U.S. SAYS MEXICO HELPS FIGHT DRUG WAR

WASHINGTON - Despite the protest by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., that
the nation has made only limited progress, President Clinton has certified
Mexico as fully cooperating in anti-drug efforts.

He also upgraded Colombia's status in the narcotics war on Thursday by
waiving economic penalties imposed against it for the last two years.

Several lawmakers hailed Clinton's decision on Colombia, which remained
decertified and which the president said was still among the world's major
drug-producing countries. But the legislators said they would push to
overturn Mexico's certification.

By March 1 every year, U.S. law requires the president to assess whether
countries that produce or traffic in illicit drugs are cooperating with the
United States or taking adequate steps of their own to fight narcotics.

If he decides they aren't, he can decertify them and cut off most
non-narcotics-related U.S. aid. He can also waive such penalties, as he did
this year with Colombia.

On Capitol Hill, Mexico's certification rankled some lawmakers, who said
they will push to overturn its passing grade but waive economic penalties.
To do so, Congress must act within 30 days.

Feinstein, who led the failed Senate effort last year to decertify Mexico,
said Thursday the country still has "gaping holes" in its anti-drug
efforts. In the past year, she said, its drug-related arrests have fallen,
as have its seizure of weapons, heroin and methamphetamine. "

At best, we should say that Mexico has cooperated partially with the United
States," Feinstein said at a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations
subcommittee on the Western hemisphere. "By no realistic standard can
Mexico be deemed to have fully cooperated."

Copyright 1998 San Francisco Examiner