European Parliamentary Labour Party: : LIB DEM CALL TO LEGALISE AFGHAN OPIUM IS NOT POPPY BUT POPPYOCK LABOUR

LIB DEM CALL TO LEGALISE AFGHAN OPIUM IS NOT 'POPPY BUT POPPYOCK' - LABOUR

25 October 2007, 12:47pm

A Lib Dem proposal to use European funding to subsidise the legalised production of opium in Afghanistan today in the European Parliament has been condemned as misguided and based on false assumption.

Liberal Democrats are proposing to set up an EU pilot "Poppy for Medicine" project to support the licit production of Opium for analgesics.

Labour claims that the proposal would fuel conflict in the country.

Speaking in the parliamentary debate, Richard Howitt MEP, Labour's European Foreign Affairs Spokesperson said: "Their claim is that there is a global opium shortage is not poppy, it's poppycock."

"The official record shows world stockpiles of opium for morphine equal to two years' demand."

"Whilst the London-based company which is the biggest producer of morphine in the world has said that there is more than 250 tons per year excess supply."

"The conditions do not exist to guarantee Afghan farmers would benefit. The Afghan Government doesn't want it. The Afghan people don't want it."

"'Poppy for Medicine' is a beguiling phrase but 'Poppy for Terrorism and Corruption' is the phrase which should be used."

ENDS

For more information please call Richard Howitt MEP on 0044 7768122888 or the European Parliamentary Labour Party press officer, Silke Thomson on +32 479 790 053.


Home Labour MEPs EPLP Spokespeople Michael Cashman MEP Richard Corbett MEP Robert Evans MEP Glyn Ford MEP Neena Gill MEP Mary Honeyball MEP Richard Howitt MEP Stephen Hughes MEP Glenys Kinnock MEP David Martin MEP Linda McAvan MEP Arlene McCarthy MEP Claude Moraes MEP Eluned Morgan MEP Brian Simpson MEP Peter Skinner MEP Catherine Stihler MEP Gary Titley MEP Glenis Willmott MEP What does an MEP do? Current Issues Myths & Lies Publications News Subscribe Get the latest news by email Get news via an RSS feed » More info		Printer friendly version LIB DEM CALL TO LEGALISE AFGHAN OPIUM IS NOT 'POPPY BUT POPPYOCK' - LABOUR 25 October 2007, 12:47pm A Lib Dem proposal to use European funding to subsidise the legalised production of opium in Afghanistan today in the European Parliament has been condemned as misguided and based on false assumption. Liberal Democrats are proposing to set up an EU pilot "Poppy for Medicine" project to support the licit production of Opium for analgesics. Labour claims that the proposal would fuel conflict in the country. Speaking in the parliamentary debate, Richard Howitt MEP, Labour's European Foreign Affairs Spokesperson said: "Their claim is that there is a global opium shortage is not poppy, it's poppycock." "The official record shows world stockpiles of opium for morphine equal to two years' demand." "Whilst the London-based company which is the biggest producer of morphine in the world has said that there is more than 250 tons per year excess supply." "The conditions do not exist to guarantee Afghan farmers would benefit. The Afghan Government doesn't want it. The Afghan people don't want it." "'Poppy for Medicine' is a beguiling phrase but 'Poppy for Terrorism and Corruption' is the phrase which should be used." ENDS For more information please call Richard Howitt MEP on 0044 7768122888 or the European Parliamentary Labour Party press officer, Silke Thomson on +32 479 790 053.