Pubdate: Mon, 25 Feb 2002
Source: Times Union (NY)
Copyright: 2002 Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst Corporation
Contact:  http://www.timesunion.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/452
Author: George Gedda, Associated Press

BUSH: AFGHANISTAN DID NOT COOPERATE AGAINST DRUGS BUT U.S. AID WILL CONTINUE

WASHINGTON -- President Bush said today that Afghanistan "failed 
demonstrably" in 2001 to cooperate in anti-narcotics efforts but that the 
country nonetheless is entitled to receive U.S. assistance because of vital 
American interests.

Bush made the announcement in a brief statement in which he evaluated the 
performance of 23 countries involved in drug trafficking as producers, 
transit points or both.

For years, Afghanistan had been disqualified from U.S. assistance because 
it did not fully comply with international drug control standards. The 
period of the administration's review ended at about the time the Taliban 
militia was forced from office in December and replaced by a pro-Western 
interim government.

Countries that fail to cooperate in the international anti-drug effort can 
be the target of U.S. economic sanctions.

But well before today's announcement, the administration had been providing 
the interim government in Kabul with assistance. Bush did not make clear in 
his brief statement what the legal justification was for providing the 
assistance since the government took office two months ago.

Of the 23 nations reviewed, all were found to be meeting international 
anti-narcotics standards except Afghanistan, Myanmar and Haiti.

Bush ruled that Haiti also is entitled to a national-interest waiver, 
meaning it is eligible for U.S. assistance.

There was no national-interest waiver for Myanmar, also known as Burma. 
That means Myanmar will remain ineligible for assistance, as it has been 
for years.

The 23 countries reviewed: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Haiti, Mexico, Colombia, 
Nigeria, Paraguay, the Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Dominican Republic, 
Ecuador, Guatemala, India, Jamaica, Laos, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Thailand, 
Venezuela and Vietnam.
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