[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 44 (Monday, November 8, 1993)]
[Page 2253]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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Statement by the Press Secretary on Drug Control Policy

 November 3, 1993

    The President today signed a decision directive that provides a 
policy framework for U.S. international drug control efforts as part of 
the Administration's overall counter-drug policy. The President 
designated Director Lee Brown of the Office of National Drug Control 
Policy as responsible for oversight and direction for all counter-drug 
policies, in coordination with the National Security Council.
    In his directive to Agencies involved in the fight against illicit 
drugs in the hemisphere, the President said that the scourge of illegal 
narcotics is severely damaging the social fabric of the United States 
and other countries. He said that the operation of international 
criminal narcotics syndicates is a national security threat requiring an 
extraordinary and coordinated response by civilian and military 
agencies, both unilaterally and by mobilizing international cooperation 
with other nations and international organizations such as the U.N., 
OAS, and international financial institutions.
    The President's directive, the result of an exhaustive 8-month 
review of U.S. international policies and strategies, instructed Federal 
Agencies to change the emphasis in U.S. international drug programs from 
the past concentration largely on stopping narcotics shipments to a more 
evenly distributed effort across three programs:
    --assisting source countries in addressing the root causes of 
      narcotics production and trafficking through assistance for 
      sustainable development, strengthening democratic institutions and 
      cooperative programs to counter narcotics traffickers, money 
      laundering, and supply of chemical precursors;
    --combating international narco-trafficking organizations;
    --emphasizing more selective and flexible interdiction programs near 
      the U.S. border, in the transit zone, and in source countries.
    He directed that a working group chaired by the State Department 
manage implementation of the international strategy, reporting its 
activities to Director Brown.
    The President stressed the need for American leadership in the fight 
against international drug trafficking. He pledged to work with the 
Congress to ensure adequate funding for international counter-drug 
programs.