DATE=2/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226690
TITLE=ALBRIGHT-COLOMBIA HELICOPTERS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS TOLD CONGRESS,
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION CANNOT AFFORD TO GIVE COLOMBIA
50-MILLION DOLLARS' WORTH OF HELICOPTERS TO FIGHT NARCOTICS. RON
PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT ON THE CONTROVERSY.
TEXT: AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, CONGRESS AUTHORIZED THE
ADMINISTRATION TO SPEND 36-MILLION DOLLARS ON HIGH-FLYING 'BLACK
HAWK' HELICOPTERS TO HELP COLOMBIA FIGHT NARCOTICS. THE
ADMINISTRATION WAS ALSO TOLD TO SPEND 14-MILLION DOLLARS TO
UPGRADE COLOMBIA'S EXISTING U-H ONE, KNOWN AS HUEY, HELICOPTERS.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
ASKED THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHY THE ADMINISTRATION CANNOT
DELIVER THE HELICOPTERS TO COLOMBIA IF IT WANTS TO BE TAKEN
SERIOUSLY IN THE ANTI-NARCOTICS EFFORT.
MS. ALBRIGHT TOLD THE COMMITTEE,THE MONEY FOR HELICOPTERS FOR
COLOMBIA IS A QUARTER OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET FOR
FIGHTING DRUGS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.
///ALBRIGHT ACT///
I THINK THERE IS SOME DISPUTE AS TO WHETHER THOSE
HELICOPTERS ARE NEEDED OR NOT. GENERAL (BARRY) MCCAFFREY
WITH WHOM I SPOKE BEFORE I CAME TO HAVE BREAKFAST WITH
YOU, HE BELIEVES THAT THEY ARE NOT NECESSARY AND WE HAVE
THIS BUDGET OF 230-MILLION OR SO, 50-MILLION OF THAT
WOULD HAVE TO BE SPENT ON THE HELICOPTERS, AND IT WOULD
HAVE A CASCADING EFFECT ON OUR DRUG PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT
THE WORLD.
///END ACT///
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, BENJAMIN GILMAN, ASKED THE STATE
DEPARTMENT TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE PROGRAM, INSISTING THE
MILITARY POLICE IN COLOMBIA NEED THE EQUIPMENT. STATE DEPARTMENT
OFFICIALS SAY THE COLOMBIAN POLICE HAVE MANAGED TO CONVINCE
CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS THAT THEY NEED MORE FLASHY HELICOPTERS.
INDIANA CONGRESSMAN DAN BURTON IS ONE OF THOSE REPUBLICANS. HE
DRAMATIZED THE SITUATION FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
///BURTON ACT///
I HAVE PICTURE AFTER PICTURE AFTER PICTURE OF THESE
PEOPLE BEING MUTILATED DOWN THERE IN THEIR HELICOPTERS
AND SHOT DOWN BECAUSE THE MINI-GUNS AREN'T THERE AND
BECAUSE THE HELICOPTERS ARE NOT BEING UPGRADED SO THEY
CAN FLY AT HIGH ALTITUDES TO GET TO NOT ONLY THE COCAINE
CROPS, THE COCA CROPS, BUT ALSO THE HEROIN, THE POPPY
CROPS WHICH ARE AT VERY HIGH ALTITUDES AND THIS IS VERY
DISTRESSING.
///END ACT///
CONGRESSMAN BURTON TOLD THE SECRETARY OF STATE PERU IS NO LONGER
THE LEADING COCA PRODUCER IN SOUTH AMERICA. IT IS NOW COLOMBIA,
HE SAYS, AND THE UNITED STATES SHOULD GIVE THE NATIONAL POLICE
WHATEVER THEY NEED.
///BURTON ACT///
WE HEAR FROM YOU TODAY WE DON'T THINK THAT'S A TOP
PRIORITY BECAUSE GENERAL MCCAFFREY IS RE-EVALUATING HIS
POSITION. THEY NEED THOSE HELICOPTERS. THEY NEED THOSE
MINI-GUNS. THEY ARE GETTING KILLED DOWN THERE, FIGHTING
FOR US AND OUR KIDS, AND YOU SAY WE DON'T NEED THEM.
THEY NEED THEM, I'M TELLING YOU, THEY NEED THEM.
///END ACT///
COLOMBIA HAS BEEN NAMED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT AS NOT
COOPERATING IN THE FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS. THIS DESIGNATION
PROHIBITS AMERICAN AID TO COLOMBIA EXCEPT FOR FIGHTING DRUGS. THE
STATE DEPARTMENT PLANS TO MAKE ITS NEW FINDINGS AT THE END OF THE
MONTH WHEN THE COOPERATION OF COLOMBIA AND OTHER COUNTRIES WILL
BE RE-EVALUATED. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/ENE/RRM
12-Feb-98 5:51 PM EST (2251 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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