Russia Presses for Military Action Against Afghan Drugs

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has been pressing Russia's demand that the UN require foreign forces in Afghanistan under its authority to destroy opium crops.

Lavrov returned to the question May 19 in an appearance before the State Duma, saying, "I fully support the need for tougher approaches to stopping the narcotics threat, including the destruction of opium plantings in Afghanistan." Lavrov said he is seeking a UN definition of the Afghan narcotics production "as a threat to world peace and security." That would permit application of sanctions including force under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

Lavrov also said that Russia is demanding that NATO contingents be required to destroy opium poppy plantings, and that landowners in Afghanistan who provide land for opium planting be listed as persons subject to UN Security Council sanctions "with all attendant consequences."

Lavrov complained of the tepid reaction to Russian Federal Narcotics Control Service head, Victor Ivanov, in Brussels last March, and pointed out that "a great quantity of this vile stuff is coming in from our neighbors."