[Presidential Decision Directives - PDD]

                            THE WHITE HOUSE


                  Office of the Press Secretary


                                                               
For Immediate Release                          November 3, 1993



                 Statement by the Press Secretary



     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 over-all 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 
eight-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


--   Combatting 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.


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