MCCAFFREY WILL VIEW EUROPEAN DRUG PROGRAMS

Washington - For all their cultural and legal differences,countries
fighting illegal drugs face the same problems, the U.S. drug-policy
director said Friday on the eve of a visit to Europe to share strategies.

But retired Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, the Clinton administration's drug
czar, found himself differing with the Dutch ambassador over the
Netherlands' permissive drug laws before he even left town.

McCaffrey leaves today to visit major European cities to underscore the
need for international cooperation on combating drugs, to look at European
treatment and prevention programs, and to try to learn from other
countries'drug-fighting programs.

McCaffrey will visit Sweden, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland and England, as
well as the Netherlands, during his eight-day visit.

But during an appearance Thursday on CNN's "Talkback Live," McCaffrey said
the Netherlands' policy of letting its citizens use marijuana and other
soft drugs for therapeutic and recreational purposes was "an unmitigated
disaster."

In a rapid response to McCaffrey, Joris M. Vos, the Dutch ambassador to the
United States, said he was "confounded and dismayed" by the retired
general's description of Dutch drug policy.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski