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142416 MDLOAN $285
4.
AT THE APPARENTLY HIGH LEVEL OF LEAKAGE FROM INDIA'S LICIT PRODUCTION.
(C)
—
NEAR EAST/BALKANS (ITALY MAROTTA): NO NEW CONCLUSIONS WERE REACHED BUT UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE UK AND DUTCH DELEGATIONS THE CHAIRMAN UNDERTOOK TO INFORM HIS AUTHORITIES
OF THE BRITISH AND DUTCH WISH TO BE INCLUDED IN THE ITALIAN
BALKAN ROUTE GROUP. THE UK FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT THIS SHOULD BE CLEARED IN WRITING BY THE PARTICIPANTS BEFORE THE LATTER GROUP'S FORTHCOMING MINISTERIAL MEETING.
(D) AFRICA (FRANCE
-
LA FORET): THE UK CIRCULATED THE TEXT
OF A DEMARCHE ON MOROCCO. DESPITE FRENCH RELUCTANCE THE DG AGREED TO ASK POSTS IN RABAT TO EXAMINE THE MODALITIES, TIMING AND CONTENTS OF SUCH A DEMARCHE. (THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR WILL PROBABLY CONVENE A MEETING OF HIS COLLEAGUES).
(E)
LATIN AMERICA (SPAIN - DE TORRES): SPAIN CIRCULATED A COMPENDIUM OF DG DRUGS ASSISTANCE TO THE ANDEAN REGION WHICH WAS MUCH COMMENDED. IT WAS AGREED TO RECOMMEND A MEETING IN BOGOTA TO DISCUSS PROGRAMMES FOR STRENGTHENING THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THIS WOULD BE CONVENED BY THE SPANISH AMBASSADOR AND REPRESENTATION WOULD BE LEFT TO THE JUDGEMENT OF MEMBER GOVERNMENTS. THE UK DESCRIBED THE WORK OF OUR DEMAND REDUCTION TASK FORCE, WHICH WAS WIDELY PRAISED, AND DREW ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR SIMILAR SPANISH- AND PORTUGUESE-SPEAKING TEAMS.
(F) CARIBBEAN (UK SNOXELL): THIS SESSION WAS REPORTED IN UKREP TELNO MISC 19 (NOT TO ALL). THE MEETING GENERALLY ENDORSED THE WORK OF THE BRIDGETOWN GROUP AS A MODEL OF REGIONAL DRUGS COORDINATION WHICH COULD BE EMULATED ELSEWHERE (EG. KINGSTON). THE PRESENCE OF GRAVES, REGIONAL POLICE ADVISER, REPRESENTING THE BRIDGETOWN GROUP, AND THE STATUS REPORT ON DRUG PROJECTS WHICH HE PRESENTED WAS WELL RECEIVED. IN THE MARGINS THE FRENCH AND DUTCH AGREED WITH THE UK ON THE NEED TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM OF ST MARTIN.
TWO GENERAL THEMES WERE APPARENT THROUGHOUT THESE SESSIONAL DISCUSSIONS:
(A) COORDINATION COULD BEST BE ACHIEVED ON THE GROUND BY POSTS AND UNDCP THROUGH REGULAR MEETINGS OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR DRUGS IN POSTS INCLUDING POLICE AND CUSTOMS REPRESENTATIVES. THE COUNTRY HOLDING THE REGIONAL DG
CHAIRMANSHIPS SHOULD ORGANISE THESE.
(B) THE CONTRIBUTION THE DG COULD BEST MAKE WAS BY PROVIDING
2
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