DATE=12/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243094
TITLE=U-S/MEXICO DRUGS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=BILL RODGERS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TOP U-S AND MEXICAN OFFICIALS HAVE REAFFIRMED THEIR
DETERMINATION TO COMBAT DRUG PRODUCTION AND TRAFFICKING ACROSS
THEIR COMMON BORDER. THE PLEDGE CAME WEDNESDAY, AT THE
CONCLUSION OF TWO DAYS OF BILATERAL TALKS ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT HAS
SOMETIMES CAUSED FRICTION BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS.
V-O-A'S BILL RODGERS REPORTS.
TEXT: THIS WEEK'S CONFERENCE MARKED THE SIXTH TIME TOP U-S AND
MEXICAN OFFICIALS HAVE MET TO DISCUSS THE DRUG PROBLEM UNDER THE
AUSPICES OF THE "HIGH-LEVEL CONTACT GROUP FOR DRUG CONTROL",
WHICH WAS CREATED IN 1996. VISITING MEXICAN FOREIGN RELATIONS
SECRETARY ROSARIO GREEN TOLD REPORTERS WEDNESDAY THE TWO DAYS OF
TALKS WERE PRODUCTIVE, AND CHARACTERIZED BY WHAT SHE CALLED "GOOD
WILL AND GOOD FAITH". FOR HIS PART, NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY
DIRECTOR BARRY MCCAFFREY SAYS BOTH SIDES CAME AWAY WITH A RENEWED
DETERMINATION TO COMBAT DRUG PRODUCTION AND TRAFFICKING.
/// MCCAFFREY ACT ///
BOTH SIDES AGREE THAT WE WILL BE RESOLUTE IN OUR
DETERMINATION AND NOT FORGET THAT WE HAVE A COMMON
ENEMY -- THE ENEMIES ARE INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFICKERS
OPERATING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER AND IN THE GLOBAL
COMMUNITY WHO BRING SUCH DEVASTATING HARM TO FAMILIES,
THE WORKPLACE AND OUR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS. // OPT
// SO OUR OWN PROMISE IS IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE:
AMERICAN CITIZEN OR MEXICAN, NIGERIAN, COLOMBIAN,
DOMINICAN, RUSSIAN -- I THINK BOTH THESE DELEGATIONS
AGREE WE WILL PURSUE THESE PEOPLE WHEREVER WE FIND THEM
AND TRY AND LOCK THEM UP. // END OPT //
/// END ACT ///
MR. MCCAFFREY'S COMMENTS EMPHASIZING UNITY COME IN THE WAKE OF
CONTINUING CRITICISM BY MEXICO OF A U-S DRUG STING EARLIER THIS
YEAR, IN WHICH SCORES OF MEXICAN BANKERS WERE LURED TO THE UNITED
STATES AND ARRESTED ON MONEY-LAUNDERING CHARGES. MEXICAN
ATTORNEY GENERAL JORGE MADRAZO, WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS WEEK'S
CONFERENCE, SAID ON TUESDAY THAT THE OPERATION -- KNOWN AS
"CASABLANCA" -- HAD SEVERELY STRAINED JOINT U-S - MEXICAN
ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS BECAUSE IT VIOLATED MEXICAN SOVEREIGNTY. BUT
ON WEDNESDAY, MR. MADRAZO PLAYED DOWN ANY DIFFERENCES -- SAYING
BOTH GOVERNMENTS HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO ENSURE SUCH AN INCIDENT DOES
NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
/// OPT MADRAZO SPANISH ACT ///
/// REST OPT ///
ON ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE, MEXICAN FOREIGN SECRETARY GREEN
SAID THE PURPOSE OF THIS VISIT WAS NOT TO LOBBY CONGRESS ON
BEHALF OF MEXICAN DRUG CERTIFICATION. EACH YEAR, THE U-S
GOVERNMENT TELLS CONGRESS WHICH COUNTRIES IT BELIEVES ARE FULLY
COOPERATING WITH U-S ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS. IN THE PAST, MANY U-S
LAWMAKERS HAVE QUESTIONED WHETHER MEXICO SHOULD BE CERTIFIED,
BECAUSE OF THE EXTENT OF DRUG-RELATED CORRUPTION IN THAT NATION.
SUCH CRITICISM IS EXPECTED AGAIN EARLY NEXT YEAR WHEN THE
CERTIFICATION COMES UP AGAIN.
WHILE THE MEXICAN OFFICIALS MET WEDNESDAY WITH SOME U-S
LAWMAKERS, FOREIGN SECRETARY GREEN TOLD REPORTERS THE DELEGATION
DID NOT COME TO WASHINGTON TO JUDGE OR BE JUDGED. (SIGNED)
NEB/WFR/WTW
16-Dec-98 4:58 PM EST (2158 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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