Japan's Efforts with ASEAN in dealing with Drug Issues
November 2001
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan
Overview: Japan has been extending cooperation to ASEAN countries in order to deal with drug issues.
1. Efforts through International Cooperation
1.1 Anti-Drug Conferences, Tokyo, January 2000
Approximately 130 participants, representing anti-drug organizations from 37 countries and regions mainly in the Asia Pacific, participated in the Conferences.
A communique was adopted to advocate the promotion of international cooperation among drug related organizations, including cooperation for combating stimulants in the Asia Pacific region.
1.2 The International Congress "In pursuit of a drug-free ASEAN 2015: sharing the vision, leading the change", Bangkok, October 2000, co-organized by ASEAN and UNDCP
The Japanese officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Finance, and the staffs of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) actively participated in the Congress. Japan will also participate in the first Meeting of the ACCORD Plan of Action Task Forces, to be held in November, 2001 in Bali.
1.3 The ASIA-Pacific Law Enforcement Conferences against Transnational Organized Crime, Tokyo, January 2001
Approximately 230 participants, including high-ranking law enforcement officials, from over 30 countries and regions mainly in Asia, participated in the Conferences.
A declaration reaffirming the importance of countermeasures against transnational organized crime was adopted at the Conferences.
1.4 Asia-Pacific Operation Drug Enforcement Conference
The first Conference was held in Tokyo in 1995. The Seventh Conference is to be held in Tokyo in February, 2002. The Conference aims mainly at discussion and study on drug control as well as cooperation for investigation in the Asia Pacific region among senior officials in charge of drug investigation from the countries in the region.
1.5 Seminar on Control of the Drug Offenses
The Seminar has been held since 1962 with participation of semi-senior officials in charge of drug investigation in Japan's ODA recipient countries. The Seminar aims at contributing to eradication of drug related crimes through deepening mutual understanding and cooperative relations. The 40th Seminar will be held in October 2001.
1.6 International Drug Control Summit 2002
In cooperation with the Federation of Japanese Parliamentarians to Fight Abuse of Narcotics and ATS and UNDCP, Japanese Government will convene International Drug Control Summit 2002 in Tokyo in April 2002 in order to promote international cooperation for anti-drug measures. Parliamentarians and Government officials of various countries including ASEAN countries are expected to participate in this Conference.
2. Efforts through bilateral cooperation
2.1 Grant Aid
In July 1998, the Government of Japan exchanged notes with the Union of Myanmar on grant aid up to 800 million yen in order to help the production of crops as alternative to narcotics.
Grant Assistance for grass-roots projects in Laos and other countries implemented projects contributing to anti-drug measures.
2.2 Technical Assistance
JICA experts have been dispatched from Japan to ASEAN countries, including Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and Philippines.
2.3 Other
The Government of Japan provided financial support to Japanese NGO's projects contributing anti-drug measures in Thailand in FY2000.
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