    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [May 6, 1997]
    [Pages 548-555]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With President Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico
    in Mexico City
    May 6, 1997

        President Zedillo. President Clinton, ladies and gentlemen from the
    media from the United States and from Mexico, once again I would like to
    express the satisfaction of my government and the people of Mexico for
    the visit of President Clinton. We are truly very pleased that President
    Clinton is beginning his tour here in Latin America, starting in Mexico.
    We are also especially pleased by the results of the work of the Mexico-
    U.S. Binational Commission and by the agreement that will be
    materialized today.
        President Clinton and I have heard the report of the trade relations
    between Mexico and the United States. It is very encouraging that from
    the beginning of NAFTA, our trade has increased over 60 percent and now
    accounts for close to 150 billion U.S. dollars per year. And this
    represents, above all, more and improved economic opportunities and more
    and improved jobs for Mexicans as well as for U.S. citizens.
        This is very encouraging in intensifying our efforts in order to
    reach agreements in the fields that are still pending. This effort has
    also encouraged us to reaffirm the commitment to NAFTA and to work so
    that at the summit meeting in Chile next year we will provide an
    important impulse to a creation of free trade in the American Continent.
        The Mexican Government is very pleased with the agreements we have
    reached in order to promote educational, scientific, and cultural
    exchanges, as well as to protect the environment and nature,
    particularly along the border area, our common border. These agreements
    prove that we are united by interest in the conditions in which our
    communities live, the conditions of the health and the safety of the
    families.
        We are particularly satisfied that President Clinton and I will be
    signing the Declaration of the Mexican-U.S. Alliance Against Drugs. Our
    alliance will be based on mutual trust and on our commitment as heads of
    state that the collaboration between our countries will progress in
    keeping with fundamental principles. These principles include the
    absolute respect of sovereignty and territorial jurisdiction of Mexico
    and of the United States; shared responsibility in facing the problem of
    illegal drugs and related crimes such as money laundering and weapons
    trafficking; a comprehensive fight against drugs, attaching the same
    priority to all aspects of the problem; balance and reciprocity in
    actions, programs, and guidelines to take on the threat of drugs in both
    countries; and effective law enforcement in both nations.
        Based on these principles and based on the joint assessments we
    received today--President Clinton and I both received this--Mexico and
    the United States now has a shared vision of the magnitude of the
    problem, and we share the will to combat the problem with all of the
    resources within our reach.
        The declaration we will be signing contains specific objectives. We
    have given instructions to our Governments to prepare a common strategy
    in order to follow through with the objectives and to prepare plans for
    reciprocal implementation. A particularly pleasing aspect is that the
    declaration includes the intention to work together, jointly, in order
    to have a hemispheric agreement against illegal trafficking of weapons,
    and also an agreement for the extraordinary U.N. assembly on drugs next
    year.
        The Mexican Government appreciates the sensitivity of President
    Clinton in terms of the Mexicans' rights and the dignity of Mexicans in
    his country. Thus, it is very pleasing that today we will also sign a
    joint declaration on migration. For the past 2 years, our Governments
    have made important progress in dealing bilaterally with issues such as
    consular protection and the human rights of migrants as well as the
    efforts to combat trafficking in human beings. Today we have reaffirmed
    the commitment of both Governments to strengthen bilateral cooperation
    in order to deal with the migration phenomenon.
        We have agreed to base our work on three basic principles: One, the
    sovereign right of every nation to apply its migration laws however it
    deems most appropriate for its national interests, always in keeping
    with international law and in a spirit of bilateral cooperation; the
    second principle is that of absolute compliance with

