| Press Statement Philip T. Reeker, Deputy Spokesman Washington, DC January 16, 2002 Afghanistan Bans Opium Poppy CultivationOn January 16, the Afghan Interim Authority issued a decree banning the cultivation, processing, and trafficking of opiates. In the late 1990s, Afghanistan became the largest producer of the world's supply of opium and heroin. It continued to be the world's major supplier of illegal opiates even after the Taliban's ban on opium poppy cultivation in July 2000. We welcome the decree by the Interim Authority, which is consistent with its commitment in Bonn to cooperate with the international community on counternarcotics. We look forward to working closely with the Interim Authority and the international community to assist Afghanistan in fulfilling its international narcotics commitments. |
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