CLINTON REMOVES SYRIA, LEBANON FROM DRUG LIST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) President Clinton announced Monday that he has
dropped Syria and Lebanon from the annual U.S. list of major drug
trafficking countries, eight months after citing them as problem nations.

The decision drew fire from Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley, who
questioned how Clinton could move so quickly to change Syria's designation.

``From all accounts, Syria remains a major drug trafficker,'' said
Grassley, chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control.

In a letter to relevant members of Congress, Clinton said he removed Syria
and Lebanon from the list because they had jointly begun a campaign to
eradicate about 8,400 acres of opium poppy cultivation in the Bekaa Valley.

``I have removed both countries from the majors list this year and have
placed them on the watch list, with the understanding that they will be
once again listed as major illicit drug producers or transit countries,
should the evidence warrant,'' Clinton said.

It was a victory for Syria, which has been on the list every year since
1992 based on what the United States said was evidence that Syrian troops
were protecting drug cultivation and transportation.

In theory the decision would open Syria up to U.S. aid and American
support for international loans to the government of President Hafez
alAssad. But Syria remains on the U.S. list of countries believed
responsible for international terrorism and thus still remains ineligible
for U.S. assistance.

Just last March the State Department cited Syria as a major transit
country for hashish leaving Lebanon and for opium and morphine entering
Lebanon from Iran, Afghanistan and Turkey.

Clinton was required to give his list of major drug trafficking countries
by Nov. 1 but missed the deadline over what Grassley called an internal
debate over Syria.

The nations he did list as major drug trafficking countries were:
Afghanistan, Aruba, the Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia,
China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Hong Kong,
India, Iran, Jamaica, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama,
Paraguay, Peru, Taiwan, Thailand, Venezuela and Vietnam.

On March 1 Clinton must list the countries officially certified as helping
the United States fight drug trafficking. Governments that do not pass
muster are cut off from most U.S. aid and face Washington's negative vote
when they request loans from development institutions like the World Bank.

Foreign officials complain it is ironic that the United States, the
world's top drugconsuming nation, should judge others.