DATE=5/28/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232951
TITLE=MEXICO - US DRUGS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JAMES BLEARS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROSARIO GREEN SAYS HER 
GOVERNMENT IS PREPARING A NEW LAW THAT WOULD PUNISH THE UNITED 
STATES IF IT VIOLATES MEXICAN SOVEREIGNTY AGAIN.  EARLIER THIS 
MONTH, A U-S STING OPERATION UNCOVERED A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR 
DRUG MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME ALLEGEDLY INVOLVING 12 MEXICAN 
BANKS. THE PROBLEM IS WASHINGTON FAILED TO CONSULT THE MEXICAN 
GOVERNMENT ABOUT ITS ACTIVITIES SOUTH OF THE BORDER.  JAMES 
BLEARS IN MEXICO CITY BRINGS US THE DETAILS. 

TEXT:  MEXICO INITIALLY WELCOMED THE SUCCESS OF "OPERATION 
CASABLANCA." OFFICIALS SEIZED 35 MILLION DOLLARS AND ARRESTED 
MORE THAN TWO DOZEN MEXICAN BANKERS IN THE UNITED STATES ON 
CHARGES OF LAUNDERING ILLEGAL DRUG PROFITS. 

BUT MEXICAN PRESIDENT ERNESTO ZEDILLO EXPRESSED FURY WHEN HE 
FOUND OUT AMERICAN OFFICIALS HAD VIOLATED MEXICO'S SOVEREIGNTY BY
RUNNING A NETWORK OF AGENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER FOR MORE THAN TWO
YEARS WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST SHRED OF CONSULTATION.

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON HAS EXPRESSED HIS REGRET THAT THERE WAS  
NOT  ENOUGH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MEXICO AND WASHINGTON -- BUT 
THIS HAS DONE LITTLE TO APPEASE THE ZEDILLO ADMINISTRATION. 

MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROSARIO GREEN WEDNESDAY ACCUSED THE 
UNITED STATES OF BREAKING THE SPIRIT OF ANTI-NARCOTICS 
COOPERATION BY ACTING WITHOUT MEXICAN KNOWLEDGE.  SHE SAYS MEXICO
IS NOW DETERMINED TO CREATE A NEW LAW AND ENFORCE IT RIGOROUSLY.

                         ///GREEN ACT///

         WHENEVER THEY DO SOMETHING THAT VIOLATES OUR SOVEREIGNTY
         AND OUR TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, WE ALWAYS PROTEST.  BUT 
         NOW WE WANT SOMETHING ELSE. WE DON'T WANT JUST THAT I'M 
         SORRY THAT WE DID SO. WE WANT ASSURANCE THAT IT ISN'T 
         GOING TO HAPPEN ANY MORE AND THAT IS WHY WE WILL BE 
         WORKING ON A DOCUMENT THAT WILL BE BINDING IN TERMS THAT
         IT WOULD HAVE JUDICIAL CONSEQUENCES WHEN THE CONTENTS OF
         THIS DOCUMENT ARE VIOLATED.

                          ///END ACT///

THE EXACT NATURE OF THE SANCTIONS HAVE YET TO BE 
REVEALED.(SIGNED)

NEB/JB/TMD-T/JO

28-May-98 5:26 PM EDT (2126 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.