GRS' 1000
RESTRICTED
FM UKMIS VIENNA
TO DESKBY 03120OZ FCO
TELNO 88
OF 03084OZ JULY 87
RESTRICTED
253 |!1
RECEIVED TI REGISTRY
10 JUL
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS NEW YORK, HOME OFFICE, CUSTOMS AND EXCISE
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
WOOX
P3
76
HONG KONG FOR MR MULLOY
EXPERT GROUP ON DRAFT CONVENTION ON DRUG TRAFFICKING: FOLLOWING FROM DELEGATION
SUMMARY
1. SLOW AND PAINFUL PROGRESS DURING FIRST FOUR DAYS OF DISCUSSION. LEGAL AND SEMANTIC DIFFICULTIES COMPLICATED BY LATIN AMERICAN PRESSURE FOR A TEXT WHICH BALANCES SUPPLY AND DEMAND, WHILE PRESERVING SAFEGUARDS FOR TRADITIONAL CULTIVATION OF COCA.
DETAIL
2. FIFTY SEVEN COUNTRIES ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE OPEN-ENDED INTER-GOVERNMENTAL EXPERT GROUP MEETING ON THE PREPARATION OF A DRAFT CONVENTION, WHICH OPENED HERE ON 29 JUNE. MANY COUNTRIES ARE REPRESENTED BY LEGAL EXPERTS FROM CAPITALS. THIS MEETING WILL LAST TWO WEEKS, AND IS PLANNED TO COVER THE ENTIRE DRAFT, IE FOURTEEN SUBSTANTIVE ARTICLES, PLUS IMPLEMENTATION ARTICLES, PREAMBLE AND FINAL CLAUSES. ALTHOUGH THE COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS ENVISAGED A SECOND EXPERT GROUP MEETING LATER THIS YEAR, IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THIS CAN TAKE PLACE IN SUFFICIENT TIME BEFORE 1 NOVEMBER. THIS IS THE DEADLINE BY WHICH THE COMMISSION RESOLUTION OF FEBRUARY 1987 REQUIRES THE SECRETARIAT TO CIRCULATE A REVISED DRAFT TO STATES FOR REVIEW. IN RESPONSE TO A QUERY FROM THE UK ON THIS POINT, THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF NARCOTIC DRUGS MERELY ASSERTED HIS OPTIMISM THAT THE PRESENT MEETING WOULD COMPLETE ITS WORK PROGRAMME WITHIN THE FORTNIGHT. ON CURRENT TRENDS THIS SEEMS UNREALISTIC. AS FORECAST BY THE UK AT FEBRUARY'S SESSION OF THE COMMISSION, THE DOCUMENTATION IS PROVING CONFUSING, COMPRISING AN INITIAL DRAFT TEXT, LENGTHY COMMENTS FROM GOVERNMENTS, PLUS CERTAIN AMENDMENTS WHICH WERE PROVISIONALLY AGREED BY THE COMMISSION.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
3. THE MEETING UNANIMOUSLY AGREED UPON THE ELECTION OF THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS:
CHAIRMAN
VICE CHAIRMEN
RAPPORTEUR
PAREJO GONZALEZ (COLOMBIA)
POLIMENI (ITALY)
BABAYAN (USSR)
RANDRIANAME (MADAGASCAR)
WEERASINGHE (SRI LANKA) RESTRICTED
| PAREJO.
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