DATE=10/28/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240852
TITLE=U-S/COLOMBIA TALKS (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON AND COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT ANDRES PASTRANA 
ARE DECLARING A NEW ERA IN BILATERAL RELATIONS AFTER WHITE HOUSE 
TALKS WEDNESDAY. IT WAS THE FIRST STATE VISIT BY A COLOMBIAN 
LEADER IN 23 YEARS.  V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE
HOUSE.

TEXT: RELATIONS HAD HIT ROCK-BOTTOM A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN MR. 
PASTRANA'S PREDECESSOR -- FORMER PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER -- WAS 
BARRED FROM THE UNITED STATES FOR ALLEGED LINKS WITH DRUG 
TRAFFICKERS.

BUT PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS EFFUSIVE IN HIS PRAISE FOR THE 
ANTI-DRUG STEPS MR. PASTRANA HAS TAKEN SINCE ASSUMING OFFICE IN 
AUGUST. AND, AT A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE, HE PLEDGED FULL SUPPORT 
FOR THE NEW PRESIDENT'S INITATIVE TO END COLOMBIA'S LONG-RUNNING 
LEFTWING INSURGENCY:

                    ///CLINTON ACTUALITY/// 

         PRESIDENT PASTRANA HAS THE WILL, THE COURAGE, AND THE 
         SUPPORT OF HIS PEOPLE TO BUILD PEACE. I WELCOME HIS 
         EFFORTS TO OPEN TALKS WITH INSURGENT GROUPS. WE STAND 
         READY TO HELP. WE HOPE THE INSURGENTS AND PARAMILITARIES
         WILL SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY THE PRESIDENT HAS OFFERED 
         THEM BY ENDING TERRORISM, AND HOSTAGE-TAKING AND 
         INVOLVEMENT WITH DRUG TRAFFICKERS.

                          ///END ACT///

PRESIDENT PASTRANA'S DECISION TO EMPHASIZE THE INSURGENCY OVER 
THE DRUG PROBLEM HAS CAUSED SOME MISGIVINGS IN THE U-S CONGRESS 
-- ESPECIALLY HIS PLAN TO REMOVE SECURITY FORCES FROM AN AREA OF 
THE COLOMBIAN INTERIOR THE SIZE OF SWITZERLAND TO CREATE A SAFE 
ZONE FOR HOLDING TALKS WITH GUERRILLAS NEXT MONTH.

BUT AT THE FORMAL WELCOMING CEREMONY HERE, MR. PASTRANA INSISTED 
HE HAD NO INTENTION OF ALLOWING THE AREA  TO   BECOME  A 
SAFE-HAVEN FOR THE DRUG GANGS:

                    ///PASTRANA ACTUALITY///

         WE HAVE BEGUN A PROCESS OF PEACE -- NOT TO CEDE ANY OF 
         OUR TERRITORY AND NOT EVER TO CONCEDE ANY SANCTUARY TO 
         DRUGS, BUT TO DEAL WITH THE CAUSES OF THE CONFLICT AND 
         RESTORE THE RULE OF LAW AND THE PROMISE OF PROGRESS 
         EVERYWHERE IN OUR COUNTRY. LET THERE BE NO DOUBT. 
         THOUSANDS OF MY COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN HAVE GIVEN THEIR 
         LIVES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING. THE ONLY 
         PEACE TREATY ACCEPTABLE TO ME AND THE COLOMBIAN NATION 
         IS ONE THAT STRENGTHENS OUR ABILITY TO RID COLOMBIA OF 
         COCAINE PRODUCTION.

                          ///END ACT///

THE TWO LEADERS SIGNED AN ACCORD FOR A JOINT ALLIANCE AGAINST 
DRUGS COMMITTING THE NATIONS TO COMBAT BOTH DRUG TRAFFICKING AND 
CONSUMPTION.  MR. CLINTON SAID COLOMBIA IS IN LINE FOR 280 
MILLION DOLLARS IN U-S AID THIS COMING YEAR TO FIGHT TRAFFICKERS 
AND BOOST THE COUNTRY'S TROUBLED ECONOMY.

THE AID, INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF U-S BLACKHAWK HELICOPTERS, 
MOVES COLOMBIA UP TO THIRD ON THE LIST -- BEHIND ISRAEL AND EGYPT
-- OF THE LARGEST RECIPIENTS OF U-S AID. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/WDC/WFR

28-Oct-98 5:24 PM EST (2224 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.