GENEVA: The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Director Dr Hatem Ali affirmed that Kuwait's drug control department operates according to UN standards; most valuable for drugs prevention. His remarks came on the sidelines of UN commission's 63rd session on the matter. He said yesterday that the Office worked for the past two years with 18 agencies in Kuwait to set the drug control strategy, which will confront drug scourge comprehensively in accordance with UN standards.

Ali commended Kuwait's partnerships, mainly the one with the Interior Ministry and Supreme Council for Planning and Development to fight and monitor drug-bearing problems. The session, which kicked off on Monday, considers resolutions addressing, among other topics, strengthening forensic detection capability for synthetic drugs and measures of prevention. A delegation from the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry, including director of international control at the drug control department Colonel Fahad Al-Bader is partaking in the session.

Environment conservation
Meanwhile, the UN's special rapporteur on human rights and the environment said that Kuwait's dedication to environment conservation is evident in the initiatives the country has launched over the matter. Kuwait has made notable contributions towards environment protection efforts, including passing stiff legislation to fight water and air pollution, David Boyd said amid the UN Human Rights Council's main annual session yesterday.

These efforts have largely paid off in delivering "tangible" results to ensure a healthy and sustainable environment, added the UN official, pointing out that a looming environmental crisis would prove detrimental to the entire world. Kuwait is committed to all UN conventions aiming to protect the environment, said the country's permanent delegate to the UN Jamal Al-Ghunaim, adding that the UN's recognition serves as solid affirmation. - KUNA