At the outset, on behalf of the Government of the Union of Myanmar and the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control, Ministry of Home Affairs, I have great pleasure in extending a very warm welcome to you all.

As the Chairman of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control of Myanmar and also in the capacity of the Minister for Home Affairs, it is a privilege to be afforded with the opportunity to deliver an opening address to this very important 24th Meeting of the Heads of Law Enforcement Agencies of the Asia-Pacific Region, organized by the UNDCP and hosted by the Union of Myanmar.

Excellencies

Distinguished Delegates

The international community is now fully aware of the problem of narcotic drugs and the dangers that has been threatening the human society. The traffic of illicit drugs, transcending international borders, has taken its rightful place to become a major transnational crime.

As stated, the illicit trafficking of drugs has also become the major transnational crime committed in our region. The huge profits generated by the drug trade has triggered incentives to drug traffickers that they do not heed anymore even to the death penalties prescribed in national legislations for drug crimes.

Drug trafficking crimes have not only seriously undermined the economy, political and social fabrics, but also the stability of community peace and tranquillity and national security of country states.

In this connection, it is fitful that we welcome the initiative taken by all concerned member states and the United Nations in drafting the UN Convention against Transnational Crimes at Vienna, soon to be signed in December, 2000 at Palermo, Italy.

Excellencies

Distinguished Delegates

It is apparent that the fight against drugs trafficking could neither be fought nor won by one country alone nor by leaving out one country. Drug traffickers take footholds in countries that lack or have weak anti-drug legislations, irrelevant enforcement strategies and outdated interdiction tactics. They would then take full advantage of these shortcomings to traffic drugs in and out of the country, thus affecting and creating a threat to neighboring countries.

It is imperative that one country should not be left out but all countries should stand together based on mutual understanding, trust and cooperative spirit, to form a strong and united front. This is why we are gathered here today.

There is no question that UNDCP plays a key role in the combat against drugs. To this end, we have witnessed the enhanced and effective efforts of UNDCP, particularly during the tenure of UN Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan and Deputy Secretary-General, Mr. Pino Arlacchi.

Drugs affect all human lives, thus, each and every one of us has an obligation and responsibility to fight against it. However, sad to say, it becomes blurred and out of focus when efforts of individual countries are viewed and tainted with political issues.

It is very important that countries have a political will and a strong commitment to fight and eliminate the scourge of drugs. Myanmar has been embarking on a 15 Year Master Plan commencing 1999-2000 to totally eliminate drugs in the country by 2014. We are very much encouraged that ASEAN has set course on the same agenda as Myanmar on its ASEAN Vision 2020 by reducing the target date to Drug Free ASEAN 2015 at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting at Bangkok in July this year. Subsequently, last month in Bangkok, ASEAN and China agreed on a Drug Free ASEAN 2015 Plan of Action.

The Meeting here today is a clear testimony and indication of participating countries of their political will and commitment to cooperate with other countries in the fight against drugs in the region. In this connection, I am sad to say that it left us no choice but to assume that some responsible countries, which have decided to boycott the meeting for various reasons, do not harbour sincere intentions for cooperation with other countries and on the same time, have s blatantly ignored an International Meeting organized by the UN.

I am not in a position to say what their intentions are but whatever reasons they may have, we have a clear conscience to work together with whoever who wants to work with us and help us. To this end we have the doors wide open and stand ready to show our efforts, our achievements as well as our shortcomings and to welcome the sincere assistance and cooperation of the sinternational community.

Excellencies

Distinguished Delegates

Myanmar has been showing her political will and commitment to work together particularly with neighboring countries in the region. Not only do we have bilateral agreements with Vietnam, the Philippines and the Russian Federation as well as a Tripartite Agreement with Laos and Thailand but also we are an active member of the 6 sub-regional countries MOU to control drugs with a balanced approach by implementing supply and demand reduction and law enforcement projects of the Sub-regional Action Plan. UNDCP has been assisting us with financial and technical support with funding from donor countries.

Myanmar became a full-fledged member of ASEAN in July 1997 and the Prime Minister; Senior General Than Shwe briefed the ASEAN Summit on drug control endeavors of Myanmar. Mr. Koffi Annan, UN Secretary General, attending the Summit Meeting was impressed and subsequently dispatched an expert team in 1998 to draft a 10 year plan to eradicate poppy cultivation and production in the whole country. UNDCP Executive Director Mr. Pino Arlacchi also visited the border areas of Myanmar in the same year and sanctioned a few small-scale projects.

