U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE DAILY PRESS BRIEFING Briefer: Philip T. Reeker, Deputy Spokesman TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2000, 1:42 P.M. (ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED) QUESTION: Do you have any comment on the concerns voiced yesterday by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, in the Washington Office of Latin America, about the fact that the human rights of conditions have been waived - actually the conditions imposed by Congress, in connection with the military aid being sent to Colombia? This is seen as a green light being given to the government to continue its -- MR. REEKER: First, I think we addressed it in great deal when the announcements were made last week, but let me just say that the challenges faced by Colombia are a matter of national security interest to the United States. We have certainly discussed that at great length. Our assistance package is crucial to maintaining our counter-drug efforts there, and to helping the Colombian Government and people to preserve Colombia's democracy. Moreover, the United States has important interest in promoting economic reform, protection of US citizens, hemispheric stability, all of which are addressed by our support for Colombia, and by our financial support through Plan Colombia. Human rights, as we have made very clear here, is a central issue in our bilateral relations with Colombia, and we are going to continue to engage with the Colombians - with the Government of Colombia on the concrete measures that that government should take to meet the certification conditions, and to improve its human rights performance. We continue to press the Government of Colombia to achieve tangible results in these areas, and we are going to carry out a continuing series of consultations with the nongovernmental organization community regarding human rights and humanitarian issues in Colombia. I think we have always seen such discussions, which we have had on an ongoing basis for a long time, as a very positive exchange of ideas which truly help to advance our mutual desire to assist Colombia in improving its human rights environment. As a number of people noted last week, we feel that the government of President Pastrana is making a very good faith effort to pursue that, and we are going to continue to work very closely with them on that. QUESTION: You said you are going to continue to consult with the groups like she mentioned. They - yesterday, in the press conference - gave us a document that was given to the State Department, and they are very disappointed with the answer they get to that report. MR. REEKER: That is their right to be but, as I just told you now, our position hasn't changed on that. We take human rights as a central issue in our bilateral relationship with Colombia, and we are going to continue to make that a major focus of our relationship and indeed our aid and support for Colombia. QUESTION: They give the name of five specific generals that are working now in Colombia that they have concerns about their relations with human rights' abusers, like the paramilitaries. Have you given any advice to the Pastrana government about the activities of these five generals? MR. REEKER: I am not aware of the list. I am not aware of specific individuals. That is obviously part of the reason for our dialogue with these organizations, and why we find it extremely useful. And it is something that we have done, not just on Colombia, but on many, many countries, and many, many issues, particularly in terms of human rights. So those dialogues are useful; the information they can provide us is useful. It is the kind of thing we follow up on, but I just don't have the specifics on it. What I can tell you is that we take this very seriously. This is a central issue in our bilateral relationship with Colombia. It obviously will be a major factor in our relationship as we continue to support Colombia with our assistance package, and the counter-narcotics efforts, and all of these issues which are really an important matter of national security interest to the United States. (The briefing was concluded at 2:40 P.M.)
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