Drug Certification of Mexico in 1998: Arguments For and Against Congressional Resolutions of Disapproval (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
March 20, 1998 |
| Report Number |
98-272 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
K. Larry Storrs, Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
This report presents arguments for and against congressional resolutions which have been
introduced
to disapprove President Clinton's February 26, 1998 certification of Mexico as a fully cooperative
country in efforts to control illicit narcotics. (1) These resolutions, which must
be approved within 30
calendar days of the President's certification, would disapprove the President's certification and
require the withholding of assistance and support from Mexico ( S.J.Res. 42 ), or they
would disapprove the President's certification, but would permit him to avoid withholding of
assistance if he determined that vital national interests required such assistance ( S.J.Res. 43 , H.J.Res. 114 ). Arguments for such resolutions include that Mexico's performance
does not justify certification, that Mexico has failed to take adequate action against corruption and
drug traffickers, and that such action would send a message of seriousness that would encourage
greater Mexican efforts. Arguments against such resolutions include that the action would be seen
as a unilateral and punitive approach, that disapproval of Mexico might have negative U.S. effects
and might fail to encourage greater Mexican cooperation in counter-narcotics efforts, and that
disapproval may negatively affect other areas of bilateral cooperation.
1. Â This report draws from Drug Certification of Mexico
in 1997: Arguments For and Against Resolutions of
Disapproval , CRS Report 97-329, March 8, 1997, by K. Larry Storrs. For tracking legislative
action, see
Mexican Drug Certification Issues: U.S. Congressional Action, 1986-1998, CRS Report 98-174 F, March
6, 1998; and Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for the 105th Congress , CRS Issue Brief
97028, by K. Larry
Storrs. For details on the certification process, see Narcotics Certification and Mexico:
Questions and
Answers , CRS Report 97-320 F, March 6, 1997, by Raphael F. Perl, Jonathan Sanford, and
K. Larry Storrs.
For details on Mexican counter-narcotics efforts in Zedillo's presidency, see Mexico's Counter-
Narcotics
Efforts Under Zedillo, CRS Report 98-161 F, March 4, 1998, by K. Larry Storrs.
