UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa CND 2009
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Comments
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Lets face it people, Costa is only a small-time pencil pushing Bureaucrat; lets not take him too seriously!
He's there to express the will of those member states who are part of the UNODC.
More pressure needs to be put on Governments who influence the UNODC's agenda, esp the USA!
Don't be fooled...
Mr Costa does indeed say some encouraging things in this clip but let's not forget what a smooth-talking chameleon he really is. Only a few weeks ago at the European Cities Against Drugs meeting he compared harm reduction measures to giving candy followed by insulin to an obese friend - these are not the words of a man that can help civil society push forward an enlightened policy. Mr Costa changes his style depending on his audience and increasingly seeks to co-opt civil society with his silken words. We do need to engage with him - the UNODC public relations machine is making sure of that but at the same time we need see through his rhetoric and call him to task.