DATE=2/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227347
TITLE=U-S DRUG REPORT (L)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS RELEASED ITS ANNUAL LIST OF
COUNTRIES COOPERATING IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS. IN THIS
YEAR'S VERSION, 22 COUNTRIES WERE DESIGNATED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON
AS FULLY COOPERATING WITH THE UNITED STATES. FOUR WERE
COMPLETELY DE-CERTIFIED AND CUT OFF FROM ANY AMERICAN AID OR
INTERNATIONAL LOANS. FOUR OTHERS WERE ALSO DE-CERTIFIED BUT THE
PRESIDENT GAVE THEM A WAIVER FROM SANCTIONS. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS
FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE DECISIONS REGARDING COLOMBIA AND
MEXICO WERE THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL.
TEXT: FOR TWO YEARS, COLOMBIA HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DE-CERTIFIED BY
THE UNITED STATES AS NOT COOPERATING IN THE WAR AGAINST DRUGS.
THE DECISION WAS BASED ON CHARGES THAT PRESIDENT ERNESTO SEMPER'S
CAMPAIGN WAS FUNDED BY DRUG MONEY.
THE U-S CONGRESS REQUIRES THE REPORT BUT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE, BENJAMIN GILMAN, SAYS
COLOMBIA DESERVES A WAIVER TO HELP THE NATIONAL POLICE FIGHT
NARCOTICS.
///GILMAN ACT///
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS THE ADMINISTRATION HAS
DE-CERTIFIED COLOMBIA, REFUSING TO PROVIDE A NATIONAL
INTEREST WAIVER, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF ALLEGED DRUG
RELATED CORRUPTION AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
THAT POLICY MAY HAVE MADE THE DESK BOUND BUREAUCRATS IN
WASHINGTON FEEL SOMEWHAT ELATED HOWEVER THE NET EFFECT
ON THE GROUND HAS BEEN TO VIRTUALLY STARVE THOSE
COLOMBIANS DEDICATED TO FIGHTING THE DRUG TRADE.
///END ACT///
PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS AGREED WITH CONGRESSMAN GILMAN AND GRANTED
COLOMBIA A NATIONAL INTEREST WAIVER THAT WILL ALLOW AMERICAN
ECONOMIC AID AND SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL LOANS TO RESUME.
SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAYS THE UNITED STATES
WANTS A NEW START WITH THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT TO BE ELECTED
LATER THIS YEAR.
///ALBRIGHT ACT///
THE COLOMBIAN NATIONAL POLICE AND COUNTER-NARCOTICS
FORCES HAVE CONDUCTED AN EFFECTIVE ERADICATION AND
INTERDICTION EFFORT, BUT THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT HAS NOT
DEMONSTRATED FULL POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR
COUNTER-NARCOTICS EFFORTS. COMING ON THE EVE OF THAT
COUNTRY'S CONGRESSIONAL AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, THE
WAIVER DECISION IS INTENDED TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR
INCREASED FUTURE COOPERATION AND TO SUPPORT THOSE IN
COLOMBIA WHO ARE STRIVING TO STRENGTHEN THE RULE OF LAW
AND BUTTRESS THEIR EMBATTLED DEMOCRACY.
///END ACT///
WHILE COLOMBIA WAS UPGRADED, PARAGUAY AND CAMBODIA ARE NO LONGER
CONSIDERED FULLY COOPERATING. THEY ALSO RECEIVED WAIVERS FROM
THE PRESIDENT TO ALLOW AMERICAN AID TO CONTINUE FLOWING. (OPT)
PARAGUAY WAS CRITICIZED FOR A LACK OF ACHIEVEMENT IN MEETING ITS
COUNTER-NARCOTICS GOALS BUT THE RISK OF CUTTING OFF ASSISTANCE
COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED. THE SAME EXPLANATION WAS USED TO EXPLAIN
CONTINUED AID TO CAMBODIA, WHERE POLITICAL INSTABILITY HAS
DISRUPTED COUNTER-NARCOTICS EFFORTS. THE CENTRAL AMERICAN
COUNTRY OF BELIZE HAS MOVED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WITH A
RECORD YEAR OF COCAINE INTERDICTION AND IS NOW DEEMED FULLY
COOPERATING WITH THE UNITED STATES. (END OPT)
ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL CASE IS MEXICO. PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS
AGAIN CERTIFIED MEXICO AS FULLY COOPERATING BUT THAT DOES NOT
MEET THE APPROVAL OF GEORGIA SENATOR PAUL COVERDELL.
///COVERDELL ACT///
WE HAVE SOME COOPERATION AROUND THE MEETING TABLE BUT
LITTLE REAL PROGRESS ON THE GROUND AND IN THE FIELD
WHERE IT MATTERS. BY ALL OF THESE MEASURES, MEXICO DOES
NOT MEET THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT FOR FULL COOPERATION
THAT WOULD JUSTIFY FULL CERTIFICATION AND I WILL OPPOSE
THE ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION TO FULLY CERTIFY MEXICO.
///END ACT///
ONLY BURMA, NIGERIA, AFGHANISTAN AND IRAN HAVE AGAIN BEEN
COMPLETELY DE-CERTIFIED. HOWEVER, SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT
SAYS IRAN MAY JUSTIFY ANOTHER LOOK.
///ALBRIGHT ACT///
IN IRAN, HOWEVER, THE TREND IS ENCOURAGING.
COUNTER-NARCOTICS EFFORTS ARE SHOWING VIGOR AND THE
THREAT POSED BY TRANS-SHIPMENT OF DRUGS IS BEING TAKEN
MORE SERIOUSLY. ALTHOUGH WE ARE UNABLE TO CERTIFY NOW
BECAUSE WE LACK HARD DATA TO VERIFY THE EXTENT OF
REPORTED PROGRESS, WE ARE SEEKING MORE INFORMATION AND
WILL RESPOND APPROPRIATELY TO REAL IMPROVEMENTS.
///END ACT///
LAST NOVEMBER, PRESIDENT CLINTON REMOVED SYRIA AND LEBANON FROM
CONSIDERATION IN THE DRUG EVALUATION SAYING THE BEKAA VALLEY IS
NO LONGER A MAJOR PRODUCER OF ILLEGAL DRUGS. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/KL
26-Feb-98 4:30 PM EST (2130 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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