Latin
America:
In
Continuing
Spat,
US
Decertifies
Venezuela
for
Lack
of
Anti-Drug
Cooperation
9/16/05
The Bush administration's long-standing feud with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez took another turn for the worse Thursday as the State Department added the South American country to its annual list of countries not waging the war on drugs to Washington's liking. Venezuela halted cooperation in US anti-drug efforts last month, and although Venezuelan officials this week made noises about signing a new anti-drug agreement with Washington, the State Department was having none of it. The move by Washington is only the latest in an increasingly bitter battle between Chavez, whom the US accuses of being anti-democratic and dictatorial, and the Bush administration, which Chavez accuses of supporting the failed coup attempt in 2003 and of wanting to assassinate him. It is certain to increase tensions between the two countries. The only other country decertified this year is another of Washington's political pariahs, Myanmar, formerly Burma. In a White House news release, Bush reported to Congress his determination that Venezuela had "failed demonstrably" in the past year to adhere to its obligations under international drug treaties and -- probably more seriously -- failed to follow anti-drug measures ordained by the US government The annual Washington decertification ritual has long been accused of being a way to spank unfriendly governments while ignoring similar behavior in friendly ones. This year's rite follows that convention, with Washington foes Venezuela and Myanmar being decertified, while China, with whom the US seeks closer relations, was rewarded from being removed from the list of drug-producing or transit countries despite major flows of heroin in and out of the country. The administration nevertheless waived the decertification provisions requiring the government to cut financial assistance to Caracas, citing -- sincerely or otherwise -- the goal of "strengthening Venezuela's democracy and... political party system." The annual decertification report listed 21 major drug-producing or drug-transit countries: Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. Somehow, the United States, home to massive marijuana production, meth lab mania, and the end destination for a big hunk of the world's illicit drug supply, did not make the list. The certification determinations required the President to consider each country's performance in areas such as reducing illicit cultivation, interdiction, law enforcement cooperation, extraditing drug traffickers, and taking legal steps and law enforcement measures to prevent and punish public corruption that facilitates drug trafficking or impedes prosecution of drug-related crimes. The President also considered efforts taken by these countries to stop production and export of, and reduce the domestic demand for, illegal drugs.
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