Korchagina Galina Aleksandrovna, member of the International Narcotics Control Board, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor
Tselinsky Boris Prokofievich, Head of the Department of Legal Foundations of Narcology of the National Scientific Center for Narcology - the branch of the FSBI National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Narcology named after V.P. Serbsky of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Candidate of Legal Sciences
Brief biographical information about Babayan Eduard Armenakovich:
Born on August 31, 1920, died on May 12, 2009. Citizen of the Russian Federation. Professor, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation, one of the leading Russian experts in the field of narcology and pharmacology. Graduate of the 2nd Moscow Medical Institute named after N.I. Pirogov (1941). From 1953 to 1986 he worked in various senior positions in the Office for the Introduction of New Drugs and Medical Equipment of the Ministry of Health of the USSR. In his later years he worked as the main scientist researcher of the Scientific Research Institute of Social and Forensic Psychiatry named after V.P. Serbskiy of the Ministry of Health of Russia. He was the Honorary Deputy Chairman of the International Council on the problems of alcoholism and drug addiction. He is the author of over 200 scientific papers on drug control issues, which are translated into many languages of the world, had 3 inventor's certificates, is the author and co-author of repeatedly published manuals for medical institutes and schools, guides for doctors, monographs, the 3-volume edition of albums dedicated to the works of mental patients, published in many countries of the world. The winner of the international E. Browning Prize for his valuable contribution to the development of the drug control system. The winner of the Scriabin Prize for his contribution to the development of biology and medical science. The winner of the Semashko Prize for the best publication on health management issues. The honorary member of the Purkyne Society. He was awarded by six orders and the medal "For service in battle" by the governments of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Russian Federation, as well as medals of other countries, including Bulgaria, the former German Democratic Republic and Poland, and was awarded by honorary badges of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health and the Customs Committee of the Russian Federation. Permanent Chairman of the Standing Committee on Narcotics Control of the Russian Federation. E.A. Babayan occupied this position for more than 40 years until the last days of his life.
As it is known, the most diverse processes in the life of society, sometimes of a very significant international scale, are closely connected with the personal contribution, energy, talent, knowledge, life experience of individuals, the ability to lead many others, to infect them with their enthusiasm, belief in the correctness of ideas and achievability of goals. We would like to tell in this article about one of such extraordinary persons, a talented scientist, organizer, propagandist, who lived a difficult but vibrant life full of events and useful things. The content of the article is mainly devoted to one of the areas of diverse activity of E.A. Babayan, connected with the formation of a comprehensive system of international control over the circulation of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The United Nations Conference for the approval of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs was held at UN Headquarters from January 24 to March 25, 1961. The conference was attended by representatives of 73 countries, including the Soviet Union. The result of the Conference was the submission of 5 resolutions for the approval of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, as well as the harmonization of the text of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961. Undoubtedly, the text of the Single Convention is the intellectual work of a significant number of scientists and practitioners from various fields of human knowledge. And E.A. Babayan also made a significant contribution to this work.
After the described epoch-making event in the field of international drug control E.A. Babayan was actively involved in the work aimed at creation and improvement of the international control system and creation of other major international legal acts.
The ten-year period of practical application of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 allowed to find some impracticalities and bottlenecks in the international legal regulation of distribution of narcotic drugs. The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) decided to convene the Conference of Plenipotentiaries for consideration of all the mentioned amendments. The result of the Conference was the submission of 5 resolutions for consideration of amendments to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, as well as the approval of the text of the protocol to the Convention. A certain contribution of E.A. Babayan should also be noted in the development of the listed documents.
From January 12 to 30, 1970 at the first special session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, a comprehensive review of the draft Convention on Psychotropic Substances prepared by the working group took place. The final version of the multilateral convention agreement on the establishment of control over psychotropic drugs was approved at the Vienna Conference, which was held from January 11 to February 21, 1971. E.A. Babayan directly participated in the work of the Conference and the development of the text of the draft Convention.
The UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 became not less significant for the international drug control system. The Convention was approved by a special UN conference in December 1988 and entered into force in November 1990. The active role of E.A. Babayan should also be mentioned in development and discussion of the draft Convention of 1988.
The basis of the established system of international organizations for the control of the production, movement, distribution and use of drugs is the specialized agencies of the United Nations. The UN has formed a whole complex of bodies in the field of drug control, as well as resistance as their illicit traffic. It is impossible to omit the important role of E.A. Babayan in the creation and functioning of some of these international organizations.
It should be noted that E.A. Babayan for many years (1964–1993) was the head of the Soviet and then Russian delegation to the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the body that determines the international community’s policy in the field of international drug control. This body has the right to give not only proposals to the UN governing body, but also recommendations to individual countries on all issues of anti-drug activities, including its legal and organizational aspects. Appreciating the professional knowledge and authority of E.A. Babayan he was twice elected as the Chairman of the Commission (in 1977 and 1990) and, thus, had a unique opportunity to coordinate all the multifaceted activities of such an authoritative international body.
Along with the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, an important body in this field of activity is the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), consisting of 13 expert members appointed by ECOSOC to monitor the actions of the system of international treaties on the control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. The diverse activities of the INCB cover the field of control in terms of the legal release, sale, and use of drugs. The contribution of E.A. Babayan, who from 1995 to 2004 was a member of the INCB, deputy chairman of the INCB, is invaluable in the organization of the fulfilment of the functions of the INCB. In addition, E.A. Babayan was the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Estimates (1977–2000), a member of the Standing Committee on Estimates (1995–2001 and 2004) and the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee (2003).
Many people who had a happy opportunity to collaborate with E.A. Babayan, noted his highest professionalism, wide competence and at the same time great modesty, sincere desire to thoroughly understand any problematic situation and provide the necessary assistance to resolve it. The merits of this person for the world community should be especially noted and kept in memory as long as possible, as an example of selfless service for the benefit of society.
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