[wanabidii] Press Releases: Presidential Determination for Major Drug Producing and Transit Countries

You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Press Releases: Presidential Determination for Major Drug Producing and Transit Countries 09/15/2014 03:25 PM EDT Presidential Determination for Major Drug Producing and Transit Countries Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC September 15, 2014 Under the Foreign Relations Authorization Act (FRAA), the President is required each year to notify Congress of those countries he determines to be major illicit drug-producing countries or major drug-transit countries that “significantly affect the United States.” A country’s presence on the list does not necessarily reflect its counternarcotics efforts or its level of cooperation with the United States on illegal drug control. The designation can reflect a combination of geographic, commercial, and economic factors that allow drugs to be produced and/or trafficked through a country. When a country on the list does not fulfill its obligations under international counternarcotics agreements and conventions, the President determines that the country has “failed demonstrably” to meet its counterdrug obligations. Such a designation can lead to sanctions. The President may also execute a National Interest 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 twenty-two countries as major illicit drug-producing or drug-transit countries: Afghanistan, the Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. Of these twenty-two, the President has determined that three countries, Bolivia, Burma, and Venezuela, “failed demonstrably” during the last twelve months to make sufficient or meaningful efforts to adhere to the obligations they have undertaken under international counternarcotics agreements. In accordance with provisions of the FRAA, the President has determined that support for programs to aid Burma and Venezuela remain vital to the national interests of the United States and therefore grant Burma and Venezuela National Interest Waivers. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Stay connected with the State Department:       External links found in this content or on Department of State websites that go to other non-Department websites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.  Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of State. This email was sent to wanabidii@googlegroups.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: U.S. Department of State · 2201 C Street NW · Washington, DC 20520

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