Source: Survey of German Language Press Pubdate: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 Courtesy: Harald Lerch Pat Dolan SURVEY OF GERMAN LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS ‘Contribution to ending the War on Drugs’ Under the headline, ‘Contribution to ending the War on Drugs’, the ‘Nordkurier Online’ (http://www.nordkurier.de) reports Martina Bunge, Schwerin social affairs minister, as voicing the opinion that legalizing drugs could be a contribution to ending the war on drugs. Such a ‘blow for freedom’ would not mean, however, that drugs could be sold in the supermarket stores. The regulated distribution of hard and soft drugs could dry up the market for the illegal commerce in drugs. Nevertheless, she is aware that it will be difficult to find a ‘royal road’ out of the spiral of addiction with its attendant criminality. The socialist party minister expressly welcomed the country wide trial of so-called fixing rooms. Copyright Nordkurier-Online 1998-2000 ~~~~~ The Berliner Zeitung (http://www.berlinonline.de) is one of a dozen newspapers reporting on the projected change in the law to make it illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level of greater than 0.5 per cent. The current level is 0.8 per cent. Several report on the weekend crackdown on drunk driving in 9 provinces. In Berlin, for instance, 8,000 drivers were checked at 85 control points and 61 arrests made. The drop in the 1998 number of alcohol related accidents is attributed to similar police crackdowns. More are planned. (DPA wire) ~~~~~ ’Amigo’ Clinton begins a conflict-free Mexico visit Die Welt (http://www.welt.de) reports on Clinton’s visit to Mexico under the headline: "’Amigo’ Clinton begins a conflict-free Mexico visit - both countries profit from good relations". Author Hero Buss sees Clinton as supporting an ‘inter-american integration’. The congress, meanwhile, which ‘amigo Clinton’ wishes to control, is opposed to such a move. And despite the fact that around 350 tons of cocaine are still smuggled annually across the 3200 kilometer border from Mexico, no one doubts that the certification is a sure thing. Since the Nafta free trade agreement of 1994, the two economies are so closely bound that the saying is, "When Wall St. sneezes, Mexico gets the ‘flu." The annual income from the 17 million Mexican guest laborers is the second richest source of hard currency (5 million dollars) after oil exports (6.5 million). No one wishes to do anything disturb such mutually beneficial arrangements. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake