Senators Doubt Mexico's Future As Drug Ally

Feinstein, cohort cite nation's spotty record

Associated Press

Washington

Frustrated by what they see as a lack of crossborder cooperation in
efforts to combat narcotics trafficking, two senators warned yesterday that
Mexico might lose its certification as a U.S. partner in the antidrug war.

"The next certification report is due in less than five months, (and) it is
not at all clear that Mexico will earn certification next year," said a
statement issued by Senators Dianne Feinstein, DCalif., and Paul
Coverdell, RGa., both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In February, President Clinton brushed aside congressional opposition and
recertified Mexico as a fully cooperating ally in the struggle against drug
smuggling. The president also renewed for another year his 199B decision to
deny certification to Colombia's counternarcotics program.

Of 32 drugsource and drugtransit countries, Clinton certified 23 and
decertified nine. Decertification normally means a cutoff of aid and a U.S.
vote against World Bank loans to errant countries. The sanctions can be
waived if the president deems such action to be in the national interest.

Feinstein and Coverdell said that while Mexico has made some progress in
restructuring its attorney general's office and instituting procedures that
eventually might result in the establishment of "credible drug enforcement
units," its record over the past eight months leaves much to be desired.

No Mexican nationals have been extradited on drug charges Mexican law
enforcement still is "riddled" with corruption, no major drugcartel
leaders have been arrested, and U.S. agents working in Mexico still are
barred from carrying firearms, the statement said.

"Mexican authorities must take swift and comprehensive action to produce
real results," the senators said. "Absent these signs of progress, it will
be nearly impossible to make the case that Mexico has fully cooperated with
the United States by March 1."