Purpose: I thought I would post this to generate discussion on what the membership thinks of the legitimization of trade in coca.
Thoughts: Taking a lesson from history, the United States/NATO and Turkey negotiated an arrangement in which the opium industry in Turkey was legitimized for pharmaceutical purposes, which was successful. However, illicit opium production then shifted to SE Asia and Afghanistan.
Questions:
Source: BBC News (BBC News - Bolivia launches coca leaf diplomatic offensive)
Read the rest of the article at the link at top of the quoted portion of the article on the BBC News International Site.
Thoughts: Taking a lesson from history, the United States/NATO and Turkey negotiated an arrangement in which the opium industry in Turkey was legitimized for pharmaceutical purposes, which was successful. However, illicit opium production then shifted to SE Asia and Afghanistan.
Questions:
- Should the international community legitimize the coca industry in Bolivia?
- Would doing so help bring economic stability to the nation of Bolivia by providing it revenue?
- Should international players who have ideological conflict withhold positive action due to the policies of Evo Morales?
- What would be the unintended consequences of such an arrangement?
Source: BBC News (BBC News - Bolivia launches coca leaf diplomatic offensive)
Bolivia launches coca leaf diplomatic offensive
Bolivia has launched a diplomatic offensive to try to end an international ban on chewing coca leaf.
Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca is on a European tour in a bid to drum up support to amend a UN treaty on banned drugs to decriminalise coca chewing.
Coca has been used in the Andes for thousands of years as a mild stimulant and sacred herbal medicine.
But it is also the raw material for the production of illegal cocaine, and the US is expected to oppose the move.
Deeply rooted
Bolivia wants to amend the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs to remove language that bans the chewing of coca leaf.
The deadline for nations to raise objections is 31 January.
If no objections are registered, the change will go ahead.
The convention stipulates that coca-chewing be eliminated within 25 years of the convention coming into effect in 1964.
Bolivia says that is discriminatory, given that coca use is so deeply rooted in the indigenous culture of the Andes.
Its proposal would leave in place language that makes coca a controlled substance.
Spain has already given its support to the Bolivian campaign.
Spanish foreign minister Trinidad Jimenez told Mr Choquehuanca in Madrid that she "understood" Bolivia's demand and would try to mediate with other European countries thought to be considering an objection.
Two countries which had recently filed objections - Colombia and Macedonia - have withdrawn them after Bolivian lobbying.
Bolivia has launched a diplomatic offensive to try to end an international ban on chewing coca leaf.
Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca is on a European tour in a bid to drum up support to amend a UN treaty on banned drugs to decriminalise coca chewing.
Coca has been used in the Andes for thousands of years as a mild stimulant and sacred herbal medicine.
But it is also the raw material for the production of illegal cocaine, and the US is expected to oppose the move.
Deeply rooted
Bolivia wants to amend the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs to remove language that bans the chewing of coca leaf.
The deadline for nations to raise objections is 31 January.
If no objections are registered, the change will go ahead.
The convention stipulates that coca-chewing be eliminated within 25 years of the convention coming into effect in 1964.
Bolivia says that is discriminatory, given that coca use is so deeply rooted in the indigenous culture of the Andes.
Its proposal would leave in place language that makes coca a controlled substance.
Spain has already given its support to the Bolivian campaign.
Spanish foreign minister Trinidad Jimenez told Mr Choquehuanca in Madrid that she "understood" Bolivia's demand and would try to mediate with other European countries thought to be considering an objection.
Two countries which had recently filed objections - Colombia and Macedonia - have withdrawn them after Bolivian lobbying.
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