The
Berlin Declaration on Counter-Narcotics
Within the Framework
of the Kabul Good Neighbourly Relations Declaration
[signed
during the
International Afghanistan Conference ("2nd Donors' Conference")
in
Berlin, 31 March – 01 April 2004]
Berlin, 1 April 2004
The representatives of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan
and the governments of the People’s Republic of China, Islamic Republic
of Iran, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan met in Berlin on 1 April to
consider further practical follow-up to the Kabul Declaration on Good
Neighbourly Relations agreed in Kabul on 22 December 2002, in the area
of Counter-Narcotics.
The representatives reaffirmed their countries` commitment to
constructive and supportive bilateral relations with Afghanistan based
on the principles of territorial integrity, mutual respect, friendly
relations, co-operation and non – interference in each other’s affairs.
In accordance with these principles, the representatives
agreed on the need to strengthen their collaboration in the fight
against the illegal cultivation, production and trafficking of opium
and other related substances.
The representatives expressed their support for the concept of
creating a security belt around Afghanistan with the purpose of
organising an effective system to interdict trafficking of opium
products. In this regard they will strengthen their co-operation within
the framework of the Global Anti-Narcotics Partnership.
The representatives recognised that a stable Afghanistan with
a strong central Government is essential to counter-narcotics efforts
and that they therefore reaffirm their support for the government of
Afghanistan, and fulfillment of their obligations under the Kabul
Declaration on Good Neighbourly Relations of December 2002.
The representatives agreed that the cultivation and supply of
opium seriously undermines normal economic and social development; that
it fosters poverty, lawlessness and political instability. They
therefore asserted their collective commitment to working with the
ultimate goal of the elimination of opium cultivation and supply in
this region and noted the substantial benefits that this would bring to
the stability and prosperity of the region.
The representatives noted the various initiatives and
activities already underway to meet these goals. They congratulated the
Government of Afghanistan on its strong commitment to eliminating the
cultivation of opium and encouraged it to continue to take effective
measures under its National Drug Control Strategy to tackle the problem
and pledged their full support for these measures.
The Representatives emphasized the principle of “International
Solidarity and Burden Sharing“ and called on International Donors to
provide the maximum possible financial and technical assistances to
Afghanistan.
The representatives resolved that their governments will take the
necessary measures:
- To ensure that their border territories are secure and that, to
this end,
they devote the necessary resources to their respective border guard
forces;
- To
ensure they interdict the maximum possible quantities of opiates as
they leave Afghanistan; and that their interdiction capacity should
undermine the capacity of traffickers to export opiate;
- To
facilitate the closest possible communication and collaboration between
their respective counter-narcotics forces, including the exchange of
information and intelligence;
- To
explore fully the scope for carrying out co-ordinated operations on
their respective sides of border areas, where there is clear advantage
in their doing so;
- To
pursue comprehensive national drugs strategies that include active
programs of measures in respect to: the expansion of law enforcement
capacity; the development of appropriate legal and institutional
frameworks, including legislation on money–laundering and corruption,
and the reduction of demand for opiates among their domestic
population;
- Noting
that programmes and initiatives vary between different countries, to
share knowledge and best practice on all aspects of counter-narcotics,
including: the elimination of crops; the interdiction of supply and
disruption of supply chains; the development of alternative livelihoods
for opium poppy farmers; and the reduction of local demand;
- To
ensure, as far as possible, that the development of alternative
livelihoods is tailored to actual demand in the local and regional
economy; and to explore fully the scope for promoting the trade of
alternative goods and services (agricultural and non-agricultural) in
regional and international markets.
- To
co-operate closely in international fora on counter-narcotics, notably
the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Commission on
Narcotic Drugs.
- To work with the countries affected by opium
originating from Afghanistan: to ensure maximum possible co-ordination
of the respective programmes they pursue in collaboration with
international actors; and to undermine the risk of shifts in one
country or region creating windows of opportunity for drugs trafficking
in another.
The representatives agreed that their officials would take work forward
in
these areas and hold a follow-up meeting at expert / official level by
June 2004 in Kabul under the auspices of the Afghan Government. They
agreed that their governments should meet to review progress within one
year of signature of this declaration.
The representatives noted the determination of their
governments to identify further areas of regional co-operation and
agreed that a further meeting on environmental issues would be held in
the summer of 2004.
Signed:
Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan
People's Republic of China
Islamic Republic of Iran
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Republic of Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Republic of Uzbekistan
Source: www.bundesregierung.de