ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 1, 1997 TAG: 9703030041
SECTION: NATL/INTL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: From The Associated Press and Cox News Service
Brushing aside congressional calls for a tougher stance against Mexico, President Clinton recertified that country Friday as a fully cooperating ally in the struggle against drug smuggling.
Clinton also renewed for another year his 1996 decision to deny certification to Colombia's counter-narcotics program - a finding that means continued denial of certain economic benefits for Colombia.
Just hours after the U.S. announcement, the Mexican government said it had arrested one of the country's most well-known drug lords, whose cartel has sent tons of cocaine into the United States.
The drug lord, Oscar Malherbe de Leon, a former lieutenant to Gulf Cartel leader Juan Garcia Abrego, was captured in a joint military and police operation, the attorney general's office said. The written statement did not say when or where the arrest took place.
Mexico's announcement appeared to have been part of an effort to calm U.S. concerns in advance of Clinton's certification decision, analysts said. But some said the impact of Malherbe's capture was diluted because he is no longer as powerful as he once was.
``I think they're throwing Clinton and [U.S. drug czar Barry] McCaffrey a bone, but in this case it's a wishbone,'' said Peter Lupsha, a New Mexico-based narcotics expert who works as a consultant to the U.S. government on drug issues. ``He's the smallest fish in the pond right now.''
Many Mexicans see the annual drug certification as U.S. interference in Mexico's affairs. The debate in Washington over this year's certification prompted angry criticism in the Mexican media and warnings from Mexican government officials that a negative decision would hurt anti-drug efforts.
Under a 1986 congressional mandate, Clinton had to decide by today whether to certify that Mexico and 31 other drug production or transit nations were cooperating fully in the war on drugs. De-certification carries sanctions that include a cutoff of U.S. aid.
In the past, Mexico has received certification almost automatically, and it appeared headed easily toward another positive decision this year until the Feb.6 arrest of Mexico's drug czar, Gen. Jesus Gutierrez Rebollo, on charges he had been on the payroll of two powerful drug cartels.
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Clinton chose to recertify Mexico ``with firm expectations of further progress in the near term'' in such areas as the arrests of major drug traffickers and in some cases their extradition to the United States.
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB