10/2/00AAP:AUST.DRUG OFFICER TO BE

[uneoo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

AAP: DATE 18:32 10-Feb-00

AUSTRALIAN DRUGS POLICE OFFICER TO BE TRIALED IN RANGOON

CANBERRA, Feb 10 AAP-- An Australian drug agent will be posted to
Rangoon as part of a new effort to stop the flow of heroin from
Australia's biggest supplier.

The Australian Federal Police officer would be attached to the
Australian embassy on a trial basis to support the Burmese military
government's crackdown on the country's multi-billion dollar opium poppy
industry, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today.

"As Burma is the major source of heroin entering Australia, the
Australian government attaches high priority to supporting domestic and
international anti-narcotics activity there," he said.

Australia has been encouraged by Burmese efforts to enforce its
obligations under international drug treaties since accession to ASEAN
in 1997, he said.

He also announced career diplomat Trevor Wilson had been appointed as
the new Australian ambassador to Burma, ending the three-year term of
Lyndall McLean.

Mr Downer said Australia could not develop closer relations with Burma,
or Myanmar, without real movement on political reform including human
rights reform. AAP rmg/ej
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