DATE=5/28/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232951
TITLE=MEXICO - US DRUGS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JAMES BLEARS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROSARIO GREEN SAYS HER
GOVERNMENT IS PREPARING A NEW LAW THAT WOULD PUNISH THE UNITED
STATES IF IT VIOLATES MEXICAN SOVEREIGNTY AGAIN. EARLIER THIS
MONTH, A U-S STING OPERATION UNCOVERED A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR
DRUG MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME ALLEGEDLY INVOLVING 12 MEXICAN
BANKS. THE PROBLEM IS WASHINGTON FAILED TO CONSULT THE MEXICAN
GOVERNMENT ABOUT ITS ACTIVITIES SOUTH OF THE BORDER. JAMES
BLEARS IN MEXICO CITY BRINGS US THE DETAILS.
TEXT: MEXICO INITIALLY WELCOMED THE SUCCESS OF "OPERATION
CASABLANCA." OFFICIALS SEIZED 35 MILLION DOLLARS AND ARRESTED
MORE THAN TWO DOZEN MEXICAN BANKERS IN THE UNITED STATES ON
CHARGES OF LAUNDERING ILLEGAL DRUG PROFITS.
BUT MEXICAN PRESIDENT ERNESTO ZEDILLO EXPRESSED FURY WHEN HE
FOUND OUT AMERICAN OFFICIALS HAD VIOLATED MEXICO'S SOVEREIGNTY BY
RUNNING A NETWORK OF AGENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER FOR MORE THAN TWO
YEARS WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST SHRED OF CONSULTATION.
PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON HAS EXPRESSED HIS REGRET THAT THERE WAS
NOT ENOUGH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MEXICO AND WASHINGTON -- BUT
THIS HAS DONE LITTLE TO APPEASE THE ZEDILLO ADMINISTRATION.
MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROSARIO GREEN WEDNESDAY ACCUSED THE
UNITED STATES OF BREAKING THE SPIRIT OF ANTI-NARCOTICS
COOPERATION BY ACTING WITHOUT MEXICAN KNOWLEDGE. SHE SAYS MEXICO
IS NOW DETERMINED TO CREATE A NEW LAW AND ENFORCE IT RIGOROUSLY.
///GREEN ACT///
WHENEVER THEY DO SOMETHING THAT VIOLATES OUR SOVEREIGNTY
AND OUR TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, WE ALWAYS PROTEST. BUT
NOW WE WANT SOMETHING ELSE. WE DON'T WANT JUST THAT I'M
SORRY THAT WE DID SO. WE WANT ASSURANCE THAT IT ISN'T
GOING TO HAPPEN ANY MORE AND THAT IS WHY WE WILL BE
WORKING ON A DOCUMENT THAT WILL BE BINDING IN TERMS THAT
IT WOULD HAVE JUDICIAL CONSEQUENCES WHEN THE CONTENTS OF
THIS DOCUMENT ARE VIOLATED.
///END ACT///
THE EXACT NATURE OF THE SANCTIONS HAVE YET TO BE
REVEALED.(SIGNED)
NEB/JB/TMD-T/JO
28-May-98 5:26 PM EDT (2126 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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