101. Several speakers emphasized that measures for the elimination of illicit demand for drugs, dealt with in article 14 of the 1988 Convention, should be urgently developed. One representative pointed out that cocaine abuse posed a major threat to European countries. Reference was made to the organization of the World Ministerial Summit to Reduce the Demand for Drugs and to Combat the Cocaine Threat. Regarding the proposal made by one speaker that a new convention should be prepared against the illicit demand for drugs, two representatives expressed the view that the targets set out in chapters I and IV of the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline constituted a valuable and so far adequate basis for initiatives in the field of demand reduction. 102. Regarding paragraph 5 of article 14, concerning the early destruction of seized narcotic drugs and substances, several speakers indicated that that provision had been included in their national legislation. 103. One representative, referring to article 17 on illicit traffic by sea, pointed out that new regulations had to be made in order to deal with cases involving government liability resulting from the investigation of vessels on the high seas. Another speaker stated that acceptance of article 17 was, in his view, subject to the condition that the article be applied in good faith and without prejudice to the freedom of navigation on the high seas recognized in the international law of the sea. 104. Many speakers stated that the financial aspects of the illicit traffic in drugs, dealt with in various articles of the 1988 Convention, were a matter of primary interest to their countries. Reference was made to the adoption, in several countries, of laws establishing money laundering as a criminal offence, providing for the possibility of tracing illicit funds through the banking system, facilitating the identification of assets derived from drug 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the measures to eliminate illicit demand for drugs, the organization of a World Ministerial Summit to combat the cocaine threat, and the financial aspects of the illicit traffic in drugs. It also touches on the need for new regulations to deal with cases involving government liability resulting from the investigation of vessels on the high seas. These topics suggest that the category is related to health, as drug abuse is a significant public health issue, and international cooperation is necessary to address the problem.

**Category**
Health