Tsar against drugs

A Russian took an important post at the UN

“Anti-drug tsar” is how the foreign press calls the position filled by 63-year-old Yuri Fedotov (pictured) . He became the first Russian diplomat to head the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as well as the UN office in Vienna. In this post he will replace 69-year-old Italian Antonio Mario Costa. Yesterday, on his first day of work, Yuri Fedotov said that he sees his main task “to strengthen national healthcare systems and protect human rights.” He explained that drug addicts “need humane and effective treatment, not punishment.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon decided to appoint a Russian as executive director of the leading international drug control and crime prevention agency in July, citing Yuri Fedotov's "credibility, experience and knowledge." In the past, the diplomat was the deputy permanent representative of Russia to the UN, director of the department of international organizations of the Russian Foreign Ministry, and since 2002, deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - curator of the UN direction. From 2005 until now, he was the Russian Ambassador to Great Britain.

At a farewell meeting with the press in London on September 9, Yuri Fedotov called Russia and Great Britain “natural partners” in resolving international problems. In his opinion, the coming to power of a coalition government led by Conservative David Cameron in May “will create new conditions for resolving ongoing bilateral problems” and “the sooner we manage to resolve existing differences, the better it will be for everyone.” According to Vremya Novostey, one of the deputy foreign ministers may become the new Russian ambassador to Great Britain. His name will be announced shortly after all approvals are completed.

Alexey SLOBODIN