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Good evening ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to the 7th International Symposium on Global Drug Policy: Bridging Security and Development.
Every year, ICOS organises a conference in Vienna parallel to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. This evening, we again are very lucky to be able to present a high-level panel of experts that will share their views with us on various issues under the banner of “security and development”.
In this regard, I have an important announcement to make before I introduce the panel. ICOS will from today forward be broadening its area of focus from drug policy, to the larger context of global security and development.
Drug policy’s intrinsic role in global security and development is increasingly apparent, as is demonstrated in the case of Afghanistan. It is clear that one cannot address drug policy, without looking at the larger picture. And this larger picture will allow us to begin examining new dynamics of geo-politics.
ICOS Security and Development Policy Group will continue its focus on drug issues, but will extend its portfolio to other important areas such as human-trafficking, arms-dealing and terrorism. Reframing these types of security concerns within the context of development, will allow us to connect the criminal and political challenges faced by the international community with the socio-economic situation in countries such as Afghanistan. Such a policy bridge is crucial in bringing about effective solutions.
To mark this evolution of ICOS, at the end of this month we are organising the first ever international conference on security and development to be held in Afghanistan. Our initial research project within this expanded agenda, will be conducted by our regional office in Kabul, which will apply our new method of comprehensive analysis to the security and development situation in Central Asia.
Nevertheless, it must not be forgotten that drug policy remains at the core of our activities. In fact, we are more committed than ever to building a new consensus on global drug policy for the year 2008 by continuing to advocate pragmatic and innovative solutions to the various development challenges at hand.
Last year in Vienna we launched a feasibility study on the topic of an Afghan opium licensing system for the production of essential medicines such as morphine and codeine. Since then, we have established a permanent presence in Kabul, to help facilitate our continued research on this issue. In addition, we have expanded our field of study to public health policies in collaboration with important local and international organisations such as the Afghan Red Crescent Society and the Afghanistan Human Rights Organisation.
This evening we have invited four distinguished experts to share their insights into various security and development issues. It is with great pleasure that I will now introduce the first speaker of the evening, Major General Kees (PRONOUNCED “CASE”) Homan.
Major General (ret) Kees Homan RNLMC
Major General Homan is a Senior Research Fellow at the Netherlands Institute for International Relations “Clingendael” in The Hague. Holding Masters degrees in Law and Political Science, he has published numerous articles on global peace and security. A graduate of the Dutch Royal Naval Academy, Major General Homan has served in postings around the world, from Aruba, to Sinai, Egypt. Before retiring from the military, he most recently served as Director of the Netherlands Defence College.
Major General Homan will now speak about international security assistant force involvement in Afghanistan and the challenges facing the provincial reconstruction teams. Major General Homan, I give you the floor.
I now have the pleasure to introduce Dr. Ali Wardak.
Dr. Ali Wardak
Dr. Ali Wardak holds a PhD in Criminology and is a Professor in criminology at the University of Glamorgan, Wales. His main teaching areas are Criminology Theory, Comparative Criminology and Social Exclusion and Crime. Dr. Wardak worked on the initial research of the Feasibility Study, and has recently conducted field research on behalf of ICOS in the province of Nangarhar, eastern Afghanistan.
Dr. Wardak will speak about the initial findings of his most recent trip to Afghanistan where he studied how different local institutions and power structures could play a role in controlling an opium licensing system. Dr. Wardak, I give you the floor.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, I will introduce our next speaker, Mr Tony White.
Mr. Tony White
Mr White is a consultant who for the past three years has been working in Central and Eastern Europe as an advisor on measures to prevent and detect money laundering and other economic crimes. He was previously Chief of Supply Reduction and Law Enforcement for the former United Nations International Drug Control Programme. Prior to that, he served for thirty years as a British police officer, holding senior posts in a number of specialist departments whose work related to drug control, organised crime, anti-terrorism and national security.
Mr. White will speak about the shortcomings of Alternative Livelihood Strategies, the relationship between alternative development and eradication and the drug policy framework of the United Nations. Mr. White, I give you the floor.
I introduce to you now the final speaker of the evening, Dr Vitalino Canas.
Dr Vitalino Canas
Dr Canas is currently Deputy to the Portuguese National Assembly, as well as Vice-President of the Portuguese Socialist Parliamentary Group. Dr Canas is also a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. From 1995 to 2002, he served as Portugal’s Secretary of State, and during his tenure, from 1999 to 2002, was responsible for the nation’s drug policy coordination. A lawyer by training, Dr Canas also teaches constitutional and administrative law at the University of Lisbon.
Dr Canas will now speak about the role of security and development in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, with particular focus on NATO’s contribution to the effort. He also has some exciting news about a future endeavour ICOS and the Portuguese government will be undertaking together. Dr Canas, I give you the floor.
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