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    the objectives of the memorandum of understanding on consular protection
    of Mexicans in the United States, which was signed almost one year ago,
    particularly in the respect of human rights of migrants; and the third
    principle is to deal with the migration phenomenon in a comprehensive
    view which is mutually beneficial and will make it possible to conserve
    family unity and to protect the dignity of human beings.
        Based on these principles, this establishes the commitments of our
    Government to protect the rights of migrants and to promote the
    procurement of justice for migrants as well as the respect of due legal
    process in the application or the enforcement of migration laws. There
    is also a shared commitment to ensure safe repatriation and orderly
    repatriation of migrants and apply new measures to reduce violence along
    the border and to combat trafficking in human beings and falsification
    of documents. In order to ensure a comprehensive view on migration, we
    will examine scientific analysis which will be the result of binational
    cooperation.
        This reflects the cooperation and the good will of our Governments
    to create a border whose communities are joined by friendship and
    cooperation, not by conflict. We want appropriate, just, and harmonious
    development. The visit of President Clinton and the agreements signed
    and to be signed are a firm step in our relationship of friendship,
    respect, and cooperation which will benefit both Mexico and the United
    States.
        Once again I would like to thank President Clinton for his visit and
    also ask him to address you at this time, before we take the questions
    from our friends from the media.
        President Clinton. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. To all the
    members of the Mexican Government here and our hosts, the members of the
    American delegation, the members of the Cabinet administration, and the
    Members of Congress. This is my first trip to Mexico as President, my
    fifth occasion to be in your country in my lifetime, and I'm very
    pleased to be back. As you know, I had planned to be here a month ago,
    but I literally got a bad break and couldn't come. So I'm very happy
    that we're able to consummate this trip today.
        As President Zedillo has said just a short while ago, we heard the
    reports of the United States-Mexico Binational Commission, a remarkable
    Cabinet-level group that oversees the day-to-day interaction of our
    Governments. The presentations demonstrate vividly the remarkable depth
    and breadth of our relationship. No two countries are working together
    on more important issues, with a more direct effect on the lives of
    their people, than Mexico and the United States.
        The reports demonstrate that, for the most part, we do agree on the
    opportunities and the problems before us. And in a few moments, the
    President and I will sign joint declarations on drugs and migration.
    They demonstrate that, more than in the past, we also agree on solutions
    and that we are prepared to carry forward our cooperation to a higher
    level.
        We share more than a 2,000-mile border and, more importantly, we
    also share a vision of what the border should be in the 21st century: a
    safe, clean, efficient model of prosperity and cooperation joining our
    people, not a barrier that divides them.
        The joint declaration on migration makes clear that we both see our
    border as a dynamic living space with complex problems, to be sure, and
    real opportunities, both of which require a comprehensive approach. The
    declaration commits both our Governments to improve how we manage the
    border. We will ensure that the human rights of all migrants are
    respected, regardless of their status; expand public information
    campaigns warning migrants of dangerous crossings; reduce violence and
    criminality at the border; and combat the terrible practice of alien
    smuggling.
        The issue of immigration raises passions on both sides of our
    border. I'm proud of our tradition of generous legal immigration. I will
    do everything I can to preserve it. I deeply believe that America's
    diversity is our greatest source of strength for the future. There is no
    more powerful proof of that than the remarkable contributions Mexican-
    Americans have made to our country in every walk of life and to my
    administration.
        But to maintain safe and orderly immigration and to do justice by
    the hundreds of thousands of people who legally immigrate to the United
    States every year, we must take effective action to stop illegal
    immigration. Our new immigration law will help us to do that. In
    applying the law and in our overall approach to immigration, we must
    balance control with common sense and compassion.

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        I am very pleased that the balanced budget agreement I reached with
    our Congress last week restores certain benefits to some legal
    immigrants. I will continue to work with Congress to correct some
    aspects of the immigration law. We will ensure respect for human rights
    and seek to apply the law humanely, with special concern for children
    and for families. There will be no mass deportations and no
    discrimination. But I am also determined to help our southern neighbors
    make the most of their rich economic and social potential, because,
    ultimately, that's the best way to give people the confidence they need
    to make their futures at home.
        President Zedillo and I will also sign a joint alliance against
    drugs. With this alliance, we recognize the dangers we both face, the
    responsibilities we both share. Illegal narcotics are not simply a
    Mexican problem--far from it--but neither are they simply an American
    problem. They are our common problem, and we must find a common
    solution.
        The alliance takes our already unprecedented cooperation to a new
    level. It respects the laws and sovereignty of our countries, while
    committing us to 15 concrete goals, to put in place a shared strategy by
    the end of this year. We've agreed to intensify our work on money-
    laundering investigations, to increase our cooperation on extraditions,
    to facilitate trials on both sides of the border, to apply profits
    seized from drug traffickers directly to law enforcement purposes, and
    to step up our fight against gun-running, including a hemispheric
    agreement outlawing the trafficking in illegal arms.
        These two declarations prove that we can work through our problems
    in ways that work for both of us. But this relationship is about far
    more than resolving our problems. It's about seizing the real
    opportunities to make our people more prosperous and more secure on the
    edge of a new century. That's what we did with NAFTA, which has helped
    to raise our exports to Mexico to an all-time high and helped Mexico to
    bounce back from a wrenching recession that caused great hardship to
    people here.
        Now, as President Zedillo and I agreed, we must push forward on
    NAFTA's promise to help us clean up the environment, especially along
    the border, and to improve working conditions and safeguard worker
    rights on both sides of the border.
        I'm especially pleased with the new steps we have taken to protect
    the environment and to promote education. The United States will provide
    $170 million in Environmental Protection Agency funds for border water
    projects. We will work with Mexico to attract private sector investments
    in pollution prevention. We will work to preserve endangered species and
    natural forests.
        We have also agreed to expand the Fulbright scholarship program, a
    favorite one of mine because it was named for my mentor and one of the
    most outstanding people ever to come from my home State. This will
    double the number of Fulbright scholars for Mexicans studying in the
    United States, with a special focus on science and technology.
        Our partnership with Mexico for opportunity, security, and
    prosperity is fundamental to the future of both our peoples. Today we
    have strengthened that partnership. Our prospects for shaping that
    future for the children are brighter, and I feel very, very good about
    what we have done and quite optimistic about what we will do in the days
    and years ahead.
        Thank you, Mr. President.

