Committee: Disarmament and International Security Committee Topic: Links between Illicit Drug Trafficking and Non-state Armed

Groups Country: Ireland School: NUS High School of Math and Science Guerilla warfare and political violence in Colombia and Afghanistan have ravaged the rich, resourceful landscapes of the two countries.1 Something must be done to eradicate illicit drug trafficking that has long fueled conflict and unrest in the area, with armed conflict claiming at least 35,000 lives in the 1900s. Although many resolutions have been passed and international treaties were signed to make a concerted effort in reducing the power of the paramilitary groups in these two countries, words and promises alone cannot bring about a change in the situation. Practical solutions must be put into place. Ireland has also had its fair share of illicit drug trafficking problems but this has also strengthened the governments views on the negative consequences brought about by illicit drug trafficking.The Irish government has declared the issues on drugs as one of its major priorities during its six- month term in the presidency of the European Union2, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dick Spring, announcing that the scourge of drug-related crimes to be a top priority during Ireland's stint in the presidency. Since then, Ireland has felt the need to ensure improved co-operation between member states in the international struggle against drugs and organized crime and has addressed issues of the harmonization of laws against illicit trafficking in drugs. Ireland seeks to commit each member nation of the EU to strongly condemn and impose harsh sentences for drug trafficking offenses that their national law allows. 3 Also, the setting up of the Drug Policy Action Group in Ireland, under the umbrella of the International Drug Policy Consortium has brought more awareness of illicit drug trafficking to the regions via this global network.4 Ireland believes in the provision of subsidies to drug producing states to discourage farmers from planting illegal plants. Ireland believes that farmers are sometimes forced to grow illegal crops due to a number reasons including extreme poverty that might have forced them to resort to growing such profitable crops rather than waiting long years to grow crops that may well be decimated by natural disasters. By providing some form of monetary aid to these farmers may help encourage more farmers to refuse the temptations of growing illegal crops. However, Ireland believes that such solutions cannot be carried out properly if the governments of Colombia and Afghanistan are still ridden with corruption. Corruption is a problem that should be stamped out with foreign countries providing technical assistance and encouraging more transparency within the governments themselves, and also making sure that the government itself is not supporting any form of paramilitary groups, and instead is working with the common goal of achieving more political stability in the country itself. Ireland however believes that the eradication of illegal crops via aerial spraying is not a viable solution. Introducing chemicals forcefully can harm the natural resources and the rich fertile soils of Colombia which may be their main source of income. Ireland believes that international communities should instead focus on prevention, rather than acting on the problem itself and this should be primarily achieved by strengthening the government in the troubled countries. The international community should also withdraw their own interests in the profits from the illegal drug trade to ensure a more efficient cooperation on solving the matters.

References [1] http://www.cdi.org/adm/1315/transcript.html [2,3] http://www.ndsn.org/sept96/eupolicy.html [4] http://www.iprt.ie/files/dpag_paper.pdf