Pubdate: Sun, 27 Jun 1999 Source: Associated Press Copyright: 1999 Associated Press U.N. GIVES IRAN $13M FOR DRUG FIGHT DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Iran will receive $13 million from the United Nations to help fight drugs, the head of the U.N. Drug Control Program said, according to a report Sunday. Pino Arlacchi told reporters in Tehran on Saturday that $7 million would be spent on border vigilance and the rest would go to research, rehabilitation of addicts and raising drug awareness in local communities, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported Sunday. Arlacchi watched authorities set ablaze 50 tons of drugs seized from smugglers to mark the opening of a U.N. anti-drug office in Tehran on Saturday, said the IRNA report, which was monitored in Dubai. Arlacchi praised Iran's "relentless efforts in their campaign against drug trafficking and addiction." Noting that about 3,000 Iranians have been killed in gun-battles with drug smugglers, Arlacchi said, "I would like to thank the families of the martyrs, their wives and children." Iran has made great strides in the fight against drugs since ending the1980- 88 war with Iraq. At the time, drugs and drug addiction were rife across the nation. In response, authorities burned poppy fields, introduced capital punishment for drug trafficking and increased patrols on its borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan, which it says are the main origin of drugs flowing into Iran. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake