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Remarks on release of the annual report on the major illicit drug producing countries for fiscal year 2008.

Article Excerpt
[The following are remarks delivered September 16, 2008, Washington, DC.]

Yesterday, the President made his annual designation of the so-called Majors' List of illegal drug-transit and drug-producing countries. As the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, it's my privilege to present the President's determination and to discuss our broader efforts to combat illicit drugs.

Under the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, the President is required to notify Congress of those countries he determines to be major illicit drug-producing countries or major drug-transit countries. But it is important to understand that a country's presence on this list does not reflect its counternarcotics efforts nor does it reflect its cooperation or its relationship with the U.S. The designation can reflect a combination of geographic, commercial, and economic Factors that allow drugs to be produced or trafficked through a country despite its own best efforts.

But when a country does not live up to its obligations under international counternarcotics agreements and conventions, the Majors' List process signifies that by the President determining that the country has, quote-unquote, "failed demonstrably." Such a designation can lead to sanctions. However, the President may also provide a waiver when he determines there is a vital national interest in continuing U.S. assistance. Even without such a waiver, humanitarian assistance and counternarcotics assistance may continue.

This year the President has identified the following countries as major drug transit or drug-producing countries: Afghanistan, the Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. Just for your information, there aren't any surprises on that list. It's the same as it was last year.

Of these 20, the President has determined that three...

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