CLINTON ENDORSES MEXICO'S WAR ON DRUGS

MERIDA, Mexico - President Clinton on Monday strongly endorsed Mexico's
narcotics-fighting efforts, weeks before an expected showdown with Congress
over whether to give this country its annual passing grade as an ally in the
drug war.

"Mexico should not be penalized for having the courage to confront its
problems," visiting Clinton said in a speech at an ornate theater here in
the capital of Yucatan state, signaling that he will certify Mexico as he
has in the past.

As a highlight of his 23-hour trip, Clinton also reached agree-ment with
Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo on a detailed list of steps their
countries will take in fighting narcotics trafficking. It was on of eight
agreements on cross-border concerns, ranging from immigration to
tuberculosis, announced during the trip.

But the drug agreement seemed an incremental step rather than a major
announcement that could appease congressional critics of Mexico's anti-drug
performance. And the U.S. anti-drug czar, Barry R. McCaffrey, who was part
of Clinton's entourage, side-stepped questions about what will happen if the
two countries fail to meet the anti-drug goals.

"The goal of this isn't so much a grading sheet as trying to keep us both on
this cooperative track," McCaffrey told reporters.

Mexico has emerged in recent years as the major route for traffickers
sending cocaine to the United States. It also pro-duces significant amounts
of heroin and marijuana.

Clinton's visit appeared aimed, in part, to building support for Mexico
before the annual U.S. review of drug-fighting allies, which the president
must announce by March 1. Administration officials expect Congress to fight
to overturn a presidential certification of Mexico. Such a move could lead
to economic sanctions against Mexico, the United States' No. 2 trading
partner.

In recent years, the drug certification process has become the most bitter
subject in relations between the neighbors.

In his speech, Clinton singled out what he called Zedillo's efforts to fight
corruption, which has riddled the Mexican police. He also praised a new
program to detect drug shipments with high-tech equipment.

Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, who was also ac- companying
Clinton, said she has offered to cooperate with the Mexican government's
plans to build a new national police force, although she added that no
details have been worked out.

The anti-drug agreement signed by Clinton and Zedillo commits the two
countries to a wide range of actions, from speeding up extradition requests
to improving programs to vet narcotics investigators.

For his part, Zedillo on Monday emphasized his country's commitment to
battle drug cartels, but he added that inter-national cooperation is
essential. Mexicans often point to the huge U.S. drug demand as the engine
driving the world narcotics trade.

"The Mexicans have the conviction and determination to continue fighting
drug trafficking until we defeat it," Zedillo said in a speech at the
ceremony marking the end of Clinton's visit.

While Mexico officially rejects U.S. certification as a harmful, one-sided
finger-pointing exercise, officials here seemed pleased by Clinton's
support.

Still, not everyone thought the symbolic gesture will yield fruit.

"I am skeptical that the good proposals and nice words will modify the harsh
position of the (U.S.) Congress in certification," said left-wing Sen. Jorge
Calderon, who participated in a meeting with U.S. legislators and officials
accompanying Clinton.

Officials emphasized that the two leaders discussed a wide range of topics
during their private talks and and at a meeting of Cabinet officals,
including the North American Free Trade Agreement, immigration, the
environment and cross-border health.

Among the other agreements signed during the trip was one to expand
communication between Mexican and U.S. law enforcement officials on the
border to reduce deaths of or injuries to migrants.

In their only public appearance during the trip, the closing ceremony at the
peach-and-white Peon Contreras Theater in downtown Merida, Clinton and
Zedillo emphasized what they called the over-whelming success of NAFTA. Both
leaders asserted that the trade pact has created thousands of new jobs in
their countries.

U.S. exports to Mexico grew 11 percent last year, even as sales to Asia
shrank by 19 percent because of the region's economic crisis.

Clinton and Zedillo also said they will support reconstruction efforts in
Central America, which was devastated last fall by Hurricane Mitch.

The visit underlined the warm relations between Clinton and Zedillo, who
were meeting for the 10th time. The two men re-peatedly hugged and smiled as
they chatted.

Cheering crowds greeted the U.S. president as he was whisked around this
tropical city. Many Mexicans admire Clinton for organizing the emergency $50
billion loan package that stabilized Mexico after the 1995 peso collapse.