This is historical material, "frozen in time." The web site is no longer updated and links to external web sites and some internal pages will not work.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release March 15, 1996

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

Presidential Mission to Mexico

President Clinton and President Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico have agreed to establish a high level contact group to work against the threat narcotics pose to both our nations. President Clinton will be sending a high level mission headed by Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gen. (Ret.) Barry R. McCaffrey which will depart March 26, work intensively with its counterparts through March 27 and report its results to President Clinton.

This meeting is taking place because Mexico and the United States are acutely aware that illegal narcotics pose serious threats to the health of our citizens, the safety of our streets, and to the integrity of governmental institutions. We are convinced that each nation needs to take urgent and coordinated action. The objectives of this first high level contact group meeting are to review policies, enhance existing cooperation with Mexico, agree on new priorities and begin to develop a new plan of action.

We are committed to working with President Zedillo and his government to consolidate our bilateral cooperation mechanisms, strengthen our counternarcotics and anti-organized crime policies, and to succeed in those common endeavors. A follow-up meeting will take place in the United States during the second half of 1996.

# # #