New York - A multinational group representing the heads of state and governments of 16 countries issued a mission statement at the first day of the United National General Assembly special session on drugs in New York yesterday, writes Catherine Cleary.
The Carlsson Group, which includes a representative of the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, called for the "world community to broaden and intensify its action in every way possible," against the "global threat" of drugs.
"We call upon all States that have not yet done so to ratify and fully implement the three international drug conventions," the group said. They welcomed the United Nation Drug Control Programme's "global approach to eliminating or significantly reducing illicit drug production, where appropriate through effective alternative development programmes."
Mr Ahern is represented by Mr Noel Dorr, a former secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The other 15 countries in the group are: Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Cote d'Ivoire, the Czech Republic, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Korea, South Africa and Sweden.