Moroccan diplomat voices country's resolve to fight drug growth and trafficking
Morocco, Politics, 3/20/1999

Morocco adheres fully to the political declaration and the work plan adopted by the 20th UN General Assembly calling for the consolidation of international cooperation to eradicate and considerably reduce the growing of illegal drugs, said a Moroccan diplomat.

Abderrahim Benmoussa, Morocco's representative to UN in Vienna, told the 42nd session of the UN drugs commission, held this March 16-25, that Morocco is resolved to fight the growing and trafficking of drugs.

He cited, in this regard, the national strategy enforced by the country to intensify repression of drug traffickers, through the adoption of preventive laws, creation of drug addict detoxification centers, shelters for homeless children and the creation of an agency to promote development projects and activities to substitute drug culture in Morocco's northern regions.

After he deplored that Morocco's efforts do not enjoy international recognition, he stressed that the country is seeking bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation and has also pledged, as part of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, to set forth with the European Union security cooperation of shared responsibility.

The Moroccan diplomat also hailed France and Spain that have swapped a part of Moroccan debt to finance development projects in northern Morocco and invited all Morocco's creditors to convert some of Morocco's debt into investment projects in areas where drugs are grown.

He further called the UN Program for International Drugs Control to promote the participation of populations living in affected areas and focus its activities on integrated programs and rallying technical and financial means to gradually eradicate the growing of cannabis.

In Morocco, it was announced that a total of 2.38 tons of cannabis was seized in 1998 and 367 kg were seized in 1999. The customs brigade in charge of fighting drug trafficking said that since it was incepted in 1995, it has seized 25.61 tons of drugs worth about $26.6 million.

Previous Stories:
  Two Italians arrested in Morocco for drug trafficking   (3/16/1999)
  Morocco and Iran for enhanced economic and cultural relations   (3/11/1999)
  U.N. counts on Morocco's attachment to U.N. world peace mission, Annan says   (3/4/1999)

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