NATIONS COULD BYPASS U.S. CERTIFICATION WITH ANTI-DRUG BATTLE PLANS

WASHINGTON - A bipartisan trio of senators proposed Thursday waiving
the certification process for major drug-producing countries if they
submitted a plan for fighting the drug-export problems.

The plan, senators said, would ease the dilemma the U.S. government
faces in choosing between alienating foreign governments or
maintaining good relations even though illicit drugs come from that
country.

President Clinton recently certified Mexico as a partner in the war
against drugs, despite evidence of corruption in the nation's judicial
system and increased opium poppy production. The certification
essentially clears the government of possible sanctions for not
fighting drugs.

Sens. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Christopher
Dodd, D-Conn., introduced a bill that would waive countries from the
certification process if they submitted to the U.S. government a plan
on how to curb drug production and transit.

"Basically, what we're doing is ending this confrontation with
Mexico," Gramm said. "I believe that the president of Mexico, I
believe many of his high officials are trying hard to be successful.
In many cases, they are not being successful."

If a country that received a waiver failed to show progress in drug
interdiction after entering into the agreement with the United States,
it would have to go through the normal certification process
established in 1986.

The law now requires the president to assess by March 1 each year
whether drug-producing countries are cooperating in the war on drugs.
A two-thirds vote in both the Senate and House is required to overturn
the president's decision.

If a country is not certified, it may be subject to trade sanctions as
well as deprivation of U.S. aid other than funds to fight drugs. The
United States also may oppose loans by international financial
institutions to "decertified" countries.

The certification process has come under fire as a meaningless
political show. Critics cite Mexico as an example of a country with a
serious drug production and export problem, but which is consistently
certified because of its close relationship with the United States.

Others note that decertifying Mexico and imposing sanctions for its
inability to control the drug flow simply alienates potential partners.

"If we refuse to certify based on the facts, we then make it harder
for people to join us in this effort," Gramm said. "Rather than
producing a greater effort on the part of our ally, our neighbor and
our friend, we create hostility."

To monitor countries with certification waivers, the Boxer-Dodd-Gramm
bill would require the administration to submit progress reports twice
a year.

At any time, Boxer said, Congress could investigate whether a country
was living up to its agreement, which must include specific plans to
control illicit drug production, distribution and interdiction as well
as cooperation among law enforcement agencies and border security.

"Any day of the week, if we don't agree with the findings, we can get
the country right back into certification," Boxer said.

Jose Antonio Zabalgoitia, a spokesman for the Mexican Embassy, said

it's too soon to comment on the proposal, adding that others may be
presented as well.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, also is working with a bipartisan
group of senators on drug certification issues. Last year, she
introduced an unsuccessful bill that would have designated certain
countries as "qualified certification," which would not have granted
them full certification nor sanctioned them.

G. Alan Robison Executive Director Drug Policy Forum of Texas Houston,
Texas 713-784-3196; FAX 713-784-0283