 October 2007 and consisted of the First Vice President of the Board, Major Brian Watters and Board Member, Dr. Camilo Uribe Granja, accompanied by Ms. Midori Kanda of the INCB secretariat.
The mission met with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Viet Nam Country Office and the World Health Organization (WHO). The mission also visited a treatment and rehabilitation center.
The findings of the mission will be reflected in the forthcoming annual report of the International Narcotics Control Board, to be published in early 2008.
Mission to Republic of Korea
An INCB mission visited the Republic of Korea from 10 to 12 October 2007. The mission consisted of Major Brian Watters, First Vice-President of the Board, and Dr. Sri Suryawati, Board member, accompanied by Ms. Beate Hammond, Drug Control Officer of the INCB secretariat.
The mission held discussions with the Commissioner of the Korean Food and Drug Administration as well as with other senior Government officials from the Supreme Prosecutor's Office, Customs Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the National Police Agency. In addition, the mission met with representatives of the Korean Association against Drug Abuse and visited institutions where drug abusers are treated and rehabilitated.
The findings of the mission will be reflected in the forthcoming annual report of the International Narcotics Control Board, to be published in early 2008.
Mission to Bolivia
A high level delegation of the Board consisting of Professor Hamid Ghodse, Immediate Past President and Member of the Board, Professor Maria Elena Medina-Mora, Member of the Board and Mr. Koli Kouame, Secretary of the Board visited Bolivia from 10 to 12 September 2007.
The delegation held discussions with the Minister of External Relations as well as Ministers and Vice-Ministers responsible for drug control in Bolivia, including the Ministers of Agriculture, Agro-forestry and Environment, Minister of Justice, Minister of Health and Minister of Interior. The discussion focused on the policies of the Government of Bolivia in respect of drug control. The visit provided the delegation the opportunity of observing in the Chapare region the way that the Bolivian Government is implementing its new policy on rationalization and social control of coca.
The findings of the mission will be reflected in the 2007 Annual Report of the International Narcotics Control Board, which will be published in early 2008.
Technical visit to Haiti
An INCB technical visit to Haiti took place from 27 to 29 June 2007 and was conducted by Mr. Adrian Moicean, Drug Control Officer of the INCB Secretariat. The visit examined the drug control situation in the country and provided training on reporting to INCB.
Discussions were held with the Minister for Justice, the Director-General of Customs and officials from the Ministry of National Education, Ministry of Public Health, National Police, Judiciary Police as well as the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The objectives of the technical visit were to evaluate the degree of implementation of the international drug control conventions and to discuss with the Government various issues including the legislative basis, structure and distribution of drug control functions among competent authorities involved, trends in drug trafficking and abuse, treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts and measures taken to address these drug control issues. In addition, technical training on reporting to and cooperation with the INCB was provided to officials from competent authorities responsible for different aspects of drug control.
The findings of the technical visit will be reflected in the forthcoming annual report of the Board, to be published in early 2008.
Training seminar in Beijing
A training seminar, which was organized by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) in cooperation with the Government of China at the request of the Government of the People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), took place from 26 to 30 June 2007 in Beijing. Participants in the seminar were Government officials from various ministries involved in drug control in DPRK.
The training seminar, the first of its kind, aimed at facilitating implementation by the Government of DPRK of the provisions of the international drug control treaties, to which DPRK acceded in 2007. The seminar covered both national and international aspects of drug control, with a focus on Governments' obligations under the international drug control treaties.
Officials from the Office of China's National Narcotics Control Commission (NNCC) and other relevant ministries participated as resource persons briefing on various areas of drug control in China, particularly on the Government's measures for the implementation of the international drug control treaties and its cooperation with the Board. A staff member from the INCB secretariat provided the participants with an overall perspective of the functioning of the international drug control system, highlighting the importance of universal application of the international drug control treaties.
The Board encourages the Government of DPRK to continue its efforts and take necessary steps towards its full compliance with the international drug control treaties.
Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
An INCB mission visited Bosnia and Herzegovina from 11 to 13 June 2007. The mission was conducted by Dr. Carola Lander, member of the Board, accompanied by Mr. Rossen Popov of the INCB Secretariat.
The mission met with senior officials of state ministries and government agencies involved in drug control of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as with competent authorities from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and the District of Brcko. The mission also had a joint meeting involving all government agencies responsible for drug control in the country.
The mission discussed with the Government measures necessary for the full implementation of the international drug control Conventions by Bosnia and Herzegovina, including reporting to INCB in accordance with the treaties. Subjects discussed by the mission and the Government also touched upon the implementation of the new drug legislation adopted by the country in 2006, data collection on drug abuse, the preparation of a comprehensive drug control strategy, the strengthening of administrative structures responsible for drug control, as well as the need for training of competent authorities.
