2008 UN opium survey for Afghanistan

26 Nov 2008

Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell commented on the latest UN report on opium cultivation in Afghanistan.

Antonio Costa, Executive Director of UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), spoke alongside Bill Rammell, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth office at Chatham House today to present this year's Afghanistan Opium Survey.

The UK is G8 Partner Nation for Afghanistan on counter-narcotics - responsible for leading the international effort to assist the Afghan authorities to counteract illegal poppy cultivation, which fuels terrorism and supplies 95% of the heroin in the UK

Speaking at the launch of the UNODC opium survey for Afghanistan, Bill Rammell commented on the findings of the latest UN report. He said:

'I would like to welcome the UNODC 2008 Opium survey for Afghanistan. The report's conclusions give cause for cautious optimism. Opium cultivation is down by 19% since 2007. The number of poppy free provinces has increased to 18, this represents over half the provinces in the country. And, thanks to the growth in licit GDP, the opium trade has declined as a proportion of the economy.

But this is certainly no time for complacency. We are engaged in a long process which will see changes each harvest. This year's figures show the start of a decline but we now need to work hard to sustain it.

The UK Government have agreed to spend £345m in support of the Afghan National Development Strategy between 2009 and 2012. We will continue to urge our international partners to increase their support. I am optimistic that with a high level of international commitment and a renewed effort by the Afghan Government we will continue to see positive results'

Read the transcript of the speech.