US says Myanmar, Venezuela fall short in drugs fight

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

US says Myanmar, Venezuela fall short in drugs fight
17 Sep 2007 18:42:12 GMT

By Paul Eckert

WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Myanmar and Venezuela
have "failed demonstrably" to do enough to fight illegal
drugs for a third straight year, the United States said on
Monday, but waived sanctions on Caracas to maintain U.S.
aid for democracy programs.

The 20 states identified as major illicit drug transit and
drug producing countries in the annual U.S. presidential
report to Congress were unchanged from 2006, but
Washington said allies Afghanistan and Colombia had made
some progress.

"Burma and Venezuela have failed demonstrably during the
previous 12 months to adhere to their obligations under
international counternarcotics agreements and take the
measures set forth in U.S. law," said the report, using the
former name of military-ruled Myanmar.

"However, the president determined to maintain U.S.
programs that aid Venezuela's democratic institutions," it
said. States that fail to meet anti-drug commitments can
have non-humanitarian U.S. aid programs cut.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N17341460.htm

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Progress in Afghanistan? Yeah, right. :eyes: