For information only - not an official document

UNIS/NAR/1195
31 January 2014

INCB President visits the Vatican

VIENNA, 31 January (UN Information Service) - The President of the International Narcotics Control Board, Raymond Yans, and the Secretary of the Board, Andrés Finguerut, visited the Vatican on 28 to 29 January 2014, as part of INCB's ongoing cooperation with Parties to the international drug control conventions.

The INCB President and Secretary met with Monsignor Antoine Camilleri, Undersecretary for Relations with States, to exchange views on the world drug situation and global drug control policy developments.  They also met Monsignor Zygmunt Zimowski, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, to discuss the issue of prevention, particularly among youth, and access to pain medications and psychotropic substances, including through the Church's vast network of health care facilities.  The critical situation regarding access to controlled medicines in some regions of the world, for example in Africa, was also highlighted.

Mr. Yans also had a brief meeting with Pope Francis.

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INCB is the independent, quasi-judicial body charged with promoting and monitoring Government compliance with the three international drug control conventions: the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 Convention against

Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

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For further information, please contact:
INCB Secretariat
Telephone for media inquiries: (+43-1) 26060 4163
Email: secretariat[at]incb.org
Website: www.incb.org