For information only - not an official document
UNIS/CP/1027
9 February 2018
Bogota/Vienna, 9 February 2018 (UN Information Service) - Yury Fedotov, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, visited Colombia and met President Juan Manuel Santos to discuss UNODC support for the country's continuing peacebuilding efforts.
In November, Colombia and UNODC signed a historic project agreement, valued at around 315 million US dollars, to monitor the country's policy to reduce illicit crops and strengthen rural development, in support of the peace process with the FARC. It is the biggest UN project in Colombia as well as the largest in UNODC history.
"My visit to Colombia is an important opportunity to see the work UNODC is doing on the ground, and to discuss what needs to be done going forward. We are committed to cooperating closely with our Colombian partners to promote sustainable development and ensure that illicit drugs cannot act as a spoiler to a hard-won peace," said Mr. Fedotov.
"I expressed once again to President Santos my congratulations to the people and institutions of Colombia for their extraordinary steps towards securing the peaceful future of this country. Much hard work remains to be done, but be assured that Colombia has a steadfast partner in UNODC."
During his two-day visit, Mr. Fedotov met President Santos as well as Vice-President Oscar Naranjo; Minister of Justice and Law Enrique Gil Botero; Defence Minister Luis Carlos Villegas; General Jorge Nieto, Director of the Colombian National Police; and Rafael Pardo, High-Commissioner for Post- Conflict, Security and Human Rights among other Government officials.
The Executive Director also met Jean Arnault, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, and Martin Santiago, Resident Coordinator of the UN in Colombia.
Along with High-Commissioner Pardo, Mr. Fedotov inaugurated yesterday the new premises of the UNODC Office in Colombia, which is the biggest UNODC field presence in the world.
Today, the Executive Director visited UNODC alternative development programme sites to see first-hand the work being done to support rural livelihoods free from illicit drugs. He was in three locations east of the Andean mountains in the department of Meta. There, Mr. Fedotov met local officials and leaders of the National Integrated Programme for the Substitution of Illegal Crops.
Alternative development for rural communities involved in illicit crop cultivation aims at breaking the vicious circle of poverty, underdevelopment and insecurity by combining alternative licit economic activities with social development and the promotion of the rule of law. It represents a fundamental pillar of a balanced international drug control strategy.
The comprehensive alternative development project in Colombia encompasses financial support for voluntary coca eradication, land titling and the creation of farmers' associations, as well as infrastructural initiatives such as improved road access, the creation of local markets and commercialization of alternative development products.
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For further information, contact:
Sonya
Yee
Programme Officer, UNODC
Telephone: (+43 1) 26060-4990
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-4990
Email: sonya.yee[at]un.org