    [At this point, President Clinton and President Zedillo signed the Joint
    Statement on Migration Adopted by the President of the United States and
    the President of Mexico, and the Declaration of Mexican and United
    States Alliance Against Drugs.]

    Upcoming Elections in Mexico

        Q. I would like to address my question to President Clinton.
    President Clinton, are you concerned by the elections which will take
    place here in Mexico next June, and particularly, can you imagine a
    Congress in Mexico without a PRI majority?
        President Clinton. I'm actually more concerned about the American
    Congress. [Laughter] Let me say, I applaud the movement toward political
    reform and electoral reform in Mexico just as I have applauded and
    supported the movement toward economic reform.
        The judgments in the election are for the Mexican people to make and
    for all the rest of us who support democracy and freedom and human
    rights to support. I welcome the fact that so many observers have been
    invited here to watch it take place, and I respect President Zedillo for
    supporting this process.

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    Mexico's Social Policies

        Q. President Zedillo and President Clinton, a U.N. report out last
    month, just last month, said that the extensive focus on free-market
    economic reforms by themselves have failed to lift much of Latin
    America, including Mexico, out of poverty--the population out of
    poverty--and it suggests that more attention needs to be spent on social
    spending as at least a complementary action.
        I'm wondering if you agree with that assessment, if you feel that
    maybe your extensive focus on free-market reforms need to be balanced in
    any degree, and if you can offer any kind of prediction on how many
    years into the future it will be before the countries of Latin America
    and Mexico specifically reach the level of society-wide economic
    prosperity, that issues that you've been dealing with such as
    immigration and drug-trafficking largely dry up on their own or begin to
    dry up on their own.
        Thank you.
        President Zedillo. Thank you very much. I will let others talk about
    the situation of other sister nations in Latin America, and I'll refer
    to the case of Mexico. One of the reasons why we Mexicans have been
    reinforcing our economic structure--and this has taken place for just
    over 10 years--is precisely being able to have a material base which
    arises from vigorous and sustained economic growth so as to be able to
    support more ambitious social policies which will make it possible to
    more effectively combat poverty and inequality, which are the problems
    that our nation is suffering from.
        I think it's very important to underscore the fact that many social
    problems, many of the problems of inequality and poverty in Mexico
    today--and I think that there are other countries of Latin America
    suffering them as well--their basic source is found in government
    policies which in past decades stressed government control over economic
    processes too much. The long period of stagnation in our economy cannot
    be tied to nor should it be tied in any way to the processes of economic
    liberalization--quite the contrary.
        I think that thanks to these policies of opening up towards foreign
    countries and the internal liberalization of our economies and also
    adjusting the size of the Mexican Government, as far as the control of
    the economy is concerned, means that we will now be able to open up a
    period of sustained growth, dynamic growth which will make it possible
    for us to expand the reach, the objectives, the sense, and the results
    of our social policies.

    Extradition Treaty

        Q. President Clinton, are you familiar with a list of Mexicans that
    are extraditable, and would you be willing to review the extradition
    treaty?
        President Zedillo, does this new relationship imply a new concept of
    sovereignty?
        President Clinton. Well, let me say that we have enjoyed an
    unprecedented amount of cooperation related to common criminal and drug
    problems in a way designed to strengthen our sovereignty, not to
    undermine it. So we have worked with Mexico in grievous cases on
    extraditions, and I appreciate that, just as we are trying to work with
    Mexico in providing helicopters to support eradication, or computer
    technology to help Mexico work with us on money laundering, or working
    on the preventive aspects of the narcotics problem. So I believe that
    extradition partnerships that are fair, equal, and balanced reinforce a
    nation's sovereignty; they don't weaken it. And it's an important part
    of our long-term strategy to work together on the drug issue.
        Terry [Terence Hunt, Associated Press].

