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After intense negotiations with the White House, the
Senate voted Thursday to accept President Bill Clinton's
designation of Mexico as a U.S. ally in efforts to combat
illegal drugs.

The measure, approved 945, decries both countries'
losses to narcotics traffickers and demands progress on
both sides, with Clinton required to make another
assessment Sept. 1.

But that assessment would focus on joint efforts and
would not carry the onus of decertification that has
angered Mexico.

Thursday's vote ended a congressional battle over
whether to overturn Clinton's certification of Mexico last
month as "fully cooperative" in the fight against drugs.

The House had voted to demand that Mexico implement
specific reforms or face decertification in 90 days. But
Congress now begins a twoweek recess, and that will become
moot with the passing of a March 30 deadline for
congressional action.

The issue kept the nation's drug policy director,
retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey, and other officials in
negotiations with Republican and Democratic senators for
several days. In the end, Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright approved the final Senate bill as something
Clinton could sign.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico and several other
Democrats attempted to block the measure, despite the
administration's approval. They were attempting to use it
as leverage to compel Republicans to set a date for taking
up ratification of the 4yearold chemical weapons treaty
before the 160nation pact takes effect April 29.

But Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, RMiss., said
that if Democrats prevented approval of the Mexico
language, he would push for a vote on straight
decertification. Bingaman accepted Lott's pledge to take up
the weapons treaty early next month.

The Mexico resolution, sponsored by Sens. Paul
Coverdell, RGa., and Dianne Feinstein, DCalif., cites
"significant corruption" in Mexico but also says some U.S.
law enforcement officials "may also be affected by
corruption."

Mariano Herran Salvatti, the new head of Mexico's
Institute to Combat Drugs, said at a news conference
Thursday in Mexico City that he would restructure the
institute within the next 3045 days.