    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [February 5, 1993]
    [Pages 59-60]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders on Certification of Major Narcotics
    Producing and Transit Countries
    February 5, 1993

    Dear Mr. Chairman:
        In accordance with section 490(h) of the Foreign Assistance Act of
    1961, as amended (FAA), I am submitting a list of countries which, as of
    January 1, 1993, have been determined to be major illicit drug producing
    and drug transit countries. These countries have been selected on the
    basis of information from the March 1, 1992, International Narcotics
    Control Strategy Report (INCSR) and from other U.S. Government sources.
    The list of countries is identical to the one submitted by the Secretary
    of State on October 1, 1992, pursuant to the provisions of section
    481(k)(3) (now repealed) of the FAA and using the definition of a major
    illicit drug producing country and a major drug transit country given in
    sections 481(i) (2) and (5) of the same law.
        The International Narcotics Control Act of 1992 (INCA) amended the
    FAA on November 2, 1992, by changing the reporting date to January 1,
    1993, and by suspending the sections 481(i) (2) and (5) definitions for
    fiscal years 1993 and 1994. In fiscal year 1995 the section 481(i)
    definitions will again apply. Since the section 481(i) definitions,
    however, have provided a generally sound and consistent basis for
    classifying major drug producing and transit countries, we will continue
    to use them with some practical adjustments to take into account more
    accurate measurement techniques and the effect on the illicit U.S. drug
    market. We will not add or remove countries to or from the major drug
    producers list until we have our own confirmation that conditions in the
    country so warrant.
        We expect to revise the list during 1993 based on information in the
    next International Narcotics Control Strategy Report and survey
    information. At this time, there are reports that there may be
    significant illicit cultivation of opium poppies in Vietnam and in the
    former Soviet Central Asian republics. When we complete the relevant
    surveys of these countries, we will decide whether the data justify
    their inclusion on the list.
        The following countries are subject to certification on narcotics
    cooperation: The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador,
    Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela,
    Afghanistan, India, Iran, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria,
    Burma, China, Hong Kong, Laos, Malaysia, and Thailand.
        Sincerely,

                                                                Bill Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to William H. Natcher, chairman, House
    Committee on Appropriations; Robert C. Byrd, chairman, Senate Committee
    on Appropriations; Claiborne Pell, chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign
    Relations; and Lee H. Hamilton, chairman, House Commit-

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    tee on Foreign Affairs. The related Presidential determination of March
    31 is listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.