U.S.-U.K. COUNTER-DRUG AGREEMENT TO EXPAND COOPERATION AT SEA

(Formalizes close relationship in Caribbean, Bermuda) (650)

WASHINGTON -- The United States and the United Kingdom took a major step
towards improved maritime anti-drug cooperation with the signing of a new
agreement that builds on their already close relationship in the Caribbean
and Bermuda.

The reciprocal six-part pact formalizes and regulates an existing
"ship-rider" program of the two countries, under which U.S. Coast Guard law
enforcement officials are permitted to ride on British naval vessels in the
Caribbean, and their U.K. counterparts ride U.S. ships. The agreement also
provides for pursuit of suspect U.S. and U.K. vessels and aircraft into
territorial waters, the boarding of suspect vessels in international
waters, and the overflight of territorial airspace to track suspect vessels
and aircraft, among other provisions.

"International cooperation is essential to stopping the flow of illegal
drugs," U.S. State Department Counselor Wendy Sherman said, noting that the
relevant transit zone covers about 15 million square kilometers, extending
from the Florida coast into the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and the coast
of Central America.

Sherman and Baroness Symons, the United Kingdom Minister of State
responsible for North American and Caribbean issues, signed the new pact
during a July 13 ceremony at the State Department Treaty Room attended by
officials of both governments -- including key negotiators of the agreement.

In brief comments following the ceremony, Sherman described the pact as
building and expanding on the "momentous" 1981 U.S.-U.K. cooperation
agreement, which was the first bilateral counter-drug agreement entered
into by the United States.

"Prior to 1981, permission to board U.K. vessels suspected of smuggling
drugs was conducted on an ad hoc basis. This new agreement builds on that
foundation and represents a major step forward in our cooperative efforts,"
she said.

"We are pleased that this agreement is comprehensive, reciprocal in nature,
and designed to facilitate the joint efforts of our two countries to combat
drug trafficking in the waters of the Caribbean and Bermuda," Sherman added.

For her part, Symons agreed that the two governments are "not necessarily
breaking entirely new ground" but stressed that the importance of the
agreement lies in its formalizing and expanding upon a close and successful
relationship.

The United States has entered into counter-drug cooperation agreements with
18 countries that are considered "source and transit" points for the
illegal drug trade.

Following is the text of a July 13 statement on the agreement issued by
State Department Spokesman James P. Rubin:

(begin text)

STATEMENT BY JAMES P. RUBIN, SPOKESMAN

SIGNING OF U.S.-U.K. MARITIME COUNTER-DRUG AGREEMENT

Counselor for the U.S. Department of State Wendy Sherman and Baroness
Symons, United Kingdom Minister of State responsible for North American and
Caribbean issues, today signed a U.S.-U.K. maritime counter-drug agreement
in the Treaty Room of the Department.

The six-part maritime agreement, which provides a framework for cooperation
in the waters of the Caribbean and Bermuda, is designed to greatly
facilitate U.S.-U.K. efforts to combat drug trafficking at sea. The
comprehensive and reciprocal agreement contains provisions regulating a
ship-rider program; pursuit of suspect vessels and aircraft into
territorial waters; entry into territorial waters to investigate suspect
vessels and aircraft; overflight of territorial airspace to track suspect
vessels and aircraft; and the boarding of suspect vessels in international
waters.

This agreement intensifies the close maritime working relationship that the
United States and the United Kingdom already enjoy in the Caribbean. It
will enable increased cooperative working arrangements between the U.S. and
the British Caribbean territories, and provide for U.S. Coast Guard law
enforcement detachments to ride on British naval ships plying the Caribbean.

(end text)

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski