DATE=6/5/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-40618
TITLE=LATAM DRUG SUMMIT
BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE
DATELINE=SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  LATIN AMERICAN LEADERS WANT THE UNITED STATES TO CURB ITS
APPETITE FOR ILLEGAL DRUGS AND LOOSEN ITS PURSE STRINGS (SPEND 
MORE MONEY) FOR A GLOBAL WAR AGAINST NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING.  THE 
ISSUES WILL BE DEBATED AT A WORLD DRUG SUMMIT AT THE UNITED 
NATIONS BEGINNING MONDAY.  WE GET MORE FROM V-O-A CENTRAL AMERICA
CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE.

TEXT:  THE U-N DRUG SUMMIT COMES AS LATIN AMERICAN OFFICIALS 
EXPRESS INDIGNATION OVER WHAT THEY SEE AS AN OFTEN INSENSITIVE 
AND JUDGMENTAL ATTITUDE BY THE UNITED STATES ON THE DRUG ISSUE.

HEADING INTO THE SUMMIT, MEXICO'S PRIDE HAS BEEN BRUISED BECAUSE 
AMERICAN AGENTS WORKED UNDERCOVER INSIDE MEXICO WITHOUT THE 
GOVERNMENT'S KNOWLEDGE IN AN OPERATION AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING 
INVOLVING SEVERAL MEXICAN BANKS.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE SECRECY WAS NEEDED TO PROTECT LIVES, BUT 
MEXICO IS THREATENING TO PROSECUTE THE AMERICAN AGENTS INVOLVED.

PRESIDENT CLINTON AND MEXICAN PRESIDENT ERNESTO ZEDILLO WILL 
ATTEND MONDAY'S OPENING OF THE DRUG SUMMIT AND COULD MEET TO 
DISCUSS THE ISSUE.

PRESIDENT CLINTON ALSO CAN EXPECT TO HEAR CALLS FROM LATIN 
AMERICAN LEADERS FOR THE UNITED STATES TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN 
CURBING ITS DRUG CONSUMPTION AND TO ALLOW ITS ANTI-NARCOTICS AID 
TO BE CHANNELED THROUGH THE UNITED NATIONS WITH FEWER 
RESTRICTIONS ATTACHED.

THERE IS LIKELY TO BE CRITICISM OF AMERICA'S ANNUAL CERTIFICATION
OF HOW OTHER COUNTRIES' PERFORM IN FIGHTING DRUGS.  COUNTRIES 
THAT FAIL TO PASS THE TEST CAN LOSE U-S AID. THE MEASURE HAS BEEN
WIDELY CRITICIZED IN LATIN AMERICA.

AMONG THE CRITICS IS COSTA RICAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROBERTO ROJAS, 
WHO SAYS IT WOULD BE BETTER TO PURSUE MULTILATERAL COOPERATION BY
CONSUMING AND PRODUCING NATIONS TO FIGHT THE DRUG SCOURGE.

            ///INSERT ROJAS SPANISH ACT FADE UNDER///

IT IS NOT RIGHT, HE SAYS, TO ONLY BLAME THE (DRUG) PRODUCERS FOR 
THE PROBLEM WHEN THE PRODUCING COUNTRIES ARE GENERALLY POOR AND 
HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES.

ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT BOTHERS THE LATIN AMERICANS IS THE LACK OF 
CONTROLS IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ON THE PRODUCTION AND SMUGGLING 
OF PRECURSOR CHEMICALS NEEDED TO PROCESS DRUGS.

MR. ROJAS SAYS HE HAS LEARNED FROM BOLIVIAN OFFICIALS THAT THE 
COCA LEAF GROWN THERE REPRESENTS ONLY 10 PERCENT OF THE COST OF 
PRODUCING COCAINE. THE REST IS SPENT ON ACQUIRING CHEMICALS THAT 
ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN BOLIVIA.

THE U-N DRUG SUMMIT WILL SET TARGETS FOR REDUCING CONSUMPTION AND
PRODUCTION OF ILLEGAL DRUGS AND ESTABLISH A STRATEGY TO CONTROL 
MONEY LAUNDERING AND PRECURSOR CHEMICALS. 

DRAFT DOCUMENTS SET 2008 AS THE TARGET DATE TO END ILLEGAL 
PRODUCTION OF COCA LEAF, OPIUM POPPIES AND MARIJUANA.  (SIGNED).

NEB/MWD/RRM

05-Jun-98 4:14 PM EDT (2014 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.