Clinton Approval Of Mexico’s Drug Policy Gets Senate Backing

After intense negotiations with the White House, the Senate voted Thursday to accept President Clinton’s designation of Mexico as a U.S. ally in efforts to combat illegal drugs.

The measure, approved 94-5, decries both countries’ losses to narcotics traffickers and demands progress on both sides, with Clinton required to make another assessment Sept. 1.

But that assessment would focus on joint efforts and would not carry the onus of decertification that has angered Mexico.

Thursday’s vote ended a congressional battle over whether to overturn Clinton’s certification of Mexico last month as “fully cooperative” in the fight against drugs.

The House had voted to demand specific reforms of Mexico or face decertification in 90 days. But Congress now begins a two-week recess, and that will become moot with the passing of a March 30 deadline for congressional action.

The issue kept the nation’s drug policy director, retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey, and other officials, in negotiations with Republican and Democratic senators for several days. In the end, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright approved the final Senate bill as something Clinton could sign.