LONDON, March 5 (UPI) -- Afghanistan needs help from the international community to eradicate opium cultivation, Britain's foreign minister said Monday.
"Afghanistan may still be facing another year of high poppy cultivation. Security challenges, insurgent activity and the lack of extension of rule of law continue to present obstacles toward poppy elimination," said Kim Howells in a statement following the release of a report on the country by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime.
The minister said that while it was still too early to predict the overall cultivation levels for this year, the south and east regions of Afghanistan may well see an increase in production, even though he pointed out that "there are some encouraging signs of progress in areas where there is better security, governance and development."
"Sustainable drug elimination takes time. The Afghan government (is) committed to tackling the trade. They need the international community's help," he said. "If we are to succeed, the Afghan government and the international community must embark on a vigorous and sharpened counter narcotics effort in the coming years."
