DATE=6/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250146
TITLE=DRUG CZAR / COLOMBIA (L-O)
BYLINE=MICHAEL BOWMAN
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S TOP ANTI-NARCOTICS OFFICIAL
SAYS THE UNITED STATES COULD DO EVEN MORE TO SUPPORT COLOMBIA IN
ITS BATTLE AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUG PRODUCTION. FROM MIAMI, V-O-A'S
MICHAEL BOWMAN REPORTS.
TEXT: WHITE HOUSE DRUG CONTROL POLICY DIRECTOR BARRY MCCAFFREY
SAYS COLOMBIA RECEIVES 250 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR -- MAKING IT
THE LARGEST FOREIGN RECIPIENT OF U-S COUNTER- NARCOTICS
ASSISTANCE. BUT, AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN MIAMI (WEDNESDAY), MR.
MCCAFFREY WAS ASKED WHETHER THE UNITED STATES IS DOING EVERYTHING
IN ITS POWER TO HELP COLOMBIA WIN THE WAR ON DRUGS. THIS WAS HIS
RESPONSE:
// MCCAFFREY ACT //
THE ANSWER IS NO. WE NEED TO EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT
COLOMBIA'S POLICE AND ARMY, AS WELL AS ALTERNATIVE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND WE NEED TO STAND WITH THEM IN
THEIR CONFRONTATION WITH A DRUG THREAT THAT IS
APPALLINGLY DANGEROUS TO THEIR CITIZENS AND ALSO TO OUR
OWN.
// END ACT //
COLOMBIA IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST PRODUCER OF COCA LEAF - THE RAW
MATERIAL USED TO MAKE COCAINE -AS WELL AS A MAJOR EXPORTER OF
HEROIN.
LATE LAST YEAR, THE U-S CONGRESS APPROVED AN AID PACKAGE FOR
COLOMBIA THAT INCLUDES THE TRANSFER OF SIX 'BLACKHAWK'
HELICOPTERS FOR CROP ERADICATION AND OTHER COUNTER-NARCOTICS
OPERATIONS. BUT BARRY MCCAFFREY SAYS COLOMBIA NEEDS MORE THAN
HELICOPTERS TO WIN THE DRUG WAR. HE SAYS COLOMBIA MUST ALSO
NEUTRALIZE GUERRILLA GROUPS LIKE THE 'REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES
OF COLOMBIA' (FARC) AND THE 'NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY' (E-L-N)
THAT ARE WIDELY REPORTED TO PROFIT FROM THE DRUG TRADE.
// MCCAFFREY ACT //
COLOMBIA'S PROBLEMS ARE NOT JUST A LACK OF BLACKHAWKS.
THERE'S A TREMENDOUS DILEMMA NOW IN CONFRONTING CRIMINAL
ORGANIZATIONS THAT COMBINE WITH THE 'FARC' AND THE
'E-L-N.' THE FARC AND THE E-L-N HAVE TURNED INTO
QUASI-TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS. THEY ARE DESTROYING
COLOMBIA.
// END ACT //
//OPT// WHILE VOICING SUPPORT FOR COLOMBIA'S BATTLE AGAINST
INSURGENTS, THE WHITE HOUSE DRUG CONTROL POLICY DIRECTOR RULED
OUT ANY DIRECT U-S INVOLVEMENT IN THE COLOMBIAN CONFLICT.
// MCCAFFREY ACT //
U-S POLICY IS NOT ONLY TO CONFRONT THE DRUG ISSUE, BUT
TO SUPPORT COLOMBIAN DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS. HAVING
SAID THAT, THIS INTERNAL STRUGGLE IS COLOMBIA'S
RESPONSIBILITY, NOT THE U-S'.
// END ACT & OPT //
MR. MCCAFFREY CAME TO MIAMI TO ADDRESS THE CITY'S CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THE BATTLE AGAINST
ILLEGAL DRUGS. LATE WEDNESDAY, HE VISITED AN AIR BASE FROM WHICH
THE U-S CUSTOMS SERVICE CONDUCTS COUNTER-NARCOTICS PATROLS ALONG
SOUTH FLORIDA'S COASTLINE. (SIGNED)
NEB/MCB/PHW/WFR
02-Jun-99 4:58 PM EDT (2058 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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