DATE=5/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S/COLOMBIA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262210
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
INTRO: The Clinton Administration is criticizing the
failure of Congress to approve its full request of
nearly two billion dollars to train and equip
Colombia's army to help it better fight the flow of
illegal drugs. Correspondent Nick Simeone reports a
top administration official travels to Colombia
Thursday for more discussions on a program whose
effectiveness is being questioned by some in Congress.
TEXT: Before leaving Washington, Under Secretary of
State Thomas Pickering told reporters such shortfalls
and delays by Congress are hurting U-S efforts to help
Colombia, where civil war and narcotics production are
intertwined.
// PICKERING ACT //
Both the delay in time and the inability, if I
could put it this way, to optimize the equipment
that's now available to the task, will represent
a significant handicap for the forces that have
to carry forward the effort.
// END ACT //
Lawmakers have cut 200 million dollars from the White
House request for Colombia, already the third largest
recipient of U-S aid. Nor have they approved an
administration request for sophisticated "Blackhawk"
military helicopters -- capable of flying faster and
at higher altitudes.
Ninety percent of the cocaine reaching the United
States originates in Colombia. But both Democrats
and Republicans in Congress are wary of getting
dragged into a bloody civil war where the Colombian
government is fighting not only drug traffickers but
leftist guerrillas and right-wing militias.
Still, the Clinton Administration is pressing ahead
,labeling the situation a crisis.
// SECOND PICKERING ACT //
The drug trade is currently protected by both
the left-wing FARC guerrilla organization and
now increasingly by the right wing extremist
paramilitaries. Both are in fact deriving
enormous incomes.
// END ACT //
This will be Ambassador Pickering's 3rd visit to
Colombia in nine months to discuss a plan involving
not only eradicating drugs, but helping the government
of President Andres Pastrana in peace talks with
rebels and in re-taking areas of the country that have
fallen to rival forces. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/PT
10-May-2000 19:53 PM EDT (10-May-2000 2353 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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