The findings of the mission will be reflected in the next INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2008.
Mission to Liberia
An INCB mission visited Liberia from 27 to 30 March 2007. The mission was conducted by Dr. Joseph Bediako Asare, member of the Board, accompanied by Ms. Beate Hammond, Drug Control Officer of the INCB Secretariat. This was the first time that an INCB mission visited that country.
The mission met the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Health and Social Welfare and the Solicitor-General of Liberia as well as senior officials of ministries and government agencies involved in the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
In addition, the mission visited the John F. Kennedy Hospital in Monrovia as well as the Grant memorial hospital. The mission also held meetings with representatives from the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) as well as the Ambassador of the United States to the Republic of Liberia.
Ratification of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, reporting to and cooperation with INCB, the extent of drug abuse and drug trafficking, the availability of narcotic drugs for treatment of pain and the fight against illicit cultivation of cannabis were among the issues discussed by the mission with the Government.
The findings of the mission will be reflected in the next INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2008.
Mission to Nepal
An INCB mission visited Nepal from 02 to 05 March 2007. The mission was conducted by Prof. Dr. Sevil Atasoy, Second Vice Chairperson of the Board, accompanied by Mr. Saul Takahashi, Drug Control Officer of the INCB Secretariat.
The mission met the Minister of Home Affairs, as well as with senior officials of ministries and government agencies involved in drug control in Nepal. The mission also visited the forensic laboratory operated by the Nepal Police, met with representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and with numerous Nepalese non governmental organizations working in the fields of treatment for, and prevention of, drug abuse.
The mission discussed drug control issues with the Government of Nepal, including strengthening of administrative and legal structures to combat drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking, the eradication of illicit cannabis cultivation in the country, and the availability of narcotic drugs for the appropriate management of pain.
The findings of the mission will be reflected in the next INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2008.
Mission to Bhutan
An INCB mission visited Bhutan from 26 February to 01 March 2007. The mission was conducted by Prof. Dr. Sevil Atasoy, Second Vice Chairperson of the Board, accompanied by Mr. Saul Takahashi, Drug Control Officer of the INCB Secretariat. This was the first time that an INCB mission visited that country.
The mission met the Minister of Health, the Minister of Education, and the Chief Justice of Bhutan, as well as with senior officials of ministries and government agencies involved in drug control in Bhutan. The mission also visited Jime Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimpu, met with representatives from the World Health Organization and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and visited Rewa (which means "hope" in Bhutanese), the sole non governmental organization providing treatment services for drug addicts in the country.
The mission discussed drug control issues with the Government of Bhutan, including reporting to and cooperation with INCB, strengthening of administrative and legal structures to combat drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking, and the availability of narcotic drugs for the appropriate management of pain.
The findings of the mission will be reflected in the next INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2008.
Mission to Congo (Brazzaville)
A mission of INCB visited the Republic of Congo from 6 to 9 February 2007. The mission was conducted by Dr. Joseph Bediako Asare, member of the Board, accompanied by Ms. Eva Fernandez Santis, Drug Control Officer of the INCB Secretariat. This was the first time that an INCB mission visited that country.
The mission met with the Minister for Security and Public Order, as well as senior officials of ministries and government agencies involved in the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. The mission also visited the Maya-Maya international airport of Brazzaville, the Congo River Special Checkpoint, the Brazzaville Psychiatric Service and the Centre d'Etudes sur les Ressources Vegetales (CERVE) research centre, and met with several non-governmental organizations involved in providing counselling for persons with drug abuse problems. The mission also had meetings with the High Commissioner for Ex-Combatants and the Representatives of UNICEF and WHO in Congo.
Reporting to and cooperation with INCB, changes in drug control legislation and administrative regulations governing the system of national control, the extent of drug abuse and drug trafficking, the availability of narcotic drugs for treatment of pain and the fight against illicit cultivation of cannabis were among the issues discussed by the mission with the Government.
The findings of the mission will be reflected in the next INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2008.
World Health Organization (WHO): 120th session of the Executive Board
The President of the Board, Dr. Philip O. Emafo, accompanied by Ms. Carmen Selva-Elizalde, Chief of the Psychotropics Control Section of the INCB secretariat, participated in the 120th session of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland, from 22 to 27 January 2007. On 25 January 2007, the President made a statement under item 4.9 of the agenda "Progress report on the rational use of drugs". The President also had a short meeting with the newly appointed Director-General of WHO, Dr. Margaret Chan, on 23 January 2007. Issues discussed included the availability of internatinally controlled substances for the management of pain, prevention of diversion of substances used for the treatment of addiction, illicit sales of medicines containing internationally controlled substances on the Internet and the supply of counterfeit drugs.