For information only - not an official document
UNIS/CP/995
29 September 2017
VIENNA, 29 September (UN Information Service) - Today, I welcomed Sir Peter Cosgrove, the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, to the Vienna International Centre and the offices of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
We held a friendly, open and constructive meeting. I thanked him sincerely for the close partnership between Australia and UNODC on the complex challenges of drugs, organized crime, corruption and terrorism.
During our conversation, I expressed warm appreciation for Australia's support for UNODC's Regional Programme for Southeast Asia and the Pacific and outlined our activities in the region, including against terrorism, drug policy, border management and the critical work of countering human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
I explained how UNODC's efforts on security, justice, good governance and the rule of law were helping to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and said that much of our work is aimed at accomplishing Goal 16 on peaceful and inclusive societies.
On the challenge of new psychoactive substances-NPS-I informed the Governor-General that UNODC helps states to confront the criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, and works on drug prevention and the treatment of drug users.
I outlined how UNODC's Triangular Initiative, involving Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, promoted information sharing and coordination among counter-narcotic forces to interrupt the smuggling of precursor chemicals and opium in the region.
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For further information, please contact:
David
Dadge
Spokesperson, UNODC
Telephone: (+43 1) 26060-5629
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-5629
Email: david.dadge[at]unvienna.org
