HOLLAND: DUTCH BLAMED FOR PROMOTING DRUG TOURISM скачать в хорошем качестве

HOLLAND: DUTCH BLAMED FOR PROMOTING DRUG TOURISM

(4 Mar 1996) French/Ger/Eng/Nat Anger is mounting in European countries at tolerant attitudes towards drugs in the Netherlands. France, Germany, England and Belgium blame the country for promoting drug tourism and exporting high quantities of the popular designer drug Ecstasy. The rift is threatening further splits in the Schengen agreement -- which allows free movement across some European Union members' borders. But Dutch officials are defending their position. They argue that since they decriminalized marijuana 20 years ago, the number of hard core drug addicts has fallen every year. Amsterdam... a European capital famous for hedonism and youth culture. Every week, thousands of young Europeans travel to the Netherlands to go clubbing, attend raves or visit marijuana-selling coffee shops. Here, they can openly enjoy what is illegal in the rest of Europe. And while the popular drug Ecstasy is outlawed here, it's relatively easy to find. Throughout Holland, residents and tourists can go to any of the 2,000 coffee shops and buy up to 30 grams of hash (cannabis resin) or "Nederweed"-- home-grown marijuana. The Dutch government decriminalized marijuana in 1976 in order to clarify the difference between hard and soft drugs. Politicians say the policy keeps young people off the streets and away from cocaine and heroin. SOUNDBITE: (English) "The instream of young addicts under the age of 22 is decreasing. In the period of ten years, it decreased from 16 percent to less than two percent. SUPER CAPTION: Paul Vasseur, Amsterdam's Chief Drug Policy Coordinator But, as borders open within the single market of the 15-nation European Union, the Netherlands' neighbours complain their young people are becoming avid drug tourists. Many come to sightsee, but others also come to buy drugs. Some also say the coffee shops sell more than just soft drugs, promoting a European drug trade. SOUNDBITE: (German) "The number of drugs seized originating from Holland is huge --- the number lies somewhere between 55 and 90 percent. And perhaps what is more serious is that about 98% of all ecstasy originates from Holland. This is a serious consequence which we must try in one form or another successfully combat." SUPER CAPTION: Eduard Lintner, German government spokesman on Drugs French President Jacques Chirac is particularly critical of Dutch tolerance and threatens to close his country's borders. France suspended its participation in the Schengen accord last year, which had allowed free movement between seven countries - France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal. As one Frenchman says, it's very easy to cross into Holland, buy some drugs and smuggle the goods back home. SOUNDBITE: (French) "The hiding place to smuggle in drugs are common... the double soled shoe, a well- hidden place in the car, or when you bring very little you can keep it in your mouth, but it is then quite complicated. Otherwise, in little hiding places on your body that we know." SUPER CAPTION: Pierre, Speaking under assumed name The Dutch prefer to treat drug use as a health issue rather than a criminal one. Holland's Health Ministry partially finances Amsterdam's Drug Advice Bureau. August de Loor and his colleagues run the centre, open to anyone using or selling drugs. Inside they test ecstasy for dangerous levels of amphetamines (speed) or other lethal ingredients. In the past eight years, Mr. de Loor says only six people have died from ecstasy in Holland compared to 68 in England over the same period of time. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...