INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION *

Ratification of Conventions

Since its foundation, the Anti-Drug Authority has worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make Israel part of the international struggle against drug abuse. The ADA is represented at U.N. and other intemational conferences on drugs. Israel is a signatory to the U.N. conventions on drugs (1961) and on the Control of Psychotropic Substances (1971). The 1988 Convention on Drug Trafficking has also been signed but cannot be ratified until all the requisite regulations (on money laundering and joint investigations with other signatories) are issued.

Bilateral Cooperation

Agreements or Memoranda of Understanding have been signed with the United States (1991), France (1992), Chile (1994), Turkey (1994) and Cyprus

(1994). Efforts are continuing to implement a 1986 agreement between the Israel Ministry of Police and the Italian Ministry of the Interior, which includes collaboration in the anti-drug struggle.

In October 1994, a delegation from Uzbekistan and Kirgizstan visited Israel, under U.N. sponsorship, to study how to set up a government authority on the prevention of drug abuse.

An official Israeli delegation, with observer status, attended the annual U.N. conference on Drugs held in Vienna in April, 1994. The ADA was represented by its Director.

The ADA director met in Brussels with leaders of the European Community in connection with negotiations between Israel and the EC on an extensive collaboration agreement, which also includes clauses on drug abuse prevention. We are informed that the EC views Israel as a priority country for receiving aid in this field.

* This article is excerpted from the Annual Report (No. 6) of the ADA for 1994.