DATE=2/2/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=COLOMBIA REBELS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258754
BYLINE=RHODA METCALFE
DATELINE=BOGOTA
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In Colombia, there has been a surprising new
development in the long-stagnant peace negotiations
between the government and the country's largest rebel
group, known as the FARC. As Rhoda Metcalfe reports
from Bogota, the government organized a secret trip to
Scandinavia to give the rebels a glimpse of how
socialism functions in today's global economy.
TEXT: Five of the most important guerrilla
negotiators in Colombia slipped out of the country
Monday night -- aided and abetted by government
officials. The rebel leaders landed in Sweden Tuesday
morning, accompanied by a group of government
negotiators.
The rebels will spend the next few days studying the
economies of Sweden and Norway -- two countries where
socialism has been blended with free market economics
Last weekend, negotiators for both sides agreed to
make the economy the first topic of discussion in
current peace talks. Interior Minister Nestor
Martinez, along with many business leaders, was
pleased to learn that the guerrillas are now less
radical on economic issues.
///MARTINEZ SPANISH ACT FADES UNDER ///
He says the country has to realize how important it is
that after 40 years of conflict, the rebels are now
willing to talk about a market economy, about foreign
investment.
But analyst Carlos Jaramillo says the leftist
guerrillas are still a long way from understanding the
global economy.
/// JARAMILLO SPANISH ACT FADES UNDER ///
He says the guerrillas are still stuck in the sixties
and seventies. But he believes this trip will help
them update their economic vision.
This is one of the first signs of real cooperation
between the guerrillas and the government since they
started peace talks a year ago. Talks have been
stalled much of the time. The war itself -- which has
claimed 30-thousand lives over the past 35 years -- is
blazing as hot as ever. And the rebels have warned it
may escalate even further if the United States comes
through with additional military aid to fight drug
trafficking and the guerrillas. President Clinton is
urging Congress to approve one-point-six billion
dollars in aid over a two-year period.
But the Colombian government has admitted that in the
end, peace will only come through negotiation.
Analysts say that if the guerrillas become more
realistic in their economic demands - it may be easier
to reach a final agreement. (Signed)
NEB/rm/gm
02-Feb-2000 17:12 PM EDT (02-Feb-2000 2212 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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