    Whitewater Investigation

        Q. Mr. President, I'd like to ask you about a question back in the
    United States. The Whitewater prosecutors assert that Mrs. Clinton's
    testimony on several issues has changed over time or differs from that
    of other witnesses. Do you have any idea of what the discrepancies might
    be? And what does this suggest to you about the course of the
    investigation? Is it becoming more troublesome for Mrs. Clinton?
        President Clinton. No and no.
        Q. Why is that, sir?
        President Clinton. Well, you've been watching it for years. If you
    don't know, I can't help you.

    North American Free Trade Agreement

        Q. President, 4 years after NAFTA was signed, are the terms fully
    enforced, or do you believe that it is necessary to carry out any
    changes, amendments, or are some of the clauses obsolete?
        Thank you.

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        President Zedillo. I believe that the North American Free Trade
    Agreement has performed very clearly in keeping with the objectives that
    the three countries participating in the agreement had decided on. And
    proof of this are the figures of the three countries, the trade figures
    of the three countries. Just a moment ago I mentioned that in bilateral
    trade alone between the United States and Mexico during NAFTA trade has
    grown over 60 percent; that is, almost close to 70 percent. And that is
    despite the fact that in 1995 in our country we had an economic
    recession.
        Thus, I believe that the terms under which NAFTA was negotiated were
    very good terms. And I think that within the agreement we have very
    clear and transparent mechanisms to deal with any kind of dispute, and I
    believe that at this time there is no significant reason from the
    Mexican perspective to review the contents of NAFTA.
        If you'll allow me, because just a moment ago one question went
    unanswered, the second part of--[inaudible]--question. I would merely
    like to say that under no circumstances does this new understanding
    based on respect between Mexico and the United States--in no way does it
    mean that the concept of sovereignty has changed; on the contrary. It is
    very pleasing for me as a President and as a representative of the
    people of Mexico that in a document which we just signed, that President
    Clinton and I just signed, respecting this alliance against drugs, the
    first principle which we mutually recognize is--and I will read it--is
    ``the absolute respect for the sovereignty and territorial jurisdiction
    of both Mexico and the United States of America.''

    Wreath Laying Ceremony and Whitewater Investigation

        Q. Mr. President, as has been discussed a great deal in the last 2
    days, the two nations have a long history together and sensitivities
    have grown up as a result of involvement with one another, including
    involvement during war. Later today, you will be laying a wreath at the
    tomb of Mexican cadets who were actually boys at the time that they died
    at the hands of American troops. This is one of those issues in which
    the Mexicans have been very sensitive. These boys are heroes and are
    seen basically as children who died in war.
        My question is, are you going there and laying that wreath in any
    way as a gesture of apology or atonement for action by the U.S.
    military?
        President Clinton. I'm going there as a gesture of respect, not only
    respect for their lives but respect for the patriotism and the integrity
    of the people who have served this country.
        President Truman went there as well when he was here, and it's my
    understanding that no one has gone since. But I think other heads of
    states regularly go there, and I do not believe the President of the
    United States should decline to go because of what happened between our
    two countries a long time ago.
        You know, we are trying to heal the wounds of war with nations with
    whom we fought even more recently. I'm sending Pete Peterson, who was a
    prisoner of war in Vietnam for over 6 years, to Vietnam as the new
    Ambassador. It seems to me that if the United States wants to lead the
    world in the direction we say we do, then it is imperative for us to
    respect our friends and neighbors especially, in countries around the
    world, and honor their symbols of national honor. And I'm proud to be
    able to do this.
        Let me just say, since the President clarified an answer he gave,
    let me say to Mr. Hunt I did not mean to be flippant. What I meant to
    say was I know of no factual discrepancy, period. I am unaware of one.
    But if you took the four of you sitting there together on the front row
    and got you all together again 13 to 19 years later and asked you
    precisely what happened on this day, you might have slightly different
    memories. I have no idea that there is any such discrepancy, but I have
    no reason to be concerned about it whatever. We've both done our best to
    answer all the questions that were asked of us, and already tens of
    millions of dollars have been spent on this, and I am just perfectly
    comfortable with where we are.

