For information only - not an official document

UNIS/NAR/1135REV
9 March 2012

MEDIA ADVISORY

Press Briefing on the 55th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs

VIENNA, 9 March (UN Information Service) - Strengthening the drug programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will be the focus of the 55th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), which will meet in Vienna from 12 to 16 March 2012. The CND is the central policy-making body within the United Nations system dealing with illicit drugs and the governing body for the work of UNODC in the drugs field.

The media are invited to a press briefing by Yury Fedotov, Executive Director, UNODC
on Monday 12 March at 3 p.m. in the Press Briefing Room (MOE71A) in the M-building.

The Executive Director will be joined by Ambassador Carmen Bujan Freire (Spain) Chairperson of the 55th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

Ministers and top anti-drug officials from the 53 CND Member States will discuss issues ranging from international cooperation on counter-narcotics, preventing the diversion of chemicals to manufacture illicit drugs to public health and safety concerns.

Among those addressing the Opening Session are: President of Bolivia, Evo Morales Ayma; Vice President of Honduras, Victor Hugo Barnica; Counter Narcotics Minister of Afghanistan, Zarar Ahmad Moqbel-Osmani; Justice Minister of Brazil, Jose Eduardo Cardozo; Interior Minister of Iran, Mostafa Mohammad Najjar; Minister to the Prime Minister's Office of Lao People's Democratic Republic, Soubanh Srithirath; Secretary of State in the Ministry of Health, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla; the Counter Narcotic heads of the Russian Federation, the United States of America, Peru, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Germany and France amongst others, the Vice Minister in the Ministry of Narcotics Control of Pakistan and the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala; and the former President of Switzerland, Ruth Dreifuss. Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand will also be attending the CND.

The Opening Session of the Plenary Session and side events are open to the press.

For information, please contact:

Preeta Bannerjee, Public Information Officer Tel: +43-699 1459-5764

For media accreditation:

Media are encouraged to seek accreditation before the briefing; forms and criteria are available on http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/media_accreditation.html or by writing to press@unvienna.org. Journalists already accredited to the VIC do not need re-accreditation.

Please register for the press briefing by Friday 9 March by writing to press@unvienna.org. For information on facilities and general information for the media, write to anne.thomas@unvienna.org or call + 43 1 26060 5588.

Access to the M-building is via Checkpoint One of the Vienna International Centre. Camera crews should confirm their participation in advance in writing. Media are advised to come to the venue at least half an hour before the briefing to avoid delays at security.

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