CROATIAN VICE-PREMIER ATTENDS CND SESSION

VIENNA, April 16 (Hina) - Croatia is interested in participating in planning an international fight against narcotics smuggling, said Croatian Vice-Premier Ante Simonic on Wednesday in Vienna, where he is attending the 46th session of UN's Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). #L# The session is attended by delegations from 120 countries. The Croatian delegation is led by Simonic, who on Wednesday addressed the plenary session focusing on "Strengthening international cooperation in countering the world drug problem, based on the principle of shared responsibility". "The problems of addiction, smuggling and abuse of drugs is a very serious international community's challenge and is one of the world's largest problems. If history teaches us what the world will be like tomorrow, than this will be mankind's problem in the future also," Simonic said in his speech. To counter the problem, intensified international efforts are necessary, which includes cooperation in many areas, from the health system, the judiciary, police, the economy and border services, Simonic stressed. "Croatia sets aside some 100 million kuna a year for the struggle against drugs. We care very much to participate in the international planning of a policy to counter drug abuse, which is also connected to international crime," he said. Simonic said that the so-called Balkan route passed through Croatia, via which some 80 percent of the total amount of heroin entering Europe was being smuggled. He concluded that it was in the interest of the international community to establish an even greater degree of cooperation with Croatia so it could be more efficient in countering the smuggling and abuse of drugs. (hina) lml