17 August 2005
U.S. Continues Support of Colombian Aerial Interdiction Program
Bush authorizes ongoing assistance for Airbridge Denial Program
President Bush has authorized the U.S. State Department to continue drug interdiction assistance to Colombia in carrying out a program against civil aircraft suspected of trafficking illicit drugs, according to a statement issued August 17 by the White House.
The White House explained that under the program, aircraft reasonably suspected of being primarily engaged in illicit drug trafficking are interdicted.
In a separate August 17 memorandum to the secretary of state and secretary of defense, the president said that continued support for Colombia's Airbridge Denial Program is appropriate, given the "extraordinary threat" posed by illicit narcotics smuggling and in view of the safeguards in place to prevent the loss of innocent life.
Following are the texts of the White House statement and memorandum:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Crawford, Texas)
August 17, 2005
STATEMENT BY THE DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY
Presidential Determination Regarding U.S. Assistance to the Government of Colombia Airbridge Denial Program
The President has authorized the Department of State to continue assistance to Colombia in carrying out an "Airbridge Denial Program" against civil aircraft reasonably suspected of trafficking in illicit drugs. In granting this authorization, the President has determined that Colombia has put in place appropriate procedures to protect against loss of innocent life in connection with interdiction operations. The United States Department of State, with the support of other U.S. agencies, has the ability to continue to work with the Government of Colombia to ensure effective counternarcotics operations while observing strict adherence to agreed-upon and well-established safety procedures.
(end text of White House statement)
(begin text of White House memorandum)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Crawford, Texas)
August 17, 2005
Presidential Determination
No. 2005-32
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
SUBJECT: Continuation of U.S. Drug Interdiction Assistance to the Government of Colombia
Pursuant to the authority vested in me by section 1012 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995, as amended (22 U.S.C. 2291-4), I hereby certify, with respect to Colombia, that (1) interdiction of aircraft reasonably suspected to be primarily engaged in illicit drug trafficking in that country's airspace is necessary because of the extraordinary threat posed by illicit drug trafficking to the national security of that country; and (2) that country has appropriate procedures in place to protect against innocent loss of life in the air and on the ground in connection with such interdiction, which shall at a minimum include effective means to identify and warn an aircraft before the use of force is directed against the aircraft.
The Secretary of State is authorized and directed to publish this determination in the Federal Register and to notify the Congress of this determination.
GEORGE W. BUSH
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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