A spokesperson for the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UNODC) in Vienna told RIA Novosti that the main items on the session's agenda are "a dramatic growth in production of opium and heroin in Afghanistan as well as various issues and suggestions pertaining to reduction and ultimate extinction of opium poppy production in this country."
2004 saw a 64% increase in opium poppy production in Afghanistan as compared to the previous year, UNODC experts point out in their report published last Thursday by the UNODC headquarters in Vienna.
"With 131,000 hectares of opium poppy plantations cultivated in 2004, Afghanistan has set a double "record", featuring the world's largest area of opium plantations as well as the highest volume of narcotic drugs production in the country's history," UNODC executive director Antonio Maria Costa pointed out.
The United Nations calls on the Government of Afghanistan to undertake effective measures in order to halt cultivation of opium poppy and drugs production in the country, including efforts to eliminate poverty in rural areas, to conduct military operations and destroy drugs production laboratories, to support anti-corruption initiatives undertaken to cleanse the armed forces, police and local authorities; and to introduce tougher punishment for opium cultivation and drugs production.
According to UNODC executive director, "the world community will make a fatal mistake if it fails to alienate Afghanistan from drugs production after we have succeeded in alienating it from Taliban and Al Qaeda.
The CND Vienna session is to close on Friday.
