Pubdate: Wed, 02 Jun 1999 Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Copyright: 1999 Mercury Center Contact: http://www.sjmercury.com/ Author: RICARDO SANDOVAL, Mercury News Mexico City Bureau DRUGS TOP AGENDA AS US, MEXICO MEET Zedillo aides, Albright to review Border Patrol, economic issues MEXICO CITY -- Drugs -- both Mexico's trafficking and government-corruption problems and Americans' consumption of the illegal substances -- are expected to dominate talks Friday between Mexican officials and a team of top Clinton administration policy-makers led by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Mexico's disdain for the get-tough policies of the U.S. Border Patrol also are on the agenda, along with trade issues. Mexican officials are predicting that new drug-war accords stemming from this week's meetings will pave the way for joint economic development plans for the border region. A stronger economy along the border, they hope, would diminish the tide of undocumented Mexican immigrants, a significant point of discord between the nations. Mexican officials expect the meetings to be tranquil -- especially because of the recent resignation of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Director Tom Constantine, who was openly critical of Mexico's fight against organized crime. As DEA director, Constantine regularly complained to the U.S. Congress about Mexico's lack of progress against drug cartels. With drug confiscations down and Mexican drug gangs spreading their influence in U.S. cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, Constantine reflected the street-level DEA agents' concerns about Mexico. Constantine resigned last week, saying he had been DEA chief long enough. ``We were happy to see him go,'' said a Zedillo administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Constantine ``was never on the same page with others in Washington, and it got in the way of our cooperation on this issue.'' Enough disagreement over drugs remains to keep observers girding for sparks. One flash point could be U.S. worries about sluggish investigations of drug-related corruption among high-ranking Mexican officials. That concern is bound to be aired as U.S. drug czar Barry McCaffrey meets with Mexican drug officials. Officially, the only drug issue scheduled for discussion is a proposal for cooperative operations, with police teams beefing up law enforcement at the border. Albright's participation in the annual U.S.-Mexican Cabinet-level meeting of the so-called Binational Commission is seen as reflecting the new priority the Clinton administration is placing on Latin American relations. She will meet with her counterpart here, Rosario Green. ``With all that's happening in the Balkans, she had a good excuse for not making this trip,'' said Charles Gillespie, Latin America analyst for the International Policy Forum in Washington. ``Instead, she is preparing well and plans to work in Mexico City. That this is no Mexican vacation is a sign of how important relations are between the two countries.'' The U.S. delegation is to include four other Cabinet secretaries: Bruce Babbitt of Interior, William Daley from Commerce, Rodney Strong of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development's Andrew Cuomo. Mexican officials have denounced the Border Patrol's recent campaign to ``squeeze'' undocumented immigrants away from urban crossing points in Texas and California, which has resulted in more of them trying to get to the United States through the vast deserts in between. However, U.S. officials don't seem ready to end the crackdown. Going into 46riday's talks, there are calls by U.S. lawmakers for assigning hundreds of new agents to the border. The absence of major controversy has officials in both countries praying the talks will be uneventful. ``But there are still days before these meetings start,'' said the Zedillo administration official. ``History tells us anything can happen in U.S.-Mexico relations.'' Last year's meetings were overshadowed by the arrest of dozens of Mexican bank executives in the sweeping ``Casablanca'' drug money-laundering investigation. Mexico accused U.S. drug agents of violating international law by conducting the sting operation without its permission or cooperation. U.S. Customs Service officials in Mexico City were threatened with expulsion, but Mexican officials calmed down after the Clinton administration pledged to improve cooperation on drug operations. - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck