Since inevitably there are doubts about the financial outcome of this new process in its first year of operation, the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control has agreed to establish a stand-by contingency fund with a stipulated maximum liability which will, if need be, be used to support the buying price. It believes, however, that it should be possible to export the whole of the hervest of poppy capsules at little or no net loss. In future years the use of improved seed and farming methods better adapted to the production of capsules should permit greater returns to the farmer. The Government and the United Nations are discussing means to conduct and apply the necessary research for this purpose.
It may be necessary to safeguard farmers against loss of income for a further period after the 1974-75 harvest until an alkaloids factory has been built. The United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control has agreed to enter into negotiations at an appropriate time regarding its possible support of a guaranteed price for poppy capsules for the harvest years. 1975-76 and 1976-77.
The United Nations is also providing assistance in order further to strengthen the control system established by the Government of Turkey. This includes the holding of special training courses for law enforcement officials, the arrangement of study tours abroad, the grant of fellowships for advanced technical study, and the provision of equipment for the
More help is smoother and faster operation of required control measures. contemplated.
The United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control regards its assistance to the Government of Turkey as an important contribution to the strengthening of the international narcotics control system and so to the reduction of drug abuse in the world. Its objective in Turkey is to assist the Government carry out is intention to turn from the production of opium for export to
This the manufacture within Turkey of opium alkaloids from poppy straw. transition will probably require about three years but when it is achieved Turkey should possess a viable, self-contained and effectively controlled system for the production of narcotic medicinal requirements fully in accordance with its obligations under the international narcotics
conventions.
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