URUGUAY: PRESIDENT'S PLAN AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING скачать в хорошем качестве

URUGUAY: PRESIDENT'S PLAN AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING

(6 Feb 2001) Spanish/Nat XFA As Colombian President Andres Pastrana tries to find a solution to his nation's internal turmoil, another South American president thinks he has a solution regarding one aspect of Colombia's war on drugs. President Jorge Batlle (pronounced Bazheh) of Uruguay believes the legalisation of drugs would be a better way to deal with the drug trafficking. Here in Montevideo, the sleepy capital of a tiny country, the President's plan has not really caused the storm it would in many countries. Uruguayans, compared to other Latin Americans, are known for their calm demeanor and aversion to big issues and problems. Here, the people are more content with a long lunch at one of the city's many grills. Production and consumption of drugs are not big problems in Uruguay, especially compared to other Latin American nations. But as in most countries, there are youngsters for whom drug addiction is a problem. The Manantial Foundation's drug treatment centre in downtown Montevideo is helping more than 90 young people addicted to different drugs free themselves from their habit. During the day, these boys help out in the centre by doing simple chores in a haven away from the streets and the pushers. In return they receive drug counselling and vital support to help kick the habit. Centre spokesman Jose Juan Aboy thinks the Uruguayan President is out of touch with the reality in Uruguay. He believes the President is more concerned with the economy than the nation's youth. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "Our idea is to not legalise drugs because drugs kill people. This is the reality in Uruguay. The President needs to take into consideration other realities than simple economic ones. Young people are the first (victims of drugs) and should be taken care of just as much as the economy or even the black market, which will always exist." SUPER CAPTION: Jose Juan Aboy, Spokesman for Fundacion Manantial Drug Treatment Centre In a rather different neighbourhood of Montevideo is the President's mansion. Jorge Batlle has staked his reputation on drug legalisation and is convinced legalising drugs could solve some of the problems found in countries like Colombia. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "All those who participate in every scale of this business make big profits (from the illegal drug trade) and these profits help them sustain a subversive movement which can change and destabilise a big nation like Colombia and cause serious problems for its neighbours too." SUPER CAPTION: Jorge Batlle, President of Uruguay Batlle also believes that if the drug "business" were legal, drug traffickers would go bankrupt and the whole business could be controlled. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "And so I ask myself, would it not be better to bring this business to an end? Doesn't it make sense? If drugs were not prohibited, they would not create this formidable force that the drug traffickers have in the world, the capacity to kill, or to have killed, to buy judges and to buy the forces of repression and ruin nations." SUPER CAPTION: Jorge Batlle, President of Uruguay Batlle's proposal, though not unique, has raised the discussion of the drug problem in Latin America to a new level. 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...