16 January 2002

U.S. Welcomes Afghan Ban on Drug Production and Trafficking

Following is a statement from State Department deputy spokesman Philip Reeker January 16 in which the U.S. government welcomes a decree by the Afghan Interim Authority banning the cultivation, processing, and trafficking of opiates.

AFGHANISTAN BANS OPIUM POPPY CULTIVATION

On January 16, the Afghan Interim Authority issued a decree banning the cultivation, processing, and trafficking of opiates. In the late 1990s, Afghanistan became the largest producer of the world's supply of opium and heroin. It continued to be the world's major supplier of illegal opiates even after the Taliban's ban on opium poppy cultivation in July 2000.

We welcome the decree by the Interim Authority, which is consistent with its commitment in Bonn to cooperate with the international community on counternarcotics. We look forward to working closely with the Interim Authority and the international community to assist Afghanistan in fulfilling its international narcotics commitments.