For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 15, 2003
Statement by the Press Secretary
Annual Presidential Determinations Of Major Illicit Drug-Producing and Drug-Transit Countries
President Bush sent to Congress his annual report listing the major
illicit drug producing and drug-transit countries (known as the "Majors
List"). In the same report, he provided his determinations on which of
these countries has "failed demonstrably to make substantial efforts"
during the previous 12 months to adhere to international
counternarcotics agreements and to take the counternarcotics measures
specified in U.S. law.
The certification determinations required the President to consider
each country's performance in areas such as stemming illicit
cultivation, 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 had to consider efforts taken by these
countries to stop production and export of, and reduce the domestic
demand for, illegal drugs.
In his report, President Bush identified as major drug-transit or
major illicit drug producing countries: Afghanistan, The Bahamas,
Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Thailand, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
The President also reported to Congress his determinations that
Burma and Haiti failed demonstrably, during the previous 12 months, to
adhere to their obligations under international counternarcotics
agreements and to take the measures set forth in U.S. law. The
President determined, however, that provision of United States
assistance to Haiti in FY 2004 is vital to the national interests of
the United States. Therefore, under provisions of the FRAA, Haiti will
receive assistance, notwithstanding their counternarcotics
performance. The President did not make this determination with
respect to Burma.
The President also registered his growing concern over heroin and
methamphetamine trafficking linked to North Korea, and expressed his
intent for the United States to intensify its efforts to stop North
Korean involvement in narcotics production and trafficking.
# # #
|