DATE=2/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226737
TITLE=LATAM / DRUG TRAFFICKING (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=TOMAS CABAL
DATELINE=PANAMA CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  DRUGS AND DRUG TRAFFICKING TOOK CENTER STAGE DURING A 
REGIONAL MEETING OF SOUTH AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS
IN PANAMA CITY THIS WEEK.  THOMAS CABAL HAS THIS REPORT.

TEXT:  THE EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION 
FOREIGN MINISTERS AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS FROM THE RIO GROUP 
FOCUSED ON THE PROBLEM OF INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFICKING.  
BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER ROBIN COOK, IN HIS CLOSING REMARKS, SAID
THE OFFICIALS DISCUSSED WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIGHT THE DRUG 
TRADE:

                         // COOK ACT //

         WE BOTH HAVE A COMMON PROBLEM HERE.  EUROPE AS A 
         CONTINENT WHICH IMPORTS, AGAINST OUR WILL, VERY LARGE 
         QUANTITIES OF DRUGS FROM LATIN AMERICA, AS WELL AS FROM 
         ELSEWHERE.   YOU (LATIN AMERICA) SHARE THE PROBLEM WITH 
         US, BECAUSE THAT DEGREE OF CRIMINAL WEALTH UNDERMINES 
         THE SPECIFIC SOCIETY OF THE COUNTRY WHERE IT EXISTS.  WE
         MUST GIVE PRIORITY TO WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT
         WE STAMP IT OUT TOGETHER.  

                          // END ACT //

THE MEETING ALLOWED THE EUROPEANS AND SOUTH AMERICANS TO DISCUSS 
WAYS TO EXPAND TRADE AND MINIMIZE POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT. 

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE REGIONAL SUMMIT, SPECIAL U-S ENVOY THOMAS
MCNAMARA SOUGHT TO GATHER SUPPORT FOR THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF 
AN INTERNATIONAL ANTI-DRUG CENTER AT HOWARD AIR FORCE BASE IN THE
PANAMA CANAL ZONE.  THE CENTER MONITORS THE COMMUNICATIONS AND 
SUSPICIOUS FLIGHTS OF SOUTH AMERICAN DRUG DEALERS.  

                           // OPT // 

UNDER THE 1977 CANAL TREATIES, ALL U-S MILITARY BASES MUST CLOSE 
NO  LATER THAN DECEMBER 31ST, 1999.  IF THE CENTER REMAINS OPEN, 
25-HUNDRED U-S SERVICEMEN, PILOTS AND TECHNICIANS WOULD BE 
ASSIGNED TO THAT FACILITY. 

TO SILENCE CRITICS WHO SAY THE CENTER WILL FUNCTION AS AN 
AMERICAN MILITARY BASE, THE PANAMANIAN GOVERNMENT INSISTS THAT IT
BE RUN BY CIVILIANS, AND THAT OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION 
PARTICIPATE.  THIS MAY POSE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM FOR THE CLINTON 
ADMINISTRATION, SINCE ANY MULTILATERAL AGREEMENT WOULD REQUIRE 
CONFIRMATION BY THE SENATE.

TO GET AROUND THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM, AMBASSADOR MCNAMARA HAS 
PROPOSED A JOINT DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND IDENTICAL 
BILATERAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN PANAMA AND THOSE COUNTRIES 
PARTICIPATING.  MEXICO, COLOMBIA AND BRAZIL HAVE ALL EXPRESSED 
INTEREST.  COLOMBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MARIA EMMA MEJIA BELIEVES 
THE DRUG WARS MUST BE MULTILATERAL.

                         // MEJIA ACT //

         WELL, COLOMBIA HAS BEEN IN FAVOR HAVE HAVING A CENTER, A
         MULTI-LATERAL CENTER.  WE BELIEVE THAT THE COMBAT OF 
         DRUGS HAS TO BE A MULTILATERAL EFFORT ISSUE, AND THAT WE
         COULD, OF COURSE, DEVELOP THIS SCENARIO IN WHICH TO WORK
         AND TO CONSTRUCT A BETTER STRATEGY, A MORE POWERFUL 
         MEANS AND TOOLS TO COMBAT DRUGS SO PANAMA WOULD BE AN 
         IDEAL LOCATION FOR IT.

                          // END ACT //

                          // END OPT //

COLOMBIA SUPPORTS THE OPERATION OF THE ANTI-DRUG CENTER, BUT 
INSISTS THAT A CERTIFICATION PROCESS OF COUNTRIES RECEIVING 
AMERICAN ECONOMIC AID, MANDATED BY THE U-S CONGRESS, IS UNFAIR.

                         // MEJIA ACT //

         I THINK ALL NATIONS HAVE TO BE FREED OF NARCOTICS AND 
         DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND CORRUPTION, ETC.  AND, OF COURSE, 
         WE BELIEVE WE CAN DEAL FROM THE MESSAGE THAT WE ALL, 
         CONSUMERS AND PRODUCERS, CAN CONSTRUCT ALL THE TOOLS 
         NEEDED TO COMBAT THIS CAMPAIGN AND THIS POWERFUL MAFIA 
         AROUND THE WORLD.  WE HOPE THIS (CERTIFICATION) 
         MECHANISM IS ELIMINATED.  WE THINK THAT THE YEAR 2001 
         CANNOT SEE US, THE 21ST CENTURY, WITH SUCH A HORRID 
         MECHANISM THAT SORT OF DISCRIMINATES AGAINST ONE IN 
         FAVOR OF OTHERS. 

                          // END ACT //

WHATEVER THE OUTCOME OF THE PROPOSED DRUG CENTER, OBSERVERS SAY 
THE UNITED STATES WILL LIKELY HAVE TO REVIEW ITS DRUG POLICY 
TOWARD LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES IF IT WANTS THEM TO PARTICIPATE 
IN THE OPERATION OF AN ANTI-DRUG BASE WITH A SIZEABLE MILITARY 
COMPONENT.  (SIGNED)

NEB/TC/MMK/RRM

13-Feb-98 3:28 PM EST (2028 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.