DATE=1/22/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244534
TITLE=COLOMBIA REBELS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
INTRO: COLOMBIA HAS INAUGURATED A NEW AIRCRAFT RADAR TO HELP
COMBAT DRUG TRAFFICKING. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN OUR SOUTH
AMERICA BUREAU REPORTS THE ACTION COMES AMID LACK OF PROGRESS IN
PEACE TALKS WITH LEFTIST REBELS.
TEXT: THE UNITED STATES CONTRIBUTED 20-MILLION DOLLARS TO THE
CONSTRUCTION THE RADAR IN SAN JOSE DEL GUAVIARE, 300 KILOMETERS
SOUTHEAST OF BOGOTA. U-S AMBASSADOR CURTIS KAMMMAN SAYS IT CLOSES
THE LAST HOLE IN THE MONITORING OF COLOMBIAN AIRSPACE.
THE RADAR IS IN A COCA GROWING ZONE, WHERE GUERRILLAS OF THE
REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA -- FARC -- ARE ACTIVE.
DRUG TRAFFICKING IS ONE OF THEIR SOURCES OF FUNDING. PRESIDENT
ANDRES PASTRANA, WHO DEDICATED THE RADAR, SAYS FARC IS WILLING TO
HELP ERADICATE DRUG CROPS.
MR. PASTRANA SAID IN A TELEVISION INTERVIEW THAT TALKS ON THE
POSSIBLE EXCHANGE OF FARC PRISONERS FOR CAPTURED GOVERNMENT
TROOPS AND POLICE SHOULD BE MERGED WITH GENERAL PEACE TALKS.
FARC BOYCOTTED THE GENERAL TALKS LAST WEEK TO PROTEST ALLEGED
GOVERNMENT BACKING FOR RIGHTIST PARAMILITARY GROUPS, SOMETHING
THE GOVERNMENT DENIES. ANOTHER SESSION OF THE DIALOGUE IS
SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, AN AN EFFORT TO AGREE ON AN AGENDA AND
TIMETABLE FOR FORMAL PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.
THE THREE-MONTH WITHDRAWAL OF GOVERNMENT TROOPS FROM A LARGE PART
OF COLOMBIA TO PERMIT A DIALOGUE WITH THE REBELS IS SCHEDULED TO
END ON FEBRUARY SEVENTH. PRESIDENT PASTRANA -- A FORMER
JOURNALIST -- SUGGESTS THAT THE TALKS WOULD MOVE FASTER WITHOUT
CONSTANT MEDIA ATTENTION. HE SAYS IT WOULD BE BETTER TO MEET
ABROAD, PERHAPS IN CUBA, SPAIN, COSTA RICA, OR VENEZUELA. THE
LAST NEGOTIATIONS WITH FARC SEVEN YEARS AGO TOOK PLACE IN MEXICO
AND VENEZUELA. THE REBELS PREFER TO TALK ON COLOMBIAN SOIL.
(SIGNED)
NEB/GM/ENE/PT
22-Jan-99 4:17 PM EST (2117 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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