European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 1, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A year of dram world a vents War on drug traffic gained but fight took bigger toil by Laurence 1lief United press International record drug seizures and the jailing of the worlds most wanted trafficker colombians Pablo Escobar Gaviria turned 199es latin America drug Campaign into a Success and has raised Hope for More victories. But beyond the tons of seized cocaine and the jailed traffickers was another Story some observers said with the fight taking an increasing loll on latin americans while doing Little to Stem the flow of drugs to the United states and Western Europe. Spreading drug use in latin America new trafficking groups and human rights violations in the drug fight made 1991 less than successful observers said and the Prospect for real improvement in 1992 dim. In terms of raw numbers . Officials say the year probably would end with As much or More drugs being confiscated than in 1990. Final figures Escobar have not been compiled. Officials also see improved cooperation with latin America governments on the horizon for 1992. A we  raise a Victory Flag but we Are having greater Success in the International Community a said Robert Nieves of the . Drug enforcement administration. Although no final figures for the year were available preliminary numbers from the state department show record cocaine busts in Colombia the cocaine capital of the world with nearly 8 1 tons seized. In Mexico a major transshipment Point cocaine seizures were running at 990�?Ts brisk Pace and stood at nearly 50 tons by late november figures from the mexican government said. Confiscations of marijuana and other drugs were Down in Mexico but most drug experts say that cocaine is by far the biggest drug problem in the hemisphere and will continue to be the focus of anti drug efforts. For anti drug forces the biggest catch in 1991 was probably Pablo Escobar whose Medellin Cartel has been the key target for colombian and . Officials for years. Mis surrender along with several  who Cut deals with the government has Hurt the Cartel and drug related violence has declined in Colombia officials there say although the Overall Impact on the Cartel is still unclear. . Officials also Point to the surrender of several important traffickers in Bolivia after anti a drug operations there and the decline in . T drug abuse As signs the drug War is on track. But other observers say that the fight remains misguided focused on seizures that have not caused a Lack of Supply in the United states while neglecting latin americans growing drug problem. A the drug business is changing both on the consumption Side and the trafficking Side a said Paul Boeker a member of the private .-based inter american commission on drug policy which released a report in mid-1991. Declining . Consumption of cocaine is leaving More behind for local use in latin America while traffickers change their tactics to make sure plenty of the drug arrives in the United states and Europe Boeker said. Anti drug education and treatment programs account for just 1 percent of the funds the United slates has spent in latin America in the drug fight he said. A hopeful sign for 1992, he said is the realization by . And latin american officials that the focus will have to shift More to these programs. Throughout latin America cocaine traffickers not Oik found growing local markets for their wares but found new ways to get them there As Well As to the .-Market and to Western Europe. In South America where most of the worlds cocaine is produced 1991 saw what latin american police Call a a a democratization of drug production drug trafficking and drug use. Statistics from the International police Agency Interpol show that hundreds and possibly thousands of new Small producers had sprung up in Peru and Bolivia a where coca leaves arc grown a to fill the Gap left by successful operations against the big cartels. Chilean police in Early 1991 began seeing a Rise in so called a want trafficking a the movement of cocaine in Small shipments carried by peasants or indians to Border areas. Once there it is then brought to Consumers in capital cities in South America As Well As the United states and Europe. Small producers arc also exporting coca paste that is refined into a smoke Abl form of cocaine called a Aba Sucoe in Spanish which is similar to the so called a crack Quot cocaine popular in the United states police say drug use grew in South America during 1991, with this new a cocaine of the poor being smoked on the streets of cities in Northern Chile and Eastern Brazil. A poll by a government commission in the chilean port City of Arica in the extreme North of the country shows a majority of Young people there had smoked Basco. Cities bordering Peru and Bolivia have been awash in cocaine since March 1991, police say. And Venezuela which had been mostly untouched by trafficking and abuse is now developing problems similar to its neighbors. Anywhere there is trafficking police groups say a certain amount of cocaine will be left behind for local Sale and crime rings will emerge to distribute the drug. The increased consumption in turn has led to a Sharp increase in drug related crime. Of the 17,000 cases of crime registered during the first 10 months of the year 80 percent were related to drugs panamanian police officials say. Human rights groups say increased military involvement in the drug fight in several countries especially Peru during 1991 resulted in the use of tactics which violate Basic rights. Quot the United states is intent of getting the armed forces to participate in the drug fight a said Juan Mendez of the human rights group americans watch. This he said leads to the mixing of Antidrug and counter insurgency operations with human rights violations the  pressure on North Korea also is mounting from the Iaea and the United states and other leading Western nations As Well As a hint of .  took o giant step by James Kim United press International Seoul South Korea a South and North Korea once hitter foes who fought a civil War killing and injuring millions of people Greet 1992 with a historic rapprochement Accord raising Hopes for a peaceful reunification of their land divided 46 years ago. The korean Peninsula despite the professed will of the South and the North for peace and Unity remains the worlds most dangerous trouble spot because North koreans ambition to develop nuclear weapons opens the Way to nuclear confrontation. Both sides Are on record that a there should be no nuclear arms on the korean  South Korea Hopes to get North Korea to sign a nuclear safeguards agreement and announce readiness to accept International inspections before the International atomic Energy Agency Iaea holds a Board of governors meeting in february. South Korea believes a Good Chance exists that North Korea will do so. North Korea is trying to normalize relations with Japan with an Eye on japanese investment capital. Japan is firm against North koreans developing nuclear capability. A ass the year 1991 was memorable for the two Korea they won separate but simultaneous membership in the United nations and concluded an unprecedented agreement on reconciliation and non aggression. Under the dec. 13 agreement the two Korea agreed to respect each other s political and social systems Stop name calling renounce interference in each others internal affairs and end subversion against each other. They also Wilt set up a permanent South North Liaison office at the Panmunjom truce Village conduct economic Exchange guarantee free inter Korea travel help reunite families and restore Railroad roads and telecommunications links. They also agreed not to use armed Force against each other and to create a joint military committee to guarantee no aggression. A Telephone hotline will be installed Between the military authorities of the two sides. Both sides agreed to transform the present armistice setup in effect since the 1950-53 korean War into a firm state of peace. The inter Korea rapprochement Accord Drew International Welcome. But Washington was Quick to say a it does not absolve North Korea from adhering unconditionally to the nuclear nonproliferation  rapprochement will Benefit both Korea although North Korea was cautious lest it be Quot absorbed into the South As East Germany vanished in the process of German unification. In terms of Economy the South overwhelms the North a $237.9 billion to $23.1 billion in Gross National product in p$5,569 to $ 1,064 in per capita Gnu $65 billion to $2billion in exports and $69.8 billion to $2.6 billion in imports according to official Seoul 1990  6 the stars and stripes wednesday thursday january 1/2, 1992