ALBRIGHT ALL BUT PROMISES HIGH MARKS FOR MEXICO IN DRUG WAR

OAXACA, Mexico - In contrast to past years, there is little suspense about
whether Mexico will have to endure the stigma this year of a failing grade
in the annual U.S. evaluation of its cooperation with American counterdrug
efforts.

It won't.

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was asked about the issue Sunday at a
news conference after meeting with Foreign Secretary Rosario Green.

Both praised the levels of cooperation the two countries have reached on a
range of issues. Green said the U.S.-Mexican "dialogue of the deaf" of
previous years is past.

Mexico and other countries that serve as drug producers or transit points
have complained bitterly about the yearly congressionally mandated process
under which those deemed to be not fully cooperating with U.S. control
efforts can be subject to economic penalties.

In some years, there has been almost a cliffhanger atmosphere in the
countdown toward the State Department decision on whether Mexico should be
"certified" as fully cooperating or "decertified" for not doing enough in
the drug war.

Any suspense over the State Department's decision on Mexico this year, due
at the end of February, seemed to evaporate Sunday when Albright said
Mexican cooperation has been "at a very good level."

Since the certification process was initiated in the mid-1980s, Mexico has
yet to be decertified.

Albright also said, "Our problems are not as much with each other as they
are with those who are trying to undermine what we are trying to do." This
year's certification process involves an evaluation of Mexico and 25 other
countries.

Those who do not pass muster can be subject to economic penalties.

Green said certification did not come up during discussions Sunday at this
picturesque city in Mexico's deep south, the last stop on a three-day
Albright visit to Latin America.

She returned to Washington late Sunday night.

In her discussion of the drug issue, the secretary talked about Mexico's
willingness to cooperate but made no reference to the results it has achieved.

This tactic has been a sore point with some lawmakers who believe the State
Department's evaluation should be more results-oriented.

Mexico was certified last February, even though its cocaine seizures were
down 35 percent in 1998 and eradication of opium poppies did not keep pace
with new cultivation. The overall harvest increased by 25 percent,
government figures show.

Richard Fiano, chief of operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration,
said in congressional testimony in September that "continuing reports of
corruption and the rapidly growing power and influence of the major
organized criminal groups in Mexico cause us great concern about the
long-term prospects for success."

Weeks later, however, Mexican Attorney General Jorge Madrazo said record
hauls of 1,235 tons of marijuana and 185 kilograms of heroin had been
seized by Mexico over the previous year. He said the 25.5 tons of
confiscated cocaine was among the highest totals in recent years.

At the time, Barry McCaffrey, the Clinton administration's drug control
chief, agreed that Mexican efforts were producing results.

"The numbers are spectacular," he said.