DATE=4/12/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SENATE-COLOMBIA AID (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261230
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The U-S Senate majority leader says Colombia
could receive American anti-drug aid next month or in
June. V-O-A's David Swan reports Colombian President
Andres Pastrana visited Capitol Hill today (Wednesday)
to push for the money.
TEXT: Republican leader Trent Lott has stopped the
Senate from taking up the emergency spending bill that
includes one-point-six billion dollars for Colombia.
However, his objections are not based on the aid plan
itself, but on the cost of the larger spending
package, which also covers disaster relief and
peacekeeping operations in (the Yugoslav province of)
Kosovo.
After meeting with President Pastrana, Mr. Lott
stressed he supports the anti-drug request and will
bring it to a vote as soon as possible.
/// FIRST LOTT ACT ///
But I feel very strongly that it will be
completed in May or in early June. There's no
reason why it should not, and I expect it will
be achieved and (the money) would be available
in this fiscal year.
/// END ACT ///
The House of Representatives has already approved the
funds. The administration and its Democratic allies
are pressing hard for the Senate to follow suit. Mr.
Lott says Colombia's money will have to be attached to
some other bill, but should eventually pass.
/// SECOND LOTT ACT ///
And it'll be hopefully the most effective
package in providing President Pastrana and the
people in Colombia to move toward peace and
freedom and controlling the drug problem that is
coming out of certain sections of the country.
/// END ACT ///
For his part, Mr. Pastrana is trying to ease concerns
that the American armed forces may be dragged into his
country's drug wars. In a Washington speech he
rejected suggestions that the U-S commitment could
produce another Vietnam conflict. Mr. Pastrana says
public opinion in both countries would never permit
such a move, and as long as he is president it will
not happen. (Signed)
Neb/ds/gm
12-Apr-2000 12:57 PM EDT (12-Apr-2000 1657 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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