- Libya's return to the folder of respected nations in the international community is not only appreciated by anti-terrorism warriors and oil companies. The UN is enjoying the opportunity to boost its cooperation with Tripoli in its worldwide fight against drugs and offering Libyan authorities help in its campaign against corruption.
A senior UN official is heading to Libya this week in "a bid to boost cooperation with the North African country in the region's battle against illegal drugs, crime and terrorism," the UN reports today.
Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), will start his three-day visit to Libya tomorrow. While there, he plans to hold talks with the country's most senior leaders and administrators from the city of Tripoli, as well as to visit detention facilities and drug treatment centres.
- We will explore ways to expand our cooperation with Libya, especially in light of the country's announced commitment to fully contribute to international efforts against illicit drugs, crime and terrorism, Mr Costa said today. "Libya can play a prominent role in these efforts both in North Africa and in the Arab world in general," he added.
Tripoli is already party to all UN conventions against drugs, and Libyan authorities have ratified the UN treaty against organised crime as well as all 12 universal instruments for the prevention and suppression of international terrorism. Last December, the country also signed the new UN Convention against Corruption.
- UNODC stands ready to assist Libya in fighting corruption, which has been the government's priority, Mr Costa said. "Trafficking in human beings is another problem we would address together. We strongly support Libyan leadership's commitment to face the threat of drug abuse."
Voicing "serious concern" about HIV/AIDS, the UNODC leader also pledged to work with the authorities to reduce its impact. The AIDS pandemic has not yet made a strong impact in conservative North Africa, but is believed to be in the process of crossing the Sahara desert.
Vienna-based UNODC has been working in Libya since 2001, running an ongoing project worth US$ 2.8 million - funded fully by Libyan authorities - to provide training to 85 drug law enforcement officers. Several prevention workshops and seminars have taken place to increase awareness among youth and to train policy makers.
In addition, equipment and other types of assistance have been provided to the border control officers, forensic laboratories, and drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centres, the UN agency says in a statement released today.
According to Mr Costa, the Office is also currently carrying out an assessment of the prevalence of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS "in order to develop a national drug demand reduction strategy." Libya is located close to one of the world's principal drug producing areas, the Maghreb region.
Also Libya's National Postal and Telecommunication Authority has now decided to join forces with UNODC in combating illicit drug trafficking and money laundering. A new, US$ 1.4 million specialised technical assistance project is being designed to strengthen the national postal control and inspection systems in Libya, UNODC reports.
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