CLINTONS, LAWMAKERS HEADED FOR MEXICO

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (UPI) - President Clinton is headed to Mexico for his
semiannual consultation with his Mexican counterpart, Ernesto Zedillo, with
economic agreements, border matters and Mexico's effort to stop the illegal
drug trade on the agenda.

Clinton, his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and two dozen lawmakers will
spend tonight and Monday with Zedillo and other Mexican lawmakers in the
ancient city of Merida. Clinton originally planned the visit as part of a
weeklong tour of Central America but postponed all but the Mexico stop
until March to await his acquittal in the impeachment trial.

The Clintons departed the White House without comment and were expected to
arrive in the Yucatan peninsula early this evening. They are to dine with
Zedillo and his wife later.

U.S. officials anticipate no major new agreements between Clinton and
Zedillo, although they predicted a series of deal-signings in such areas as
trade, environmental protection, immigration, border safety and health care.

Clinton's visit also comes days before he is due to make his annual March 1
decision on whether to add Mexico to the small list of countries deemed to
be not cooperating in the fight against drugs.

The U.S. president is expected to renew his certification of Mexico's
drug-fighting efforts, and face criticism from lawmakers who disagree and
Mexicans offended by the process.

Clinton was joined on the trip by 24 members of Congress, including two
senators and four Republicans.

The two presidents plan to meet Monday for several hours at a historic
hotel outside of Merida, both by themselves and later with Cabinet-level
advisers, then return to Merida to sign a joint declaration.

National security adviser Sandy Berger, who is traveling with the
president, said Clinton will devote the visit to making ``steady, practical
progress across the range of common interests that we have with Mexico.''

He said the agenda is topped by economic and trade matters, crediting the
5- year-old North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States,
Canada and Mexico with helping the three countries weather the worldwide
financial crisis.

Berger said Clinton and an entourage of top advisers planned to discuss
other matters, as well, including strengthening cross-border cooperation
against trafficking in human beings, improving methods for handling
complaints of border violence and battling a new strain of drug-resistant
tuberculosis along the border, among others.

Officials said the U.S.-Mexico talks also will be aimed at reaching
agreements in areas that include global warming, environmental protection
provisions under NAFTA, expanding relief efforts for Central American
victims of Hurricane Mitch, increasing cooperation against forest fires,
and better protecting endangered species.