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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 .