Transcript Dias nummer 1 - Economic Cooperation Organization

Centre for Comparative and European Constitutional Studies
Narcotics in the Golden Crescent:
Interests,
Common
Common Challenges,
Common Instruments
Dr. Ebrahim Afsah
BA (SOAS), MPhil (TCD), MPA (Harvard)
Associate Professor of Public International Law
Centre for Comparative and European Constitutional Studies
Faculty of Law
University of Copenhagen
[email protected]
http://jura.ku.dk/ebrahimafsah
Centre for Comparative and European Constitutional Studies
1. Narcotic Production Explodes in the Region
Counterintuitive Connection:
• Afghanistan’s production explodes since 1979
• Iran fully suppresses its production after 1979
• Pakistan, likewise, fully eradicates after 1979
•  Dominant discourse is repressive.
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1. Narcotic Production Explodes in the Region
Repressive Discourse hides two important facts:
•  Eradication has been possible
•  Local Addiction
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1. Narcotic Production Explodes in the Region
Local Addiction has reached epidemic proportions
•  Causal discourse dominated by external factors
•  Chicken & Egg Problem:
• Addiction through availability of drugs?
• Addiction caused by social/individual factors?
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2. Global Impact of Regional Narcotics Trade
Multifaceted impact, vertically and horizontally:
• Domestic Price of Addiction
• External Price of Addiction
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2. Global Impact of Regional Narcotics Trade
Link to Violence, Insurgency, and Terrorism:
• Drug Economy thrives on Instability
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2. Global Impact of Regional Narcotics Trade
Confusing Strategy of International Actors:
• Short-term Military Goals vs.
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2. Global Impact of Regional Narcotics Trade
Confusing Strategy of International Actors:
• Long-term Institutional Goals
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2. Global Impact of Regional Narcotics Trade
Confusing Strategy of International Actors:
• European Illicit Drug Markets depend on Afghan
Production
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2. Global Impact of Regional Narcotics Trade
Almost complete coincidence of interests on counter-narcotics
• Domestically, both in Europe and in the Region
• Between Regional States
• Between Western and Regional States
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3. Peculiar Trilateral Challenges
Regional States share common obstacles in fighting drugs:
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Domestically Divided Responsibilities across Agencies
Insufficient Capabilities contra Organised Crime
Obstacles to Inter-Agency Collaboration
Obstacles to Cross-Boundary Collaboration
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3. Peculiar Trilateral Challenges
Psychological, Legal, and Organisational Obstacles to CrossBoundary Collaboration
• Domestic Legal Framework
• International Legal Framework:
• UN Conventions
• Bilateral Agreements
• Lack of Organisational Capacity to Collaborate
• Lack of Habit of Cooperation / Trust
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4. Confidence Building Measures &
Expectation Management
Continuum of Legal & Operational Possibility:
• International Legal Obligations but National
Implementation
• Comprehensive Regulatory Framework in All Three
Countries
• Legal Differences Not Necessarily Problematic
• Harmonising Approaches and Operations, rather than
Laws
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4. Confidence Building Measures &
Expectation Management
Focussing on Practical Operational Problems:
• Forum for Information Exchange
• Building Personal Connections and Trust
• Becoming Aware of Legal and Operational Obstacles
• Becoming Aware of Respective Political Sensibilities
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5. ECO’s Mandate and Unique Selling Point
Differentiation to other Actors in this Field:
• Ownership qua Membership
• Political Mandate for Multilateral Engagement on Drugs
• Practical Facilitation & Channels of Communication
through Member States
• Non-Hierarchical Facilitation, few if any Power
Imbalances
• Long-term Problem requires Institutionalisation
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5. ECO’s Mandate and Unique Selling Point
Institution
• It already exists!
• It already has the agreed mandate
• Member States control and trust it
Logistics
• A dedicated unit exists: DOCCU
• This facility is being made known and meaningful to MS
• Provides otherwise missing forum for exchange
Outlook
• Institutional capacity to be sustainably expanded
• Shared Responsibility between MS and external Friends
• Channelling Commitment by MS
Centre for Comparative and European Constitutional Studies
Dr. Ebrahim Afsah
[email protected]
http://jura.ku.dk/ebrahimafsah