DATE=6/1/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250073
TITLE=MEXICO / U-S DRUGS (L-O)
BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  WHEN U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT AND OTHER 
U-S OFFICIALS VISIT MEXICO LATER THIS WEEK, THEY MAY FIND THE 
TABLES TURNED ON THEM WHEN IT COMES TO THE ISSUE OF CORRUPTION.  
AS V-O-A'S GREG FLAKUS REPORTS FROM MEXICO CITY,  AT THIS 
MEETING, MEXICO MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT CORRUPTION IN THE UNITED 
STATES.

TEXT:   FOR MANY YEARS, U-S OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THE FIGHT 
AGAINST DRUG SMUGGLING HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT CORRUPT OFFICIALS IN
MEXICO WHO AID NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS.  BUT, IN ANTICIPATION OF 
THIS WEEK'S VISIT TO MEXICO BY SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE 
ALBRIGHT, ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO AND U-S ANTI-DRUG CHIEF, 
GENERAL BARRY MCCAFFREY, MEXICAN OFFICIALS ARE INDICATING THAT 
THEY WILL RAISE THE ISSUE OF CORRUPTION IN THE UNITED STATES. 

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH MEXICO'S EL FINANCIERO (EHL FEE NAHNZ SEE 
AIR' OH), NORTH AMERICA DIRECTOR FOR THE MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTRY
MIGUEL RUIZ CABANAS (ROO EEZ'  KAH  BAHN' YAHZ), SAID RECENT 
INTERNAL GOVERNMENT REPORTS IN THE UNITED STATES INDICATE THAT 
CORRUPTION IS GROWING.   MR. RUIZ CABANAS SAID -- IN HIS WORDS 
--"WE ARE RECEIVING INFORMATION THAT SHOWS THERE IS A GRAVE 
PROBLEM."  HE SAID THIS WILL BE ADDRESSED BY MEXICAN FOREIGN 
MINISTER ROSARIO GREEN ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WHEN SHE MEETS WITH
MS. ALBRIGHT.   MR CABANAS SAID THAT, ABOVE ALL, THESE REPORTS OF
CORRUPTION IN THE UNITED STATES SHOW THAT -- IN HIS WORDS 
--"CORRUPTION IS NOT EXCLUSIVE TO ANY NATION."

THE INFORMATION MR. RUIZ CABANAS REFERRED TO CAME FROM A RECENT 
GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE REPORT TO THE U-S CONGRESS REGARDING 
INCIDENTS OF CORRUPTION.  THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN RECENT NEWS 
REPORTS ABOUT U-S BORDER PATROL AND CUSTOMS AGENTS WHO TOOK 
BRIBES FROM DRUG TRAFFICKERS IN EXCHANGE FOR ALLOWING SHIPMENTS 
TO CROSS THE U-S/MEXICO BORDER.

MEXICAN OFFICIALS, WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING PROBLEMS OF CORRUPTION AT 
HOME, HAVE SOMETIMES BRISTLED AT U-S CRITICISM, WHICH THEY REGARD
AS OFFENSIVE AND UNFAIR.  

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH MEXICO'S REFORMA NEWSPAPER ON MONDAY,  
GENERAL MCCAFFREY ADDRESSED BOTH THE CORRUPTION ISSUE AND MEXICAN
SENSIBILITIES.  HE SAID DRUG-RELATED CORRUPTION IS A THREAT TO 
DEMOCRACY IN MEXICO AND A SEVERE THREAT TO U-S SOCIETY AS WELL.  
// OPT //  HE COMPARED THE THREAT FROM DRUG CARTELS TODAY TO THE 
THREAT TO WESTERN DEMOCRACIES FROM NAZI GERMANY IN WORLD WAR TWO.
// END OPT //

U-S/MEXICO RELATIONS BECAME TENSE LAST YEAR AFTER U-S OFFICIALS 
CARRIED OUT A STING OPERATION AGAINST MEXICAN BANKERS ACCUSED OF 
MONEY LAUNDERING AND, FAILED TO INFORM MEXICAN OFFICIALS, AS 
REQUIRED UNDER BI-NATIONAL AGREEMENTS.  GENERAL MCCAFFREY SAYS 
BOTH NATIONS HAVE MADE MISTAKES BUT THAT THEY STILL NEED TO WORK 
TOGETHER IN THE COMMON STRUGGLE AGAINST DRUG SMUGGLING.  
(SIGNED).

NEB/GF/JO

01-Jun-99 1:04 PM EDT (1704 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.