DRUGS, DISASTERS ON TABLE AT OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ANTIGUA, Guatemala (AP) - Opposing views of how the Western Hemisphere
should deal with global economic crises marked the opening Sunday night of
the Organization of American States' annual assembly.

OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria urged foreign ministers and other
leaders of the organization's 34 states to push ahead with free-market
reforms.

But the president of host Guatemala, Alvaro Arzu Irigoyen, urged caution,
warning that if reforms don't start benefiting poorer countries, residents
there could lose faith in democracy.

Discussing how to deal with regional crises, like those that struck Asia
and Brazil over the last year, will be part of a wide-ranging, two-day
meeting that will also explore how to fight drugs, strengthen democracy and
improve the regional response to disasters.

David Kilgour, secretary of state for Latin America and Africa, is
representing Canada at the assembly, which runs though Tuesday.

A statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Department in Ottawa said Kilgour
would meet foreign ministers of OAS countries to discuss Canada's
priorities in the hemisphere, including human rights, mine clearance and
control of the illicit drug trade.

Canada will host the OAS general assembly next year, marking the 10th
anniversary if its membership in the organization.

After the opening ceremony in Antigua, Guatemala's colonial capital, the
assembly moves to the current capital, Guatemala City, for the remaining
two days.

Assembly activities were expected to include:

- - Creating a mechanism which would allow the OAS to help member countries
resolve internal problems that could threaten fledgling democracies. Victor
Marrero, the U.S. ambassador to the OAS, said the organization envisages
sending "a group of friends" to offer advice and mediation.

- - Approving an agreement in which member countries would report within 90
days the acquisition or sale of conventional weapons.

- - Proceeding with a multinational program to evaluate the efforts of member
countries to stop drug trafficking and consumption. Some Latin American
countries hope this will eventually replace the U.S. drug certification
program, in which the United States penalizes countries it believes aren't
doing enough to stop drug trafficking.

- - Discussing how to improve response to disasters, such as Hurricane Mitch,
which killed thousands of people in Central America and caused billions of
dollars in damage.