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. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry F