The Government of the Union of Myanmar is going to extraordinary lengths to root out the danger of narcotic drugs that can cause the extinction of the human race. As a result, during the last five years, Myanmar gained greater momentum in its efforts for elimination of narcotic drugs and achieved considerable success.

Myanmar has been implementing the 15-year plan for combating narcotic drugs and reducing the cultivation and production of narcotic drugs since 1999-2000 and it has been found that the goals of the first five-year plan have been successfully implemented.

In implementing the 15-year plan for drug elimination, such approaches as elimination of production, elimination of drug abuse and enlisting public and international cooperation are being taken.

To reduce the production of narcotic drugs, the government has been implementing the New Destiny Project since April, 2002, as part of the 15-year plan and has achieved success.

According to the report of UNODC, poppy cultivation in Myanmar dropped 13 per cent in 2002, 24 per cent in 2003 and 29 per cent in 2004. The opium yield survey conducted annually in collaboration with the US has also shown 88 per cent drop in production and 81 per cent drop in cultivation during the nine- year period from 1996 to 2004.

Drastic drop in cultivation and production of narcotic drugs is due to the serious commitment and close supervision of the government, active cooperation of regional authorities, local leaders of national races and local people. Moreover, drop in cultivation and production of narcotic drugs can be attributed to the fact that the living standard of national races in border areas has become higher as a result of the government’s border area development plan, 24-region development plan and five rural development tasks.

We believe that Myanmar is determined to make continued efforts for elimination of narcotic drugs under the 15-year plan through active cooperation with the neighbours, the nations in the region and sub-region and international organizations.