Iran Statement at the reconvened joint meeting of CND CCPCJ
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Statement
Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran
joint meeting of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
Agenda Item 4
(Vienna, 7 and 8 December 2023)
In the name of God, the most Compassionate, the most merciful
Distinguished co-chairs,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
My delegation thanks Ambassadors of Ghana and Morocco for their leadership and chairpersonship of the joint meeting of the two Commissions. We also appreciate the Secretariat for all its efforts in facilitating this joint meeting.
Please allow me, on behalf of the Government and people of Iran, to express our sincerest and deepest sympathies to the Palestinian people.
After a short pause, the international community is once again witnessing resumption of terrorist and criminal acts committed by the Israeli regime, in full impunity, against the innocent Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, in violation of the most basic Principles of Charter of the United Nations, international law and international humanitarian law.
An urgent and appropriate collective action is required by the international community aimed at ceasing further brutalities by this regime, providing humanitarian aid to Gaza people and holding the occupying regime and its supporters accountable.
Dear Co-chairs,
We underscore the prominence and active role of the ‘open-ended intergovernmental working group in improving the efficiency of governance and financial situation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’ (FINGOV) and consider it a valuable vehicle for consultations and communications between Member States and the Secretariat in matters related to the UNODC.
We note with concern the challenges facing UNODC due to the shortfall in general purpose funding and underlining funding trends affecting the Office ability to efficiently and independently uphold core programmatic functions.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, stresses the significance of the availability of timely, adequate, foreseeable and unwavering funding for UNODC to boost providing technical assistance and capacity building to developing countries. We are of the view that technical assistance programs should be a targeted result-based and creative approach, taking into consideration domestic law and regulations, priorities and challenges of State Parties in relevant areas pertinent to the implementation of the relevant applicable conventions.
We are deeply concerned that the lack of adequate funding for country projects and programmers has led to the failing of the UNODC field offices to fulfil their mandate in assisting member states. In this regard, the Islamic Republic of Iran expects the office to double its efforts to ensure that adequate financial and logistical resources are allocated.
We strongly believe that international cooperation is a fundamental principle of all relevant applicable international conventions and in this connection, emphasize on the vital role of the UNODC to strengthen and facilitate international cooperation. In this context, we should remind that several member states are facing challenges which undermine their capacities to fight against drugs and crimes.
The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates the crucial importance of addressing the challenges and removing obstacles which undermine the countries’ capacities to fulfil their international obligations in countering illicit drugs and crime. Among the main obstacles, Unilateral Coercive Measures (UCMs) which are in contravention of international law and the Charter of the UN, have even worsened, by virtue of the politically motivated approach of some donors to channel their financial support to the specific projects and programs which have led to discrimination against several developing countries and should be properly reflected as prominent challenges in the implementation of projects and programmers of the UNODC.
Distinguished Co-chairs,
We remind that, Iran’s Country Partnership Programme with the UNODC was signed on the margins of 66th CND, however, the level of supports and projects are not proportionate to the needs and priorities of the country. The Islamic Republic of Iran is at the forefront of fighting against drugs, however, the relevant support provided or promised is not sufficient and is in contravention of fair share principle. Despite the unfair and politicized measures taken against us, Iran has never given up fighting against drugs and in this regard has devotedly defended international community’s interests.
I would like to draw your attention to new report on reduction of cultivation of opium poppy. The soaring trend of Methamphetamine production and trafficking and the threat of ATSs and synthetic opioids shall not be underestimated.
We would like to emphasize once again that the neighboring countries should not be alone in addressing the challenges caused by the current situation in Afghanistan. Further to strengthening regional initiatives, UNODC should support neighboring countries and allocate adequate funding to address the demands and needs to support neighboring countries, in their efforts to overcome the challenges posed by drugs and crimes and the influx of refugees which have been aggravated since August 2021.
Last but not least, regarding human resources, we restate our firm position that further effective endeavours are still needed to increase the representation of developing countries in the staff composition of the Office. Hence, we strongly request the Executive Director to increase the recruitment of developing countries staff in the Secretariat considering the need to ensure equitable geographical representation and report thereon to the Commissions. We also appeal FINGOV to continue in line with the standing agenda item, to evaluate the progress made by the Office in improving representation from developing countries.
Thank you