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DATE=2/25/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245981 TITLE=MEXICO/DRUG SMUGGLING (L-ONLY) BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS DATELINE=MEXICO CITY CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IN MEXICO, POLITICAL FIGURES ARE REACTING WITH EMBARRASSMENT AND ANGER OVER ACCUSATIONS MADE WEDNESDAY BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE U-S DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION, THOMAS CONSTANTINE INDICATING THAT OFFICIAL CORRUPTION IN MEXICO HAS HELPED DRUG CARTELS MAKE IT THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE OF NARCOTICS FOR THE UNITED STATES. AS V-O-A'S GREG FLAKUS REPORTS FROM MEXICO CITY, NOT ALL MEXICANS ARE IN DISAGREEMENT WITH THE CRITICISMS. TEXT: AFTER SEEING PUBLISHED REPORTS OF MR CONSTANTINE'S REMARKS, MEXICAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS REACTED WITH STRONG WORDS, DEFENDING THEIR NATION'S FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFCIKING. INTERIOR MINISTER FRANCISCO LABASTIDA SAID THE D-E-A DIRECTOR WAS-- IN HIS WORDS--"TOTALLY WRONG." MR LABASTIDA SAID SUCH REMARKS HARM THE BI-NATIONAL EFFORT TO ESTABLISH UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION. HE SAID MR CONSTANTINE HAD PORTRAYED A SITUATION IN WHICH THE GOOD PEOPLE ARE ALL ON ONE SIDE OF THE BORDER AND THE BAD ONES ON THE OTHER SIDE. BUT SOME OPPOSITION FIGURES TOOK A DIFFERENT TONE. FELIPE CALDERON, DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ACTION PARTY, KNOWN AS THE PAN, TOLD REPORTERS THAT MEXICO NEEDS TO FACE THE TRUTH, HOWEVER UNPLEASANT. /// CALDERON ACT (SPANISH) /// MR CALDERON SAID "IT PAINS ME VERY MUCH AS A MEXICAN WHEN PEOPLE IN OTHER COUNTRIES SPEAK BAD OF MY COUNTRY, BUT WHAT HURTS MOST IS THAT IT IS TRUE. THE TRUTH IS THAT IN OUR COUNTRY, CORRUPTION HAS REACHED ALL LEVELS AND HAS BECOME A WAY OF GOVERNING." MR CALDERON AND OTHER OPPOSITION FIGURES HAVE CRITICIZED THE RULING INSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTIONARY PARTY FOR ITS FAILURE TO DO MORE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS AND CRIME IN GENERAL. MEANTIME, A PUBLIC OPINION POLL CONDUCTED IN MEXICO BY THE U-S INFORMATION AGENCY SHOWED WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES IN THE ANTI-DRUG EFFORT ON THE PART OF ORDINARY MEXICANS. OF THOSE QUESTIONED, 83 PERCENT FAVORED MORE COOPERATION, AS OPPOSED TO 47 PERCENT IN A SIMILAR POLL IN 1996. THE POLL WAS TAKEN BEFORE THE NEWS OF THE D-E-A DIRECTOR'S CRITICISMS OF MEXICO. THE RELEASE OF THE POLL RESULTS COMES ONLY DAYS BEFORE THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION MUST CERTIFY MEXICO'S COOPERATION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG SMUGGLING BEFORE THE U-S CONGRESS. (SIGNED). NEB/PT 25-Feb-99 6:00 PM EST (2300 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .