DATE=2/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245981
TITLE=MEXICO/DRUG SMUGGLING (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN MEXICO, POLITICAL FIGURES ARE REACTING WITH
EMBARRASSMENT AND ANGER OVER ACCUSATIONS MADE WEDNESDAY BY THE
DIRECTOR OF THE U-S DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION, THOMAS
CONSTANTINE INDICATING THAT OFFICIAL CORRUPTION IN MEXICO HAS
HELPED DRUG CARTELS MAKE IT THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE OF NARCOTICS
FOR THE UNITED STATES. AS V-O-A'S GREG FLAKUS REPORTS FROM
MEXICO CITY, NOT ALL MEXICANS ARE IN DISAGREEMENT WITH THE
CRITICISMS.
TEXT: AFTER SEEING PUBLISHED REPORTS OF MR CONSTANTINE'S
REMARKS, MEXICAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS REACTED WITH STRONG WORDS,
DEFENDING THEIR NATION'S FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFCIKING.
INTERIOR MINISTER FRANCISCO LABASTIDA SAID THE D-E-A DIRECTOR
WAS-- IN HIS WORDS--"TOTALLY WRONG." MR LABASTIDA SAID SUCH
REMARKS HARM THE BI-NATIONAL EFFORT TO ESTABLISH UNDERSTANDING
AND COOPERATION. HE SAID MR CONSTANTINE HAD PORTRAYED A
SITUATION IN WHICH THE GOOD PEOPLE ARE ALL ON ONE SIDE OF THE
BORDER AND THE BAD ONES ON THE OTHER SIDE.
BUT SOME OPPOSITION FIGURES TOOK A DIFFERENT TONE. FELIPE
CALDERON, DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ACTION PARTY, KNOWN AS THE
PAN, TOLD REPORTERS THAT MEXICO NEEDS TO FACE THE TRUTH, HOWEVER
UNPLEASANT.
/// CALDERON ACT (SPANISH) ///
MR CALDERON SAID "IT PAINS ME VERY MUCH AS A MEXICAN WHEN PEOPLE
IN OTHER COUNTRIES SPEAK BAD OF MY COUNTRY, BUT WHAT HURTS MOST
IS THAT IT IS TRUE. THE TRUTH IS THAT IN OUR COUNTRY, CORRUPTION
HAS REACHED ALL LEVELS AND HAS BECOME A WAY OF GOVERNING."
MR CALDERON AND OTHER OPPOSITION FIGURES HAVE CRITICIZED THE
RULING INSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTIONARY PARTY FOR ITS FAILURE TO DO
MORE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS AND CRIME IN GENERAL.
MEANTIME, A PUBLIC OPINION POLL CONDUCTED IN MEXICO BY THE U-S
INFORMATION AGENCY SHOWED WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR COOPERATION WITH
THE UNITED STATES IN THE ANTI-DRUG EFFORT ON THE PART OF
ORDINARY MEXICANS. OF THOSE QUESTIONED, 83 PERCENT FAVORED MORE
COOPERATION, AS OPPOSED TO 47 PERCENT IN A SIMILAR POLL IN 1996.
THE POLL WAS TAKEN BEFORE THE NEWS OF THE D-E-A DIRECTOR'S
CRITICISMS OF MEXICO. THE RELEASE OF THE POLL RESULTS COMES ONLY
DAYS BEFORE THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION MUST CERTIFY MEXICO'S
COOPERATION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG SMUGGLING BEFORE THE U-S
CONGRESS. (SIGNED).
NEB/PT
25-Feb-99 6:00 PM EST (2300 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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