I was informed that the UNDCP drafted 10 Year Plan for Myanmar was prepared in time to be submitted to the 1998 UN General Assembly Special Session on Narcotic Drugs. Sadly, for reasons not stated, UNDCP was not in a position to submit the Plan to the Special Session. However, I wish to express our gratitude to Mr. Arlacchi for his keen interest and sincere efforts to help us.

As stated, Myanmar has been implementing the 15 Year Plan since 1999. I believe that the majority of the country representatives attending this meeting are much more oriented with drug trafficking and drug abuse while Myanmar has to deal with the problem of poppy cultivation and production also. The border areas that are engaged in poppy cultivation and production were once under the dominance of insurgents and due to this fact, these regions have been left out of the mainstream of the country, lagging behind in terms of development, depending their livelihood on the income from opium poppy.

The government now has entered into peace agreements with the insurgent groups, opening up opportunities for all-round-development programmes in these regions. With the guidance of the Prime Minister himself, border area development projects were drawn up and a separate Ministry was established to take care of these problems in a holistic way.

The 15 Year Plan calls for the gradual elimination of poppy cultivation and production in these areas supplemented with demand elimination, law enforcement, participation of the local inhabitants and international cooperation programmes. In this regard, I sincerely hope that we will have the understanding of the international community on the complexity of the drug problem and what we have gone through and our efforts at present to overcome this menace.

The national races who have been engaged in poppy cultivation for centuries realized the drug menace and threat to mankind and embraced the policy and strategy laid down by the government. They have voluntarily promised and declared for the establishment of opium free zones with phased programmes of their own. The establishment of the Opium Free Zone in Mong La, in the eastern Shan State in 1997 stands testimony of this success.

Of course, these changes cannot take place overnight. The distinguished delegates will understand and realize that it is easier said than done.

Excellencies

Distinguished Delegates

Just when we are starting to see hope in the elimination of poppy cultivation and production with annual decreasing figures, the problem of stimulants has suddenly taken the stage.

Researchers have discovered stimulants over a century ago for licit use but it has become to be an abuse problem in the region just a decade ago. Myanmar faced the problem starting only in 1996 when we made the first seizure of stimulants.

Starting raw materials, precursor chemicals are not produced in Myanmar in addition to the lack of laboratory expertise and financing to produce these drugs. Thus, it clearly indicates that foreign drug syndicates are exploiting the long, remote and porous border situation to produce these stimulants on the border area. We are sceptical that the problem of stimulants has been intentionally created when the glimmer of hope and possibility is at hand in the total eradication and production of opium within a few years.

In addition, the drug trend has been changing with the life styles of youth where freedom and personal rights to enjoy the pleasures of nightlife are permitted to stretch to the maximum and beyond limits. It is one of the reasons why it was rightfully predicted and identified at the UNDCP organized Shanghai International Expert Meeting on Stimulants in 1996, that stimulants abuse will be the major drug problem for the 21st century.

Excellencies

Distinguished Delegates

We have a saying in Myanmar that if we know the illness, there is always a medicine to cure it. In other words, " if there is a will, there is a way ". It is a glaring fact that the world is facing a drug problem. Mobilizing the full awareness and participation of the public, every country should do their utmost to get rid of it. However, if we do not cure or take measures with the medicine called " international cooperation ", the illness will be like a cancer spreading and eating away the social fabrics of the human society.

There have been numerous crimes of enormous proportions that the evils of drugs have created, even undermining the peace and stability of country states. Money laundered from proceeds of drug trafficking has destroyed the economies of countries. HIV/ AIDS epidemics are also offspring of drug abuse. The dangers and threat of drugs are not contained and limited to one area, region or state and have no discrimination on developed or developing or undeveloped countries. This is the sole reason that the international community needs to stand together and cooperate to fight the menace of drugs.

Excellencies

Distinguished Delegates

In conclusion, the 24th Meeting of HONLEA will be discussing practical issues and problems on law enforcement in the region to find ways and means on better cooperation between state governments and UNDCP. It will also review the implementation of decisions taken at the 22nd HONLEA.

I fully believe that participating countries including Myanmar will benefit a lot in the coming 4 days, from the discussions based on national experience and information sharing on illicit heroin trafficking and abuse, electronic crimes or cyber crimes affecting drug trafficking strategy, maritime drug trafficking and control of stimulants.

I wish to sincerely urge all delegates to discuss frankly and openly and to share experiences on a friendly atmosphere to find better ways and means for practical cooperation. I also urge UNDCP to assist us to realize our common goals in the region.

I thank the participating countries and UNDCP for their support and decision providing the opportunity to Myanmar to host this HONLEA Meeting in Yangon. I thank each and every one of you who have contributed to make this meeting a success and I thank Your Excellencies and specially invited guests for taking out time from your busy schedules to grace this Opening Ceremony.

Thank you.

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