Clinton, on Mexico Visit, Lauds Nation for Drug War

President Clinton on Monday strongly endorsed Mexico’s narcotics-fighting efforts, weeks before an expected showdown with Congress over whether to give this country its annual passing grade as an ally in the drug war.

“Mexico should not be penalized for having the courage to confront its problems,” the visiting Clinton said in a speech at an ornate turn-of-the-century theater here in the capital of Yucatan, signaling that he is likely to certify Mexico as he has in the past.

As a highlight of his 23-hour trip, Clinton also reached agreement with Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo on a detailed list of steps their countries will take in fighting narcotics trafficking. It was one of eight agreements on cross-border concerns, ranging from immigration to tuberculosis, announced during the trip.

But the drug agreement seemed an incremental step rather than a major announcement that could appease congressional critics of Mexico’s anti-drug performance. And the U.S. anti-drug czar, Barry R. McCaffrey, who was part of Clinton’s entourage, sidestepped questions about what will happen if the two countries fail to meet the anti-drug goals.

“The goal of this isn’t so much a grading sheet as trying to keep us both on this cooperative track,” McCaffrey told reporters.

Mexico has emerged in recent years as the major route for traffickers sending cocaine to the United States. It also produces significant amounts of heroin and marijuana.

Clinton’s visit appeared aimed, in part, at building support for Mexico before the annual U.S. review of drug-fighting allies, which the president must announce by March 1. Clinton administration officials expect Congress to fight to overturn a presidential certification of Mexico. Such a move could lead to economic sanctions against Mexico, the United States’ No. 2 trading partner.

In recent years, the drug certification process has become the most bitter subject in relations between the neighbors.

In his speech, Clinton singled out what he called Zedillo’s efforts to fight corruption, which has riddled the Mexican police. He also praised a new, $500-million Mexican program to detect drug shipments with high-tech equipment.

Meanwhile, Atty. Gen. Janet Reno, who also accompanied Clinton, said she has offered to cooperate with the Mexican government’s plans to build a new national police force, although she added that no details have been worked out.

The anti-drug agreement signed by Clinton and Zedillo commits the two countries to a wide range of actions, from speeding up extradition requests to improving programs to vet narcotics investigators.

For his part, Zedillo on Monday emphasized his country’s commitment to battle drug cartels, but he added that international cooperation is essential. Mexicans often point to the huge U.S. drug demand as the engine driving the world narcotics trade.

“The Mexicans have the conviction and determination to continue fighting drug trafficking until we defeat it,” Zedillo declared in a speech at the ceremony marking the end of Clinton’s visit.

While Mexico officially rejects U.S. certification as a harmful, one-sided finger-pointing exercise, officials here seemed pleased by Clinton’s support.

Still, not everyone thought the symbolic gesture will yield fruit.

“I am skeptical that the good proposals and nice words will modify the harsh position of the [U.S.] Congress in certification,” said left-wing Sen. Jorge Calderon, who participated in a side meeting with U.S. legislators and officials accompanying Clinton.

Officials emphasized that the two leaders discussed a wide range of topics during their private talks and at a meeting of Cabinet officials, including the North American Free Trade Agreement, immigration, the environment and cross-border health.

Among the other agreements signed during the trip was one to expand communication between Mexican and U.S. law enforcement officials on the border to reduce deaths of or injuries to migrants.

In their only public appearance during the trip, the closing ceremony at the peach-and-white Peon Contreras Theater in downtown Merida, Clinton and Zedillo emphasized what they called the overwhelming success of NAFTA. Both leaders asserted that the trade pact has created thousands of new jobs in their countries.

The visit underlined the warm relations between Clinton and Zedillo, who were meeting for the 10th time. The two men repeatedly hugged and smiled as they chatted.

Cheering crowds greeted the U.S. president as he was whisked around this tropical city. Many Mexicans admire Clinton for organizing the emergency $50-billion loan package that stabilized Mexico after the 1995 peso collapse.

Clinton, who arrived back in Washington on Monday night, played to Mexican sensibilities by praising the country, quoting its poets and even attempting a bit of Spanish. He won an enthusiastic round of applause at the closing ceremony, which was packed with local businesspeople and dignitaries, when he expressed thanks to Mexico “de todo corazon” (with all my heart).