prerequisite for any success in international drug control. The seventeenth special session would provide an opportunity to highlight the importance of compliance with, and effective implementation of, the international drug control treaties and programmes on which agreement had been reached. 10. Several speakers indicated that the Commission and the United Nations drug control units had a central role to play in the outcome of the seventeenth special session. The Commission was expected to give meaningful and practical guidance to the work of the seventeenth special session. Several speakers emphasized the necessity of practical objectives and programmes rather than political declarations. The special session would also provide the international community with another opportunity to tackle the problem of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking as a whole at the international level by taking practical action and measures to cover areas where existing international co-operation was deficient, as well as areas where new measures and methods Were required to meet the new dimension of the problem. The special session would also provide an opportunity for the international community to reaffirm its commitment to existing mandates and to strengthen the role of the United Nations by adopting additional mandates, together with the commensurate resources to implement them. In addition, the international community would have a chance to ascertain which of the programmes and mandates should be given higher priority. 11. Several speakers gave their views on the principles and steps that should be taken into consideration by the Commission in formulating recommendations and proposals for inclusion in the global programme of action against narcotic drugs to be adopted by the General Assembly at its special session. It was stressed that the global programme of action should have concrete, - 7 - comprehensive and long-term objectives. All agencies concerned should be 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing international efforts to combat drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking, with a focus on the role of the United Nations and the need for practical action and measures to address the problem. The language used is formal and diplomatic, suggesting a high-level discussion or policy document.

**Category**
Health, International trade