MEXICAN LEADER BACKS CALL TO LEGALIZE DRUGS

Fox Comments Follow Pledge By Uruguayan President

A discussion on the legalization of drugs as the only realistic way to
break the international cartels getting rich off illicit trafficking is
inching closer to the agenda of the Quebec Summit of the Americas next month.

Mexican President Vicente Fox has made waves by agreeing with statements by
his top police officials that legalization is the only way to win the war
on drugs.

His comments follow a pledge earlier this month by Uruguayan President
Jorge Batlle Ibanez to raise the question of the legalization at the April
20-22 summit which is bringing together 34 hemispheric heads of state and
government.

Fox crossed the line Latin leaders traditionally do not tread when he
speculated in weekend interviews with two Mexican newspapers that the only
way to win the war against drugs was by legalizing them and, thereby,
eliminating the profit motive and violence that goes with illegal trafficking.

"That's right, that's true, that's true," Fox told the newspaper Unomasuno
when asked if he agreed with the assessment of a senior police official who
supports the legalization route.

However, Fox said Mexico would not and could not act unilaterally and that
he did not expect any such international action to be coming soon.

"When the day comes that it is time to adopt the alternative of lifting
punishment for consumption of drugs, it would have to come all over the
world," he was quoted by El Sol de Mexico. "Humanity some day will see that
it is best in that sense."

Latin leaders have made similar observations in the past, but they usually
wait until after they are out of office for fear of economic reprisal by
the United States, which has taken a zero-tolerance position against drug
use, trafficking and production.

But in a live Internet discussion with the Washington Post last week,
Uruguay's Batlle said he will attempt to open debate on legalization of drugs.

"Imagine the money you spend to impede drug traffic and imagine that huge
amount of resources on education for the people who really need help," he
said, adding that Uruguay has not experienced any backlash from the U.S.
for his drug position.

Batlle said the best way to address the ongoing civil war in Colombia would
be to legalize drugs and admit Colombia into NAFTA.

Officials at the Mexican Embassy in Ottawa said Fox is not advocating
legalization of drugs nor is Mexico going to attempt to bring the topic to
the Quebec summit agenda.