CLINTON IN MEXICO; QUICK TRIP TO TACKLE DRUG, TRADE ISSUES

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; Attorney General Janet Reno;
and Export-Import Bank President James Harmon.

Clinton brought with him a two-year, $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 financing assistance
today, an administration official said. It represents an increase of
about $400 million annually over a similar $1.6 billion line of credit
last year.

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, President 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." He did not elaborate.

Hillary 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.

The first lady 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, speaking on condition of anonymity, said
other agreements the presidents will sign after their summit today 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 Clinton will
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, told reporters.

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

"Indeed, much of what we know and much of what troubles us about the
extent of corruption in the Mexican law-enforcement effort has emerged
from Mexico's own efforts to uproot it," Berger said. "And that's
something we need to acknowledge and encourage."

James Dobbins, the National Security Council's senior director for
Inter- American Affairs, said, "We think we've made a lot of progress
over the last year."

Mexico blames the United States for much of its drug problem, because
Americans are the world's biggest buyers of illicit narcotics. Yet, in
hopes of winning certification, Mexico announced a $400 million "total
war" Feb. 4 that calls for buying aircraft, ships, radar, X-ray
equipment and other items.

Mexico is a major transit point for cocaine shipments from South
America to the United States.