CLINTON OKS MEXICO ANTIDRUG EFFORTS

WASHINGTON (AP) Despite large-scale, cross-border drug smuggling and a
decline in drug seizures, President Clinton certified Mexico on Friday as a
fully cooperating partner with U.S. counternarcotics efforts.

The decision, part of an annual evaluation of drug problem countries, could
touch off strong opposition in Congress, where many lawmakers are
exasperated by Mexico's inability to stem U.S.-bound narcotics flows. To
overturn the president's decision, a two-thirds vote of both houses is
required.

By law, countries found not to be fully cooperative are "decertified" and
can be subject to economic sanctions unless the president grants them a
waiver on national interest grounds.

"Mexico is cooperating with us in the battle for our lives," Clinton said in
a speech in San Francisco. Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo is "working
hard to tackle the corruption traffickers headlong," he said, adding, "He
cannot win this battle alone. And neither can we."

In justifying the Mexico decision, Barry McCaffrey, who heads the White
House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said that last year, Mexico
implemented legislative reforms, arrested numerous drug traffickers and
sustained massive interdiction and eradication programs.

He told a news conference that outright decertification of Mexico would
"devastate" efforts to build long-term cooperation.

Nonetheless, official figures indicate cocaine seizures in Mexico were down
35 percent last year and that eradication of opium poppy did not keep pace
with new cultivation. The overall harvest increased by 25 percent,
government figures show.

Meanwhile, a group of eight senators, led by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa,
chairman of the Senate caucus on drug issues, wrote to Clinton and
recommended that in next year's certification process, Mexico be judged more
by results instead of efforts.

They recommended that the evaluation be measured by strict criteria,
including Mexico's willingness to extradite drug chieftains, its ability to
arrest and prosecute money launderers and leaders of narcotics syndicates,
and its record on drug eradication and seizures.

Joining seven Republicans in signing the letter was Sen. Dianne Feinstein,
D- Calif.

Mexico was one of 28 countries evaluated by Clinton.

Colombia was certified as being fully cooperative after being decertified
last year. At the time, Clinton waived the economic penalties against
Colombia. The country's clean bill of health reflects the close ties the
Clinton administration has established with President Andres Pastrana, who
took office six months ago.

Meanwhile, Haiti, plagued by what officials called a "dysfunctional criminal
justice system," was decertified with a national interest waiver. In the
same category were Cambodia, Nigeria and Paraguay.

Afghanistan and Burma, key opium poppy countries, were decertified with no
national interest waiver.

All told, 22 countries were certified as fully cooperative with American
counterdrug efforts.

Meanwhile, a State Department study released simultaneously with the
certification announcement said Mexico continues to be the primary route for
northbound South American cocaine and is a major source of marijuana, heroin
and methamphetamine.

"Persistent corruption at all levels of the justice sector and frequent
changes in personnel have combined to hinder Mexico's ability to meet the
goals of its antidrug strategy," the study said.

The report is issued annually and evaluates international narcotics control
efforts. It said the United States and its allies made "solid gains" in
controlling narcotics trafficking in 1998, citing progress in crop
reduction, drug interdiction and other areas.

The most encouraging development last year on the drug front, the report
said, was the continued downward trend in coca cultivation, saying the total
crop "remains at its lowest level in 10 years, even factoring in a sharp
rise in cultivation in Colombia."

The State Department study, titled International Narcotics Control Strategy
Report, said overall coca cultivation in the Andean countries fell 17
percent to 471,000 acres last year.

"The most dramatic decline was evident in Peru, once the world's largest
coca producer," the report said. "Peruvian coca cultivation in 1998 fell 26
percent from the year before, and is now 60 percent below the peak level of
1990," it said.

The 733-page document also evaluates the illicit narcotics situation
country-by-country.

It said Colombia remained the world's leading producer and distributor of
cocaine and is a major source of heroin and marijuana.