STATE OF THE MEXICAN UNION with journalist MICHAEL STOTT April 29, 1997

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Other questions asked in this forum: Does The United States have the right to certify or decertify anyone? Will the new Mexican drug agency remain free from corruption? Should the U.S. be thinking more about the problem of demand instead of supply from Mexico? Is an environmental disaster occurring quietly in Mexico? Will a new ambassador change U.S.-Mexican relations? What is being accomplished by President Clinton's and President Zedillo's trips? NewsHour Links February 27, 1997: Charles Krause interviews Sen. Diane Feinstein about her opposition to re-certifying Mexico. Oct. 4, 1996: Charles Krause analyzes EPR rebels attacks and their potential impact on the future stability of Mexico . Sept. 13, 1996: Learn about EPR activities in Mexico in an Online Forum with NewsHour foreign correspondent Charles Krause. March 20, 1996: An interview with Columbia's President Samper, discussing his country's decertification as an ally with the U.S. in it's war on drugs. The complete NewsHour coverage of Latin America. EXTERNAL LINKS A Map of Mexico Inter-American Development Bank The bio of Robert S. Gelbard, Assistant Secretary Of State For International Narcotics And Law Enforcement Affairs Senator Dianne Feinstein's press releases about Mexico.

Bob Entwistle of Madison, WI asks: So what gives the U.S. the right to certify or de-certify anyone? Maybe Japan should de-certify the U.S. in terms of its progress in providing for the poorer one-fifth of it's population given the rising indexes of poverty, crime, disease and educational failure? Michael Stott responds: The certification process is extremely unpopular in Mexico. Everyone from President Zedillo down has complained loudly and publicly that it is insulting and unfair. Mexicans like to point out that the United States is the largest consumer of illegal drugs and therefore -- they argue -- has no moral right to certify any other country involved in the drug trade. They also say that a unilateral certification process goes against the grain of international diplomacy -- which tries to seek consensus to solve problems -- and tends to be counter-productive because a negative certification decision produces a local backlash against the United States, as has happened in Colombia. Continue to the next question...

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