MEXICAN LEADER SAYS WE NEED TO TALK DRUGS

SAN CRISTOBAL, Mexico - Only days before his historic inauguration as
president, Vicente Fox said America should deal with its drug habit and
pledged to join the United States and Canada in what he called "NAFTA-plus."

In an interview before he takes office on Friday, Fox said the United
States is too quick to write off Mexico as a corrupt haven for drug
smugglers - and too reluctant to look in the mirror.

"The United States, year after year, blames us. Why?" Fox asked. "Who lets
the drugs into the United States?

"Who is doing gigantic business in the United States, then sends down
millions of dollars that corrupt Mexican police officers and government
officials?"

Fox said the two countries need to "sit down ... and work this out together."

Fox has promised strong measures against drug corruption, but his comments
indicate he will continue - or increase - Mexico's long-standing complaint
that the supply of drugs would not exist without demand in the United States.

He also said that despite a tepid reaction from both George W. Bush and Al
Gore, he was confident that he would persuade his northern neighbors to
expand the North American Free Trade Agreement and eventually to open their
borders entirely to Mexican goods - and maybe even workers - along the
lines of the European Union.

"I am proposing a `NAFTA-plus,' " he said. "I'm proposing that 20, 30 years
down the road we form a North American common market in which we become
partners, the United States, Canada and Mexico.

"I will continue to insist on this, and I know I will win the battle," Fox
said. "I am going to persuade Bush or Gore, whoever it is. And I am going
to persuade the American people."

Fox's election on July 2 was a historic change for Mexico, ending more than
70 years of rule by a single party.

On Friday, the country enters a new era as Fox takes office - and takes on
dire problems including crippling poverty, widespread corruption and
rampant crime.

A farmer and former Coca-Cola executive, Fox pledged to treat the country
as a chief executive would a money-losing company, and to build "a
government that costs less and does more."

During the weekend, he took his final breather before the presidency,
retreating to his hometown of San Cristobal, a village 210 miles northwest
of Mexico City.

Fox milked a cow, tended to horses in the stables and played tennis, and
joined his children in an out-of-tune number with a mariachi band.

Chatting with his children and posing for photographers, Fox seemed
extremely relaxed, given what he's facing.

"It's just like in school," Fox said. "When it's time for exams, the people
who have studied go in calmly, with the confidence that everything will go
well. ... I am going to be the best president this country has ever had."

Fox said he was aware of the giant - probably unrealistic - expectations
Mexicans have for him, but claimed he wasn't worried about them. On the
contrary.

"I would never throw cold water on that enthusiasm, on that hope," he said.
"I dare say that this is Mexico's revolution of hope."

But he cautioned people not to expect too much, saying most of the changes
he envisions will take much longer than his six-year term.

"I think the development process Mexico is facing will be long," he said.

Fox said he had been surprised by the smoothness with which Mexico has
accepted the democratic opening in which he was elected, and that he had
expected more resistance from the ruling party and other opposition forces.

"I'm very satisfied, and I have to recognize not only the Mexican people,
but also President (Ernesto) Zedillo, who came onto national television ...
and declared the winner Vicente Fox because he was convinced that I had
won," Fox said.

Then he smiled. "Maybe this should happen in the United States."