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Chairman's Summary
International Drug Control Summit 2002

The International Drug Control Summit 2002, jointly hosted by the Federation of Japanese Parliamentarians to Fight against Abuse of Narcotics and ATS, the Government of Japan, and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, was held in Tokyo on 23-24 April, 2002. During the Summit, parliamentarians, senior officials and experts from 35 countries and one territory of Asia, Europe, and the Americas, as well as 6 international organizations, engaged in an open and informal exchange of views on international drug problems, in an amicable atmosphere.

The Chair summarizes the discussion as follows:

1. At the opening Session, the Chair reviewed the history of drug problems in Japan and stressed the importance of convening this Summit for the first time in Asia. Then, representatives of the European Parliament, the U.S. Congress and UNDCP reviewed the progress of the International Drug Control Summit since its inception four years ago and reviewed the recent world drug situation.
2. In Session 1, the participants discussed global trends in illicit drugs, focusing on Bolivia's efforts as well as the development of the situation in and around Afghanistan. The representative of Afghanistan expressed the strong commitment of the Afghanistan authority to eradicate illicit poppy crops. The participants discussed the background of the poppy cultivation and stressed the importance of supporting Afghanistan in capacity building and sustainable development as well as promoting regional cooperation to fight against illicit drugs. .
3. Session 2 focused on the global market situation of ATS and other synthetic drugs. Participants noted a remarkable increase in production of ATS primarily because of the low cost and ease of manufacturing. Participants pointed out the involvement of organized crime in production and trafficking of illicit drugs, referring to the linkage between terrorism and the drug trade. It was also pointed out that youngsters in particular do not fully realize the extent of the danger of ATS. Participants also stressed the importance of sharing information and experience among law enforcement agencies.
4. The participants discussed the control of precursor chemicals used in the manufacture of ATS and other synthetic drugs in Session 3. Participants agreed that regional and international cooperation on the control of precursor chemicals should be strengthened to eradicate the illicit manufacture of ATS and other synthetic drugs. In this regard, the participants welcomed the initiative of INCB to convene an international meeting on ATS precursors in June 2002. The participants recognized the need to establish an international network of laboratories conducting drug profiling and signature analysis for enforcement purposes.
5. In Session 4, the participants discussed ways to combat drug trafficking. The participants emphasized the importance of international cooperation, including sharing of trafficking information and exchange of liaison officers among law enforcement organizations. The necessity of using advanced technology such as large-scale X-ray equipment for containers was pointed out. It was also agreed that cooperation with the chemical industry was essential in controlling chemical precursors.
6. Finally, the issue of demand reduction was discussed in Session 5. Participants shared concerns about the deteriorating situation of drug abuse among youth, and agreed that priority should be given to drug abuse prevention. The participants recognized the importance of public awareness messages, particularly by sending out accurate and persuasive information. The involvement of youth themselves in youth-related prevention activities and the role of NGOs were recognized and highly encouraged.

On the basis of the discussions at the conference, the Chair proposes the following guidelines for parliamentarians and policy makers around the world:

• The international community should strongly support Afghanistan's efforts to combat illicit drugs through, among others, assistance in the development of alternative crops, the establishment of effective law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking and the prevention of drug abuse.
• The drug issue should be incorporated into all bilateral and multilateral development projects conducted in Afghanistan.
• Each country should strengthen comprehensive strategies encompassing law enforcement and education, in order to deal with the new global threat of synthetic drugs.
• The mechanism for monitoring and controlling precursor chemicals and the operating procedures to prevent their diversions should be improved. The establishment of an international network of laboratories conducting drug profiling and signature analysis is encouraged.
• Efforts should be made to promote international joint law-enforcement operations against drug trafficking as well as exchange of information among relevant authorities.
• For effective demand reduction, school drug education programs targeting younger generation as well as treatment and rehabilitation of drug abusers should be emphasized.

The participants in the International Drug Control Summit 2002 expressed appreciation for the initiative taken by the co-hosts to organize the first Summit in Asia. The participants enjoyed candid and lively discussions on a range of issues and expressed their hope that the spirit of this unique forum will continue to be displayed at future Summits. The delegation of Sweden suggested that their country be the host for the next Drug Control Summit. The participants praised this initiative of Sweden and expressed their willingness to meet in Sweden next year.

April 24, 2002
Tokyo