cannabisnews.com: Mexico Wins Drug Certification! 





Mexico Wins Drug Certification! 
Posted by FoM on February 27, 1999 at 09:30:09 PT
Bad feelings persist on both sides of border!  
A Mexican Federal Judicial policeman destroys opium poppies with a machete on a clandestine plantation high in the Guerrero Sierra.
 — President Bill Clinton said Friday that he is certifying Mexico as a fully cooperating partner in the fight against drug trafficking. “Mexico is cooperating with us in the battle for our lives,” Clinton said. The announcement set up a potential battle with Republicans in Congress who cite Mexico’s drop in narcotics seizures and disappointing record of extraditions in arguing for sanctions against America’s southern neighbor.     THE RELATIONSHIP between the U.S. and Mexico, it has often been said, is not unlike a marriage. The couple bicker and even sometimes fight, but in the end they always make up. Nothing gets this couple fighting these days like the drug war and the annual U.S. “certification” process of Mexico’s reliability.    The decision to certify Mexico set up a potential battle with Republicans in Congress who cite Mexico’s drop in narcotics seizures and disappointing record of extraditions in arguing for sanctions against America’s southern neighbor.    But in a foreign policy address to California business leaders, Clinton credited Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo, saying he was “working hard to tackle the corruption traffickers headlong.”     Drugs are a $7 billion a year business in Mexico    Mexico claims it is doing all it can to fight the drug cartels and destroy drug producers. Yet current estimates indicate that between 50 to 70 percent of the drugs sold in the U.S. come across Mexico’s border. From Mexico’s perspective, the problem is mostly an American one — as long as there is a huge demand for narcotics in the U.S., Mexican officials say, it will be impossible to prevent people from trying to profit from it.    SUPPORTIVE WORDS    Clinton, on a mid-February visit to the Yucatan city of Merida, said he supports Mexico’s “re-certification” as a reliable ally in the fight against drugs. He said Mexico’s cooperation “has clearly improved” under Zedillo’s administration.    “The United States is ready to do all we can to support you,” Clinton added.    Zedillo, in turn, said the drug war was now a national priority. “It’s a commitment to ourselves to our children, to our safety, and to our future,” he said.   Mexican judicial policemen inspect the site last April where three people were killed by gunmen after being ambushed in Mexico's second largest city of Guadalajara.     Zedillo’s words were not just for U.S. consumption. Since he took office, Mexican statistics show that the narcotics trade, once a “trafficking problem” mostly of concern to the U.S., has begun to erode the structures of Mexican society. This, along with U.S. pressure, has led to a new Mexican attitude, Clinton officials say.    “All in all,” said Clinton’s “drug czar” Barry McCaffrey,” we think we are on the right track. This is a new world we’re dealing with in my view.” Here's the whole article!http://www.msnbc.com/news/244739.asp By Gerlind YountsNBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: