CLINTON VISIT TO MEXICO DELIVERS A LINE OF CREDIT

He meets with Zedillo to maintain good relations and check on drug fight

MERIDA, Mexico -- In a swift pivot from impeachment, President Clinton
began a quick summit in Mexico on Sunday to encourage its struggle against
narcotics and government corruption, and grow its markets for U.S. products.

The president and his wife were greeted at their sunset arrival by Mexican
President Ernesto Zedillo and his wife Nilda. A military honor guard
saluted the Clintons and four children presented bouquets of flowers.

The two leaders and their wives were later headed to a private dinner.

Clinton, traveling abroad two days after his acquittal by the Senate, was
accompanied by about a half-dozen members of his Cabinet, including retired
Gen. Barry McCaffrey, director of the White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy, Atty.Gen. Janet Reno, and Export-Import Bank President
James Harmon.

Clinton brought with him a $4 billion line of credit from the U.S. bank to
provide loans to Mexican businesses that buy American goods and services.
He planned to announce the aid today, an administration official said.

The visit -- 23 hours from landing to takeoff -- comes two weeks before the
administration must render a formal evaluation of Mexico's cooperation in
fighting drug trafficking. Clinton and Zedillo have met about every six
months over the past few years, and officials say this meeting is intended
simply to maintain good relations.

Soon after Air Force One was airborne, Clinton and first lady Hillary
Rodham Clinton appeared in the press cabin of the plane passing out
chocolate candy from a huge heart-shaped box.

"Happy Valentine's Day," the president said. "Isn't this the biggest heart
you ever saw in your life? This is a better kind of heart of darkness."

Mrs. Clinton was wearing a gold-colored, heart-shaped pin on her dark suit.
Asked whether it was new, she replied, "Brand new." She then pointed to her
husband and smiled.

Mrs. Clinton said the box of candy was a gift from one of her brothers. The
first couple moved quickly through the press cabin, distributing candy to
passengers in other parts of the plane as well.

Clinton and Zedillo are expected to discuss immigration and complete an
agreement on border safety and curbing border violence.

The administration official said other agreements the presidents will sign
after their Monday summit at Hacienda Temozon include:

- -- A civil-aviation pact to liberalize flights between the United States
and Mexico, estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the
two nations' airlines.

- -- $1.2 million in U.S. funds to the Mexican Nature Conservation Fund, to
prevent a repeat of last year's forest fires south of the border that sent
smog into Texas.

- -- U.S. training and technical assistance to Mexico's new federal police
force, meant to be a fresh start for the country's long-corrupt law
enforcement system.

Mexico could be hit with tough economic sanctions if it receives a failing
grade in the drug battle. While the administration says Mexico has a
tremendous drug problem, it is believed likely that Clinton will re-certify
Mexico as a cooperative ally in fighting narcotics, as it has been in all
12 years since the congressionally mandated review process began.

Even before Clinton's trip, the administration appeared to be laying
groundwork for a positive report while acknowledging that cocaine seizures
by the Mexican police have dropped.

"President Zedillo is clearly trying to establish a clean government and
respect for the rule of law," Sandy Berger, the president's national
security adviser, said.

He said Mexico is confronting its problem of government corruption "with
remarkable candor."