U.S. Drug Czar’s Praise Hints at Likely Certification for Mexico

WASHINGTON — A shower of praise for Mexico from federal drug czar Barry R. McCaffrey strongly suggested Wednesday that the Clinton administration intends again to issue a controversial certification that Mexico is cooperating fully with the United States in the war on drugs.

The annual U.S. process of certification--a review of 31 countries required by law every March--has become a major irritant in relations between the United States and Mexico. Mexican officials resent being held to judgment every year.

The issue is equally controversial in the United States. Certification of Mexico last year drew condemnation from critics on Capitol Hill, including former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, the Republican presidential nominee.

Under the law, the United States suspends all assistance programs to any country not certified as cooperating in the drug war.

McCaffrey made his remarks after conferring in Washington with Jorge Madrazo Cuellar, the new Mexican attorney general. Asked by reporters about certification, McCaffrey refused to comment directly but used language indicating that Mexico was firmly in compliance with the law.

The leaders of Mexico, McCaffrey said, “are committed to work in full cooperation” with the United States.

He said he was fully satisfied that President Ernesto Zedillo, Madrazo and other Mexican officials understood “that the way to protect the peoples of both countries is through commitment.”

Citing the courage of Mexican police and soldiers, McCaffrey said that Mexico, at the cost of 200 lives, had destroyed more drugs last year than any other country in the world.

In another sign that certification is imminent, President Clinton is reportedly planning a trip to Mexico in the next few months, and he almost certainly would not go if he humiliated Mexico by decertifying it.

The Mexican government is less concerned about the loss of any foreign aid than about the stigma of being branded a laggard in the war on drugs.

Madrazo, appointed to his job less than two months ago, was visiting Washington to meet administration officials and members of Congress.

In a session with reporters from The Times, he denied trying to persuade the administration to certify Mexico. But the denial had a tinge of bitterness.

“We have not come to the United States to lobby about certification or decertification,” he said. “In any case, we think that certification or decertification is not something that helps in overcoming our common enemy, the drug traffickers.”

Many agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration were clearly disappointed with the certification of Mexico last year. They complained about corruption among Mexican officials and the ease of laundering drug money south of the border.