    Immigration Law

        Q. President Clinton, the question is regarding what you just
    mentioned, that is that you would be working with your Congress on some
    aspects of the migration law. What aspects would these be, and how would
    they benefit our citizens in the United States?
        President Clinton. Well, let me just say, first of all, we've
    cleared a big hurdle, I think, in the budget agreement, dealing with the
    eligibility of legal immigrants for public assistance

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    when, through no fault of their own, they're put into some distress. And
    then there are a number of other issues which have been raised about the
    administration of this law and the extent to which it might prompt, in a
    way that Congress never really intended, the virtual permanent breakup
    of families, especially the people who maybe had visas even there to
    come into the country in the first place.
        So I'm working with Congress on it. But I hope you will understand
    when I tell you that since this is such a terrifically emotional issue,
    until we have a clear approach and I understand who is on what side
    here, the more I say about it, I might be endangering my chances to
    succeed. I think we all know what the most significant potential
    problems of the law are. I still support its fundamental traditions. I
    support--I'm glad I--I would sign the law again tomorrow if I had to
    because it gives us the ability to control our borders better, to get
    illegal immigrants out of the workplace, and to take illegal immigrants
    who come into the criminal justice system and remove them quicker. So I
    think that's all to the good.
        I'm concerned about undue family breakup and disqualifying people
    who may not deserve it virtually permanently from applying for
    citizenship.

    Mexico-U.S. Antidrug Efforts

        Q. A question for both men. Have you resolved the issue of whether
    American drug agents operating in Mexico can carry sidearms for their
    own protection? And if you have, given the level of trust--or distrust--
    between our two countries, such that it takes a Presidential meeting to
    resolve an issue like that, why should anyone believe that the United
    States and Mexico would be able to cooperate, exchange highly sensitive
    intelligence information on drug trafficking or drug smuggling, or is
    the talk of cooperation just that--talk?
        President Zedillo. If you will allow me, in the declaration that
    we've just signed, that President Clinton and I have just signed, it is
    very clear on two aspects. The first aspect, having to do with the
    principles--and I referred to them a moment ago, but I will refer to
    them again--and that is the absolute respect for the sovereignty and
    territorial jurisdiction of both Mexico and the United States.
        And the other aspect, which is very important for the Mexican
    Government and is expressed as one of the specific tasks to be
    undertaken by both Governments, and it reads, literally, ``The
    Governments will do whatever necessary to ensure the protection of the
    officials in charge of enforcing the law.'' And this naturally is on
    both sides of the border, applicable for both sides of the border.
        This principle and this recommendation which we've made to our
    Governments must be translated into practical measures which obviously
    are in keeping with both of the previously mentioned principles. I have
    already answered this question, the question that you've put me, in the
    past, and I can assure you that we will comply both with the principles
    that both Governments have agreed to, as well as with the objective of
    providing these people with safety.
        Naturally, it would not be appropriate for us to refer to the
    specific mechanisms with which, within the principle for the respective
    sovereignty, we will be protecting these law enforcement agents. I am
    sure that President Clinton nor myself would ever make public the
    details which might jeopardize the safety of these people. Yet our
    commitment in both areas is very clear.
        President Clinton. This is in response to the second half of your
    question. You said, why should anyone believe that we can work together?
    And let's be frank here among friends. On the American side the problems
    are, we have less than 5 percent of the world's population, and we
    consume about half the drugs. And we're more than happy every year,
    American citizens, to give billions of dollars that winds up in the
    hands of narcotraffickers. That's our big problem. Our second problem is
    that while we are increasing our capacity to deal with it, we have not
    succeeded in reducing the demand or completely controlling the border on
    our side.
        Now, the Mexican problem is that narcotraffickers can destroy the
    fabric of civil society. They can undermine the integrity of any
    society. And they go after places with open spaces and a vulnerability
    to organized money and violence. And so they also have to worry about
    corruption, as anyone would targeted with that kind of money.
        But you say, how can we rely on them to cooperate? Let me talk about
    some facts that we never--that we under-report. And I don't mean that as
    a criticism; I mean we do, too, we in public life. We now have 202
    cooperative money-laundering ventures going now; 54 of

