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DATE=2/13/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245512 TITLE=DRUG CERTIFICATION (L) BYLINE=JAMES BLEARS DATELINE=MEXICO CITY CONTENT= VOICED AT INTRO: MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROSARIO GREEN IS WARNING THAT IF THE UNITED STATES FAILS TO GRANT MEXICO ITS ANNUAL DRUGS CERTIFICATION AS A NATION BATTLING AGAINST THE SCOURGE OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS, THEN MEXICO WILL IMMEDIATELY CEASE COOPERATING WITH WASHINGTON ON THIS KEY LAW AND ORDER ISSUE. AN AFFIRMATIVE DECISION FOR MEXICO WOULD MEAN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FUNDS, AID PROGRAMS, EQUIPMENT AND SPECIALIST TRAINING. JAMES BLEARS REPORTS FROM MEXICO CITY. TEXT: STATISTICS RELATING TO DRUG SEIZURES, ARRESTS, EXTRADITIONS AND SUCCESSFUL OPERATION IN 1998 ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DOWN IF COMPARED TO 12 MONTHS EARLIER. HOWEVER, MEXICAN AUTHORITIES HAVE JUST PLEDGED 500-MILLION DOLLARS TO COMBAT THE DRUG CARTELS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. AND MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER ROSARIO GREEN EXPLAINS THAT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD STOP TRYING TO MEASURE EFFORTS IN JUST COLD STATISTICS AND CONCENTRATE MORE ON THE GLOBAL PICTURE. U-S CONGRESSIONAL LAW STATES THAT COOPERATION WILL BE WITHHELD FROM COUNTRIES WHICH ARE JUDGED TO HAVE MADE INSUFFICIENT EFFORTS TO TACKLE THE ISSUE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS. MRS. GREEN IS WARING THAT IF MEXICO IS DE-CERTIFIED, THEN THEY TOO WOULD RIGIDLY APPLY THE LETTER OF THE LAW AND RELATIONS IN THIS SPHERE WOULD BE INSTANTLY SEVERED. // GREEN ACT // SO WHENEVER I REFER TO THE FACT THAT IF THE UNILATERAL EVALUATION PUTS MEXICO INTO A DIFFICULT SITUATION, COOPERATION WOULD STOP. I AM ALWAYS REFERRING TO THE U-S LAW. // END ACT // U-S AUTHORITIES HAVE ALSO NOTED THAT FEW MEXICANS ARE EXTRADITED NORTH OF THE BORDER TO ANSWER DRUG CHARGES. BUT MRS. GREEN SAYS THAT THE DUE PROCESS OF MEXICAN LAW HAS TO RUN ITS COURSE AND THE PEOPLE ACCUSED ARE FULLY ENTITLED TO EXERCISE THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS. // GREEN ACT // EVEN IF I SIGN THE EXTRADITION PAPERS, THESE PEOPLE STILL HAVE LEGAL RESOURCES. THIS IS PART OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM IN MEXICO AND WE HAVE TO RESPECT THE LEGAL SYSTEM OF OUR OWN COUNTRY. // END ACT // U-S AMBASSADOR TO MEXICO, JEFFREY DAVIDOW, SAYS THE SPECIFIC ISSUE OF CERTIFICATION WILL BE DISCUSSED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON AND MEXICAN PRESIDENT ERNESTO ZEDILLO WHEN THEY MEET IN THE SOUTHERN MEXICAN CITY OF MERIDA ON MONDAY, MOST EXPERTS AGREE THAT THE TWO MEN WILL EXPLORE METHODS OF CLOSER COOPERATION, ESPECIALLY ALONG THEIR VULNERABLE TWO-THOUSAND MILE BORDER. THAT MEANS THAT IN SPITE OF SOME RESERVATIONS AND OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE CERTIFICATION ISSUE, MEXICO WILL AGAIN GAIN APPROVAL BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. (SIGNED) NEB/JB/CBL-FAX/SD 13-Feb-99 9:57 PM EST (0257 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .