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DATE=7/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251931
TITLE=U-S/COLOMBIA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:   THE UNITED STATES HAS BLAMED COLOMBIAN REBELS FOR THE 
SUSPENSION OF PLANNED PEACE TALKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF 
COLOMBIA.  THE SUSPENSION OF TALKS WHICH HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO 
START TODAY WAS ANNOUNCED ON SATURDAY BY GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATORS 
AND LEADERS OF THE REBELS. VOA'S GIL BUTLER HAS THE STORY FROM 
THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
TEXT:   THE PEACE TALKS WERE PUT OFF INDEFINITELY IN THE WAKE OF 
A REBEL OFFENSIVE IN WHICH 300 PEOPLE WERE REPORTED KILLED.  IN 
ANNOUNCING THE SUSPENSION, THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT AND LEADERS 
OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA- OR FARC- SAID THEY
COULD NOT AGREE ON INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS TO MONITOR THE TALKS.
HERE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN USED 
UNUSUALLY DIRECT LANGUAGE IN BLAMING THE LACK OF TALKS ON THE 
FARC LEADERSHIP.  HE SAID THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTS PRESIDENT 
ANDRES PASTRANA'S COMMITMENT TO ENDING NEARLY 40 YEARS OF 
INTERNAL CONFLICT IN COLOMBIA.  MR. RUBIN ACCUSED THE FARC 
LEADERS OF, IN HIS WORDS, CYNICALLY MANIPULATING THE PEACE 
PROCESS.
                        /// RUBIN ACT ///
         THE BLAME FOR THE FAILURE OF THE PEACE TALKS TO PROCEED 
         RESTS SQUARELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF FARC LEADER MANUEL 
         MARULANDA AND JORGE BRICENO.  THEY ARE PERSONALLY 
         RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SET-BACK.  DESPITE PROTESTATIONS 
         AND CLAIMS OF A DESIRE FOR PEACE, THE FARC HAS CONTINUED
         TO KIDNAP AND BRUTALLY MURDER COLOMBIANS, U-S CITIZENS 
         AND OTHER FOREIGN NATIONALS. 
                         /// END ACT ///
THE SPOKESMAN CALLED ON THE REBEL LEADERS TO SHOW GOOD FAITH BY 
HALTING KIDNAPPINGS AND MURDERS OF CIVILIANS AND TO ENGAGE 
IMMEDIATELY IN SUBSTANTIVE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COLOMBIAN 
GOVERNMENT.
                     /// REST OPTIONAL /// 
LAST WEEK COLOMBIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER REPORTEDLY REQUESTED 500 
MILLION DOLLARS IN MILITARY ASSISTANCE OVER TWO YEARS TO FIGHT 
NARCOTICS TRAFFICING IN COLOMBIA--A MAJOR SOURCE OF MONEY FOR THE
REBELS.  MR. RUBIN TOLD REPORTERS THE COLOMBIAN PROPOSALS ARE 
BEING STUDIED.(SIGNED)
NEB/GB/TVM/PT
19-Jul-99 4:07 PM EDT (2007 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.