Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-06-09

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] State Department commends on Clinton's report on missing

[02] UN meeting discusses world drug problem

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[01] State Department commends on Clinton's report on missing

In the US President's transmittal letter, last month, accompanying the report to Congress on the five Americans it was mentioned these persons were missing as a result of intercommunal violence.

Responding to a CNA question, Monday, State Department Spokesman, James Rubin, took the opportunity to "clarify any misunderstandings."

"Of course, we believe that while people on both sides were missing as a result of intercommunal violence, it is equally true, as the report clearly states on page three, that people are missing as a result of intercommunal violence during the 1960s and the 1974 conflict," he said.

Rubin said "there was an editing error in terms of making sure that the transmittal letter had all the information and conclusions in it, that the report itself did have." CNA/DA/AP/MCH/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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[02] UN meeting discusses world drug problem

United Nations, June 9 (CNA) -- World leaders gathered here to pledge their unity in creating a drug-free world.

The pledge was made Monday at the opening of the special session of the UN General Assembly on the world drug problem, which will end on Wednesday with the adoption of a political declaration.

Opening the debate, US President Bill Clinton said "no nation is so large and powerful to conquer drugs alone."

All nations have to share the responsibility in the "ultimate struggle for human freedom," he added.

UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, remarked "we have reached a crossroads in the challenge to reduce production, trafficking and use of illegal drugs."

He said the proposed political declaration is rare and almost unprecedented in UN history, for consensus to be reached on substantive and political issues.

"There are 21 million victims around the world who abuse cocaine and heroin and 30 million who abuse amphetamine-type stimulants," the UN Chief added.

Drug trafficking has become a multi-billion dollar industry, Annan said, and the International Monetary Fund estimates that two to five per cent of the world's Gross Domestic Product comes from laundered money.

The Secretary-General urged all nations to say "no" to drugs and "yes" to the challenge of working towards a drug-free world.

In his statement, French President, Jacques Chirac, pointed out "the time has come, in the face of this world girdling menace, to demonstrate our countries' determination."

The strategy to counter-attack on every front the drug problem must be based on clear principles, such as co-responsibility, solidarity and firmness in the action of the judiciary, he added.

Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, said "we must activate new international strategies to tackle an issue vital to many countries."

The political declaration which will be approved, he added, will demonstrate the international community's determination to "achieve significant and measurable results by the year 2008."

Among leaders attending this 20th special session of the UN General Assembly are the Presidents of Argentina, Carlos Menem, Colombia, Ernesto Jauper Pizano, Mexico, Ernesto Zedillo and British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

Cyprus is represented by the Chairman of the Permanent Mission to the UN, Ambassador Sotos Zackheos, and Greece by Minister of Health, Constantinos Yitonas.

Meanwhile, the UN has published the draft of the political declaration.

The declaration was prepared by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, acting as preparatory body for the special session, which is devoted to the fight against the illicit production, sale, traffic and distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and related activities.

The declaration notes that UN member states are calling for "the establishment, by 2003, of national legislation and programmes giving effect to the 'Action Plan against illicit manufacturing, trafficking and abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants and their precursors', adopted at the special session."

They also decided to establish 2008 as the target date for states, with a view to eliminate or significantly reduce the illicit manufacture, marketing and trafficking of psychotropic substances, including synthetic drugs and the diversion of precursors.

CNA EC/MCH/AP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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