The Nature and Extent of U.S.-Mexican Anti-narcotic Cooperation
=46riday, March 22, 1996
8:30 a.m. at the Bass Lecture Hall, The LBJ School of Public Affairs at the
University of Texas at Austin
with
Robert Gelbard
Assistant Secretary
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
U.S. State Department
and
Juan Rebolledo
Subsecretario de Asuntos Bilaterales
Secretar=EDa de Relaciones Exteriones
M=E9xico
"Drug trafficking is our common enemy. It is the most threatening of all
enemies because it brings corruption-corruption in health, in social
living, and in institutions."
President Ernesto Zedillo at a press conference October, 1995
In the past few years, Mexico has replaced Florida, and to a large
extent Colombia, as the new hub for drug traffic to the United States.
Presidents Zedillo and Clinton have pledged increased anti-narcotic
cooperation in a program to eradicate the supply and trafficking of drugs
across the border, fight money laundering, and reduce the demand. But, the
obstacles to cooperation are great. In the United States, Senators
=46einstein and D'Amato have, in Senator Feinstein's words, fired a "shot
across the bow to the government of Mexico" by proposing legislation
linking a six-month extension of the $20 billion loan guarantee to an
increase in Mexico's drug enforcement. This legislation would require
President Clinton to deny certification of Mexican cooperation in anti-drug
efforts, although he could grant Mexico a waiver and avoid the sanctions.
The decision was hotly debated before it was made. The threat of such a
move has brought strong negative reaction from Mexico.
The discussion will focus on the nature and extent of cooperative
efforts currently being employed to curtail drug trafficking, with an eye
towards ways to strengthen that relationship and expand cooperation.
=46or more information call 471-7561 or e-mail cmbg@mail.utexas.edu