More than 30 prime ministers and presidents are attending the 'Drug Summit', including leaders from the United Kingdom, Colombia, Italy, Canada, Bolivia, the United States, France, Spain and the Ukraine.

General Pino Arlacchi : 'This is a fight that can be won '

Under Secretary General Pino Arlacchi, executive director of the UN's International Drug Control Programme is optimistic about the event.

He said: "Narcotics and organised crime are the major threats to the world in the next century.

"With the involvement of so many world leaders, we now have an opportunity for the first time to meet a global threat with a global response."

The drug summit marks an historic opportunity as participating leaders with differing policies on drugs will agree to the first global strategy to control drugs.

This will include drafting an international agreement on demand reduction and defining a framework to eradicate the illegal cultivation of opium, coca (used in the manufacture of cocaine) and other narcotic crops in the next ten years.

UNDCP Estimates : Heroin Production

According to the organisers of the summit, the UN International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) demand and supply is still prevalent.

The UNDCP estimates that in 1997 more than 3,000 tonnes of opium were available for heroin production. Around 330 tonnes of heroin were produced in 1997 - eliminating seizures (30 tonnes per annum 1995-1996) - 300 tonnes would have been available in the consumer markets.

UNDCP Estimates : Cocaine Production

In the case of coca, illegal coca-leaf production for 1997 would have produced around 1000 tonnes of cocaine. With seizures of 300 tonnes of cocaine per annum (1995-1996) up to 700 tonnes of cocaine may have been available for consumption.

Global cannabis production estimates are subject to greater margins of error due to its more widespread cultivation. From government estimates supplied to the UNDCP, the global production of cannabis may be in the region of 500,000 tonnes per annum.

Other topics of discussion at the drug summit include harmonisation of member states' laws on money laundering, global efforts to expel drug traffickers, and the exchange of information on drug cartels.