NEWS RELEASESJune 5, 1998 No. 146 CANADA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPECIAL SESSION ON THE WORLD DRUG PROBLEM National Revenue Minister Herb Dhaliwal will lead the Canadian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the World Drug Problem in New York, from June 8 to 10. The Canadian delegation will include Solicitor General of Canada Andy Scott, who will give a speech on June 10 on behalf of the Government of Canada. "The international trade in illicit drugs continues to have significant social, health, economic and political consequences for all countries," said Mr. Dhaliwal. "We must co-operate at the national and international levels to address this problem." In New York, Canada will promote an active and balanced approach to international anti-drug co-operation as a necessary response to the changing situation in Canada and around the world. As well, Canada will seek to ensure that the issues of drug supply and reduction in drug demand are addressed in a balanced way. "Drug trafficking is an international problem with growing links to other types of crime such as money laundering," said Mr. Scott. "Furthermore, money laundering has become a global threat to the integrity and stability of financial and trading systems." At the international level, Canada made a commitment at the Santiago Summit of the Americas in April to host a group of hemispheric foreign ministers on drug issues. Following the Summit, Canada was elected to chair the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) Working Group that will develop the multilateral evaluation mechanism for monitoring national and international drug efforts. - 30 - For further information, media representatives may contact:
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