Opening Remarks
Dr. Juan Ramón de la Fuente
Secretary of Health, Mexico
Dr. de la Fuente began by stressing the vital importance of taking a much more comprehensive approach to the bilateral fight against drugs. He noted that consumption and demand are now being given the emphasis they merit in the chain of drug trafficking. Although Mexico has historically emphasized both aspects, he stated that the explicit will of President Clinton and President Zedillo has finally given it shared expression. A meeting like this, he claimed, would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.
This conference represents an unprecedented effort at the highest level and the beginning of a new era in bilateral relations and multilateral anti-drug efforts. Dr. de la Fuente noted that, with greater efficiency in reducing drug demand, positive effects on other drug-related social problems, such as crime, delinquency, domestic violence, teenage pregnancy, HIV and sexually transmitted infections, are also likely. Effective efforts, he stressed, demand cooperation, not confrontation, recriminations or decertification. By translating the recommendations of the Conference's experts into viable policies, well-defined strategies and quantifiable goals, we are not only making progress in our relationship with each other, we are also building a new international consensus.
As Dr. de la Fuente also stated, because of its leadership role in this hemisphere, the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission of the Organization of American States is an important forum for building an international focus in our fight against drugs.
With greater efficiency in reducing drug demand, positive effects on other drug-related social problems such as crime, delinquency, domestic violence, teenage pregnancy, HIV and sexually transmitted infections are also likely.
The International Drug Commission of the United Nations also has just begun preparatory work for the special session of the U.N. General Assembly to address the fight against drug abuse. In addition, the Commission has recommended a drug demand reduction policy to further strengthen our new relationship. This is in accordance with a long-established Mexican commitment initiated several years ago.
