Pubdate: Mon, 27 Nov 2000
Source: Bergen Record (NJ)
Copyright: 2000 Bergen Record Corp.
Contact:  http://www.bergen.com/cgi-bin/feedback
Website: http://www.bergen.com/
Author: NIKO PRICE
Bookmark: Corruption articles: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm

MEXICO'S FOX CHIDES U.S. OVER DRUG HABIT

SAN CRISTOBAL, Mexico -- Only days before his historic inauguration as 
president, Vicente Fox said America should deal with its drug habit and 
pledged to join the United States and Canada in what he called "NAFTA-plus."

In an interview before he takes office Friday, Fox said the United States 
is too quick to write off Mexico as a corrupt haven for drug smugglers -- 
and too reluctant to look in the mirror.

"The United States year after year blames us. Why?" Fox asked. "Who lets 
the drugs into the United States? Who is doing gigantic business in the 
United States, then sends down millions of dollars that corrupt Mexican 
police officers and government officials?"

Fox said the two countries need to "sit down and work this out together."

Fox has promised strong measures against drug corruption, but his comments 
indicate he will continue -- or increase -- Mexico's long-standing 
complaint that the supply of drugs would not exist without demand in the 
United States.

He also said that despite a tepid reaction from both George W. Bush and Al 
Gore, he was confident that he would persuade his northern neighbors to 
expand the North American Free Trade Agreement and eventually to open their 
borders entirely to Mexican goods -- and maybe even workers -- along the 
lines of the European Union.

Fox's election July 2 was a historic change for Mexico, ending 71 years of 
rule by a single party. On Friday, the country enters a new era as Fox 
takes office -- and takes on dire problems including crippling poverty, 
widespread corruption, and rampant crime.
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