DATE=5/4/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230686
TITLE=OAS / DRUG ABUSE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=WILLIAM KAUFMANN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON 
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  DRUG CONTROL EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE AMERICAS IS THE FOCUS
OF A TWO DAY SESSION AT THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES 
(MONDAY AND TUESDAY) IN WASHINGTON.  AS VOA'S WILLIAM KAUFMANN 
REPORTS THE INTER-AMERICAN DRUG ABUSE CONTROL COMMISSION IS 
WORKING TO ENHANCE COOPERATION IN THE WAR ON DRUGS.

TEXT:  THE RECENT SECOND SUMMIT OF THE AMERICA'S IN SANTIAGO, 
CHILE ASKED THE COMMISSION -- KNOWN BY ITS SPANISH ACRONYM CICAD 
-- TO CREATE AN OBJECTIVE, MULTI-LATERAL PROCEDURE TO MEASURE 
PROGRESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS. 

O-A-S SECRETARY GENERAL CESAR GAVIRIA SAYS CICAD HAS BECOME THE 
MOST DYNAMIC AGENT WITHIN THE O-A-S BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL WILL
EXPRESSED AT THE SANTIAGO SUMMIT FOR A UNIQUE MULTI-LATERAL 
APPROACH. 

                       /// GAVIRIA ACT ///

         IT REFLECTS THE POLITICAL WILL TODAY IN ALL OF THE 
         NATIONS OF THE AMERICAS TO STRUGGLE TIRELESSLY AND WITH 
         EVERY MEANS IN THEIR POSSESSION AGAINST THE PHENOMENON 
         OF DRUGS, WHICH DEGRADES OUR SOCIETIES AND INVOLVES US 
         IN VIOLENCE, CRIME AND CORRUPTION. 

                         /// END ACT ///

THE DIRECTOR OF U-S DRUG CONTROL POLICY, BARRY MCCAFFREY, SAYS 
THE CHALLENGE FOR THE COMMISSION, AT ITS CURRENT MEETING, IS HOW 
TO CAPITALIZE ON THE MOMENTUM ESTABLISHED BY THE HEADS OF STATE 
IN SANTIAGO. 

                   /// FIRST MCCAFFRRY ACT ///

         WE NEED TO PUT TOGETHER A PROCESS, HOW CAN WE ORGANIZE 
         TO ACCOMPLISH OUR ASSIGNED TASKS, AND THEN FINALLY I 
         WOULD ARGUE WE NEED TO SET MILESTONES, WE NEED TO DEFINE
         OUR OUTPUT FUNCTIONS AND THE DATES FOR DELIVERY. 

                         /// END ACT ///

GENERAL MCCAFFREY SAYS THE COMMISSION SHOULD WORK ON EASY THINGS 
FIRST -- SUCH AS SHARING EVIDENCE AND INTELLIGENCE -- TO HELP 
BUILD CONFIDENCE.  HE SAYS THE PARTNERSHIP MUST ALSO BE FLEXIBLE 
ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE DIFFERENT NATIONS TO PROCEED AT THEIR OWN 
PACE. 

                   //// SECOND MCCAFFREY ACT //

         WE UNDERSTAND WE HAVE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, DIFFERENT 
         CULTURES, DIFFERENT LEGAL SYSTEMS AND THAT EACH OF THESE
         WILL CALL FOR A UNIQUE NATIONAL STRATEGY.  WHAT WE LOOK 
         TO DO IS BUILD COMBINED MULTINATIONAL LINKAGES. 

                         // END ACT ///

GENERAL MCAFFREY SAYS MECHANISMS MUST BE PUT IN PLACE TO EVALUATE
WHAT WORKS SO THAT SUCCESS CAN BE REINFORCED AND THAT CICAD 
SHOULD SET ASIDE THE IDEA OF SANCTIONS IN FAVOR OF PARTNERSHIP 
AND COOPERATION.  

HE SAYS PERU, BOLIVIA AND MEXICO ALL SCORED IMPORTANT RECENT 
SUCCESSES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS, NOT BECAUSE OF OUTSIDE 
PRESSURE, BUT BECAUSE IT IS IN THEIR SELF-INTEREST.  (SIGNED)

NEB/WJK/KL 

04-May-98 3:55 PM EDT (1955 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.