DATE=9/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239208
TITLE=CONGRESS / COLOMBIA (L-O)
BYLINE=RICK NUNEZ
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  COLOMBIA'S NEW PRESIDENT ANDRES PASTRANA MET WITH U-S 
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS IN WASHINGTON THURSDAY TO PROMOTE HIS 
FLEDGLING PEACE INITIATIVE TO END HIS COUNTRY'S DECADES-LONG 
INSURGENCY.  AS VOA'S RICK NUNEZ REPORTS, SOME U-S LAWMAKERS ARE 
CONCERNED MR. PASTRANA'S PEACE PROPOSAL COULD UNDERMINE JOINT U-S
AND COLOMBIAN EFFORTS TO CURB DRUG PRODUCTION AND TRAFFICKING IN 
THAT SOUTH AMERICAN NATION.

TEXT:  PRESIDENT PASTRANA, WHO ASSUMED OFFICE LAST MONTH, VISITED
THE U-S CONGRESS AS A FOLLOW-UP TO HIS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT 
CLINTON IN AUGUST.  ONE OF THE SEVEN REPRESENTATIVES WHO TOOK 
PART IN THURSDAY'S TALKS WAS ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN DENNIS HASTERT, 
WHO PRAISED THE OBJECTIVES OF MR. PASTRANA'S PEACE INITIATIVE:

                        // HASTERT ACT //

         "I AM VERY ENCOURAGED BY THE PRESIDENT'S PEACE PLAN.  
         CERTAINLY, HIS ENDGAME (OBJECTIVE) OF TRYING TO 
         ESTABLISH PEACE IN HIS COUNTRY WAS PART OF HIS CAMPAIGN 
         PROMISE AND WE WANT TO BACK HIM UP (SUPPORT HIM)."

                          // END ACT //

MR. HASTERT SAID THE COLOMBIAN LEADER OUTLINED A CONTROVERSIAL 
PART OF HIS PEACE PROGRAM THAT CALLS FOR WITHDRAWING ARMY TROOPS 
FROM FIVE MUNICIPALITIES IN THE SOUTH AND EAST OF THE COUNTRY.  
SOME OF THOSE AREAS ARE KNOWN TO BE CENTERS FOR DRUG PRODUCTION 
AND TRAFFICKING -- A FACTOR THAT HAS RAISED CONCERN AMONG U-S 
LAWMAKERS.  LAST WEEK, THE HOUSE PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD MAKE 
COLOMBIA INELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE U-S ANTI-DRUG AID IF THE 
WITHDRAWAL OF SOLDIERS UNDERMINES COUNTER-NARCOTICS EFFORTS.

BUT MR. PASTRANA TOLD REPORTERS AFTER HIS MEETING THAT HE ASSURED
THE CONGRESSMEN THE AREAS SLATED FOR DEMILITARIZATION ARE  NOT  A
FOCUS OF CURRENT ANTI-DRUG OPERATIONS.

THE COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT ALSO SAID HE DISCUSSED POSSIBLY SHIFTING 
THE EMPHASIS OF U-S COUNTER-NARCOTICS ASSISTANCE AWAY FROM 
ERADICATION OF ILLICIT CROPS LIKE COCA AND TOWARD CROP 
SUBSTITUTION -- WHICH ALLOWS PEASANT FARMERS TO CONTINUE MAKING A
LIVING.

        // PASTRANA SPANISH  ACT -- ESTABLISH AND FADE //

MR. PASTRANA SAYS HE MENTIONED WHAT CONGRESS DID WITH PERU.  
THERE, BETWEEN 150 AND 160 MILLION DOLLARS OF U-S AID GO TOWARD 
ALTERNATIVE CROPS -- A STRATEGY THAT HAS PRODUCED RESULTS.  BUT, 
MR. PASTRANA SAYS, WE HAVE JUST THE OPPOSITE SITUATION IN 
COLOMBIA.  MORE THAN 105 MILLION DOLLARS OF U-S ASSISTANCE GOES 
FOR ERADICATION AND IT HAS  NOT  WORKED AS WELL AS WE HOPED.

//OPT// EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE COLOMBIAN HEAD OF STATE MADE HIS 
CASE FOR PROMOTING CROP SUBSTITUTION IN A SPEECH TO THE UNITED 
NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NEW YORK.  HE TOLD THE ASSEMBLY 
COLOMBIA WILL NEED INTERNATIONAL AID TO GIVE COCA FARMERS THE 
SOCIO-ECONOMIC INCENTIVES TO SWITCH TO A LEGITIMATE CROP.  //

MR. PASTRANA PLANS TO DISCUSS ANTI-NARCOTICS POLICY AND RELATED 
ISSUES WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON WHEN HE RETURNS TO WASHINGTON FOR A
STATE VISIT OCTOBER 28TH.  (SIGNED)

NEB/RAN/WFR

24-Sep-98 5:08 PM EDT (2108 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.