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    them are complete, joint investigations. Last year, 200 law enforcement
    officers in Mexico lost their lives in the line of duty--200. And
    extraditions, seizures, prosecutions, and eradications are all up in the
    last year.
        So I believe that this Government is trying to work with us. And I
    believe that the chances of our succeeding in dealing with our problems,
    and the chances of their succeeding in dealing with their problems are
    dramatically heightened if we work together and be honest about our
    problems but also not deny good-faith efforts when they exist. All those
    200 people had families that grieved for them. They laid down their
    lives trying to fight--roll back the narcotraffickers, roll back
    corruption, roll back crime. And it seems to me that their lives alone
    are evidence that we ought to be working to cooperate.
        President Zedillo. In view of the time constraints, we will take one
    last question.
        Q. Thank you. Good afternoon. President Zedillo, in view of the
    magnitude of the fight against drug trafficking, is it possible that
    Mexico will accept the $6 million in cash offered by the United States
    to combat drugs as an additional resource to combat drug trafficking?
        And President Clinton, how did your view or your vision of Mexico
    change when you arrived here after your meeting with President Zedillo,
    and particularly, what was your concept after having visited the Museum
    of Anthropology?
        Thank you.
        President Zedillo. In terms of the principle of mutual respect and
    cooperation that the United States of America and Mexico have developed
    in fighting drug trafficking, there have been different occasions on
    which we have received material support for this struggle, which is a
    struggle that we all participate in.
        I am not informed of the details of the resources that you've
    mentioned. I am sure that within the context of the agreement that we
    have reached we will examine in all detail this offer, and in keeping
    with the principles and objectives that I've mentioned we will reach a
    decision in this regard.

    Mexico-U.S. Relations and President's Visit to Museum of Anthropology

        President Clinton. Let me briefly say that I don't know that my view
    of our relationship has changed since I got here yesterday afternoon,
    but I have been reinforced in my conviction that we can make progress on
    all these fronts as long as we do it in a genuine atmosphere of mutual
    respect, and as long as we're completely honest about our differences
    and willing to work hard to overcome them, and we tell the people the
    facts about the progress we are making and the problems we have. So I
    feel very much reassured.
        And in terms of going to the Anthropological Museum, I haven't been
    there since the 1970's. I was a young man in a different line of work
    back then. And I think the President can tell you that I think I kept
    him about an hour longer than I was supposed to, and I would probably
    still be there if it were up to me. But I hope the Mexican people are
    very proud of that because it shows, even to an outsider like me, the
    remarkable cultures which were the foundation of modern Mexico. And it
    certainly gave me a deeper appreciation for the richness and depth of
    this country's history and the incredible talents and gifts of its
    people.
        President Zedillo. Muchas gracias.
        President Clinton. One more--equal time? [Laughter]

    Mexico-U.S. Antidrug Efforts

        Q. Mr. President, you mentioned the responsibilities that the United
    States bears for the international drug problem because of the massive
    demand in the United States. Can you give us some of your ideas of new
    efforts that you might have to help to combat this big demand?
        The President. First of all, let me say, I have--we could talk all
    day about this, and I have to be brief. But the first thing I would urge
    you to do is to never forget the plan that General McCaffrey has filed
    now, because General McCaffrey is a military man and when he files a
    plan, that's his mission, and he intends to follow it. And if you look
    at our budget and if you look at our priorities, we're trying to
    implement it.
        But let me just mention two points, if I might. Number one, we are
    trying, with the work of the Attorneys General of the two countries and
    our drug operations, to intensify our cooperation with Mexico and to
    work more effectively with other countries to prevent drugs at their
    source or in transit. Number two, we are focusing on our young people.
    We know that we have--and we thank God for it--we know we've had a big
    decline in drug use among people between

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    the ages of 18 and 34. So now we have to focus on the young. And that
    means more education, more testing, more treatment. And it means that we
    have to have a comprehensive juvenile justice youth development program
    in every community in the United States.
        That's one of the reasons I strongly supported the Summit of Service
    in Philadelphia, because I believe if they really want to do the things
    that we all said we wanted to do, there will have to be a community-
    based initiative that the Federal Government supports in every community
    to keep our kids alive and keep them off drugs.
        So we have to do our part. And I'm firmly committed to doing it.
        Thank you.
        President Zedillo. Muchas gracias.

    Note: The President's 143d news conference began at 1:47 p.m. in the
    Residence at the Los Pinos Presidential Palace. President Zedillo spoke
    in Spanish, and his remarks were translated by an interpreter. In his
    remarks, President Clinton referred to Attorney General Jorge Luis
    Madrazo of Mexico. A portion of the news conference could not be
    verified because the tape was incomplete.