Tuesday, September 19 2006 11:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: India figures, among a host of other nations, in a list compiled by the United States of countries that are major drug transits or illicit narcotics producers.

President George W Bush identified several nations including India as 'Major Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for Fiscal 2007' but stressed that a country's presence on the list is not necessarily an adverse reflection of its counter-narcotics efforts or the level of cooperation with the US.

Bush also identified Afghanistan, Brazil, Myanmar, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela and Pakistan among others as major drug transit or illicit drug producing countries.

"A country's presence on the Majors List is not necessarily an adverse reflection of its government's counter narcotics efforts or level of cooperation with the United States," the determination noted.

He came down heavily on Myanmar and Venezuela as countries that have 'failed demonstrably' during the last year to adhere to their obligations under international counternarcotics agreements.

Bush, however, said support for programmes to aid Venezuela's democratic institutions is vital to the national interests of the United States.