UN drugs and crime office set for capital

ABU DHABI // A branch of the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime is to be opened in Abu Dhabi, it was announced yesterday. The Ministry of the Interior and the UN signed an agreement to open the semi-regional office, after meetings between Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, the Minister of Interior, and Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the UN office.

The agreement strengthens technical and preventive co-operation to tackle drug crime by establishing relations between police and governments in the GCC. Sheikh Saif's said: "The UAE's efforts in combating drugs and crime is a serious and fruitful effort that serves to eliminate the scourge of all types of addiction. "Addiction threatens many facets of society and has an effect on the social and economic stability of the UAE. It leads to theft, abuse, exploitation, family disintegration, road accidents and unemployment."

Sheikh Saif reiterated his ministry's commitment to do its utmost to help the international community combat drugs. He said the Goverment was committed to tackling trafficking by working with international agencies and other GCC Governments. "The ultimate goal is to guarantee a very clean and healthy environment suitable for present and future generations," a ministry statement said. Mr Costa described the efforts made by UAE in fighting drugs as a "model". He added that the agreement was a preventive measure as the country had low levels of drug crime.

No date was given for the expected opening of the office. [e-mail]