UNIS/VIC/102
10 July 2003

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Pays Visit to UNOV Director-General

VIENNA, 10 July (UN Information Service) -- The Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Tyronne Fernando, paid a visit today on Antonio Maria Costa, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) and Executive Director, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Mr. Costa stressed the importance of addressing crime and drug problems in the context of the country's development efforts. In this regard, UNODC was developing a number of projects in consultation with Sri Lanka. Currently, a UNODC regional project, "Precursor Control in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Region," is assisting Sri Lanka in drafting the country's precursor legislation, standard operating procedures and working mechanisms.

Mr. Costa thanked Mr. Fernando for his country's strong support of the activities of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), and the Programme on Space Applications (PSA). Although not currently a member, Sri Lanka is involved in the work of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space  (COPUOS) and attends Committee and Subcommittee sessions as an observer.

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