Pubdate: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 Source: Charlotte Observer (NC) Copyright: 2006 The Charlotte Observer Contact: http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/78 Author: Constant Brand, Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Afghanistan Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/NATO Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/opium Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) UN URGES NATO TROOPS: WIPE OUT OPIUM INDUSTRY Anti-Drug Chief Links Efforts to Beat Taliban With Curbing Narcotics BRUSSELS, Belgium - The United Nations urged NATO forces Tuesday to take military action to destroy the opium industry in southern Afghanistan, saying cultivation of the crop is out of control in the embattled nation. U.N. anti-drug chief Antonio Maria Costa said opium production is being used to fund terrorist groups, and that eradicating it is crucial to establishing order in the south. "In the turbulent southern region, counterinsurgency and counter-narcotics efforts must reinforce each other so as to stop the vicious circle of drugs funding terrorists and terrorists protecting drug traffickers," Costa said. He urged NATO countries to give the alliance the mandate and added resources to expand its mission in southern Afghanistan and take action against production of the crop used to make heroin. "I call on NATO forces to destroy the heroin labs, disband the open opium bazaars, attack the opium convoys and bring to justice the big traders," he said. Last week, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said it was not planning to play a leading role in the fight against narcotics in Afghanistan, but the alliance has suggested its troops could play a backup role if they had the time and resources to support Afghan forces and police in eradication of the crops. Costa said his office had met with NATO to discuss the problem, and he met Tuesday with European Union External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. "It's clear the mission of NATO in Afghanistan has evolved into a full-fledged attempt to eradicate Taliban," he said, adding that NATO would find it "very difficult" to defeat the Taliban and insurgents in the south unless they cracked down on drug traffickers. The U.N.'s Office on Drugs and Crime's annual survey of Afghanistan's poppy crop in Kabul, released this month, said opium cultivation rose 59 percent this year to produce a record 6,100 tons of opium -- a massive 92 percent of world supply. Costa called for increased development aid from international donors such as the European Union to get farmers off their dependency on growing opium. Costa said the aid should be made conditional on commitments by regional political leaders to fight opium cultivation and to curb corruption. Costa also said the Afghan government should step up policing to bring to justice drug traffickers, seizing their assets such as houses and land. He said Afghan authorities also had to do more to stem the import of chemicals needed to make heroin, and to deter "the flow of volunteers, arms and money for the insurgency." Other Developments NATO forces have recaptured territory in southern Afghanistan from Taliban insurgents during an 11-day operation that has killed at least 510 suspected militants, the alliance said Tuesday. Security forces also killed 12 Taliban on Tuesday and detained nearly 40. The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to extend the authorization of the NATO-led force in Afghanistan, expressing concern at the upsurge in violence and terrorist activity by the Taliban, al-Qaida and drug traffickers. As she thanked Canada for its role as a leader of NATO forces in the country, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged "difficult going" fighting a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, but insisted Tuesday that the world cannot afford to pull out now. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine