MINSK, 12 March (BelTA) - Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Belarus to the International Organizations in Vienna Alena Kupchyna was elected Vice Chairperson of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) during the 61st session of the commission that opened in the Vienna International Center on 12 March, BelTA learned form the Belarusian diplomatic mission in Austria.
Attending the session of the UN main body in the field of international drug control are about 100 delegations of the UN member states, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, including the delegation of Belarus headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Dapkiunas. The preparation for the high-level meeting on the Review of the Implementation of the UN Political Declaration and Plan of Action on Drugs in March 2019 is the priority for this session.
Participants of the meeting will discuss the key aspects of the world drug problem: drug prevention, drug abuse treatment, fight against drug trafficking and money laundering, law enforcement cooperation, alternative development programs. The CND will give special attention to new narcotic drugs and psychoactive substances. It is expected that twelve such substances will be placed under international control.
In his statement the head of the Belarusian delegation, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Dapkiunas emphasized the drug-related harm to security, stability and socio-economic development of states. The Belarusian diplomat informed the meeting about the priorities of Belarus' anti-drug policy, Belarus' contribution to the international drug control.
Andrei Dapkiunas recalled that Belarus is the only state in the world where 98% of known narcotic drugs is prohibited by law. The Belarusian diplomat noted that Belarus attaches particular attention to the prevention of drug use among children and adolescents and works actively at the international level to promote family- and school-based programs and strategies related to the prevention of drug use.
