U.S.-CANADA COOPERATION KEY TO FIGHTING CRIME

The Cover Story, "Northern Exposure; Crime finds home on U.S.-Canada
border," contains inaccuracies, mis-leading statements and allegations that
are just "dead wrong" (News, Tuesday).

The United States holds no monopoly on challenges at its borders by drug
dealers, terrorists and illegal immigrants. Canada is every bit as
concerned about the movement of illegal goods and people from the United
States as the United States is about their movement into the U.S. from
Canada.

According to U.S. law enforcement sources, far more illegal drugs flow into
Canada from the U.S. than the reverse. Terrorists also move in both
directions. For example, the reference to the Hani Abdel Rahim Sayegh case
makes no mention of the fact that he first arrived in North America at
Boston's Logan Airport, from which he proceeded to Canada and apprehension.
And the discussion of Canada's refugee policy similarly ignores the fact
that 32% of refugee claimants in Canada in 1997 entered via the United
States.

Canada shares U.S. goals with respect to drug smuggling, terrorism and
illegal immigration. Our two countries enjoy a truly exceptional level of
cooperation in each of these areas. This is reflected in the fact that
through computer interfaces, law enforcement agencies on both sides of the
border have immediate, direct and constant access to the criminal databases
of their colleagues on the other side.

The entry-exit control system championed by Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, is
not the answer. Such a system would be of no use in preventing the movement
of terrorists or drug smugglers. It would neither improve the quantity nor
the quality of the intelligence available on these people, nor would it
help officials stop them at visa offices and border-crossing points. It
would not even be of any use in preventing the movement of illegal
immigrants because it would only produce better statistics, not
apprehensions and removals.

The answer is enhanced cooperation between U.S. and Canadian law
enforcement agencies in combating the movement of illegal drugs and drug
traffickers, terrorists and illegal immigrants in both directions. This is
already happening.

Attorney General Janet Reno and Canada's solicitor general and minister for
citizenship and immigration are working closely together, through
mechanisms such as the Canada U.S. Cross-Border Crime Forum and by
instructing their officials to move toward the implementation of a regional
security concept.

The free movement of people, goods and services between our two countries
is essential to the prosperity of both. Our bilateral trade tops $1 billion
a day and supports millions of jobs on both sides of the border. There is
every reason to expect this dynamism to expand, but only if we take stock
of the challenges our countries face and create a truly efficient and
secure border.

Raymond Chretien Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Washington, D.C

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)