CRITICISM NO SOLUTION TO DRUG WAR, EXPERT WARNS

OTTAWA -- Slamming Canada's spotty record on drug enforcement won't help
solve the scourge, says an expert from the cocaine capital of the world.

Ricardo Avila was asked to comment on the U.S. position that Canada is seen
by drug cartels as an ideal entry point for drugs, which are then smuggled
into the U.S.

The Americans have long argued the federal government underfunds the
Mounties and other agencies responsible for keeping the tide of drugs in
check and that penalties for trafficking are too soft here.

"No one is going to win the drug war if countries fight amongst themselves,"
Avila, a Colombian, said at the start of a conference where the Organization
of American States is discussing how to fight what he says is the
$200-billion-a-year drug trade in the Americas.

Experts from 34 countries are in Ottawa to finalize a standard evaluation
system called the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism that countries will
eventually use to determine how they are faring in the war against drugs.

Everything from law enforcement initiatives and the costs of drug addiction
to society will be gauged. The results will be shared to help determine
which areas need more emphasis and perhaps more funding.

Avila, a senior OAS official, said it's imperative OAS countries operate
from the same game plan or drug trafficking will continue to flourish.

Canadian officials agreed, saying singling out countries for drug production
or usage has not eradicated the problem and a team effort is needed.

"We can recall the finger pointing of the '70s and '80s," said Jean
Fournier, deputy solicitor general and chairperson of the OAS working group.

"Governments looked to blame consumer, producer or transit states.''