DATE=6/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250146
TITLE=DRUG CZAR / COLOMBIA (L-O)
BYLINE=MICHAEL BOWMAN
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S TOP ANTI-NARCOTICS OFFICIAL 
SAYS THE UNITED STATES COULD DO EVEN MORE TO SUPPORT COLOMBIA IN 
ITS BATTLE AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUG PRODUCTION.  FROM MIAMI, V-O-A'S 
MICHAEL BOWMAN REPORTS.

TEXT: WHITE HOUSE DRUG CONTROL POLICY DIRECTOR BARRY MCCAFFREY 
SAYS COLOMBIA RECEIVES 250 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR -- MAKING IT 
THE LARGEST FOREIGN RECIPIENT OF U-S COUNTER- NARCOTICS 
ASSISTANCE.  BUT, AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN MIAMI (WEDNESDAY), MR. 
MCCAFFREY WAS ASKED WHETHER THE UNITED STATES IS DOING EVERYTHING
IN ITS POWER TO HELP COLOMBIA WIN THE WAR ON DRUGS.  THIS WAS HIS
RESPONSE:

                        // MCCAFFREY ACT //

         THE ANSWER IS NO.  WE NEED TO EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT 
         COLOMBIA'S POLICE AND ARMY, AS WELL AS ALTERNATIVE 
         ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.  AND WE NEED TO STAND WITH THEM IN
         THEIR CONFRONTATION WITH A DRUG THREAT THAT IS 
         APPALLINGLY DANGEROUS TO THEIR CITIZENS AND ALSO TO OUR 
         OWN.

                           // END ACT //

 COLOMBIA IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST PRODUCER OF COCA LEAF - THE RAW 
MATERIAL USED TO MAKE COCAINE -AS WELL AS A MAJOR EXPORTER OF 
HEROIN.

LATE LAST YEAR, THE U-S CONGRESS APPROVED AN AID PACKAGE FOR 
COLOMBIA THAT INCLUDES THE TRANSFER OF SIX 'BLACKHAWK' 
HELICOPTERS FOR CROP ERADICATION AND OTHER COUNTER-NARCOTICS 
OPERATIONS.  BUT BARRY MCCAFFREY SAYS COLOMBIA NEEDS MORE THAN 
HELICOPTERS TO WIN THE DRUG WAR.  HE SAYS COLOMBIA MUST ALSO 
NEUTRALIZE GUERRILLA GROUPS LIKE THE 'REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES 
OF COLOMBIA' (FARC) AND THE 'NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY' (E-L-N) 
THAT ARE WIDELY REPORTED TO PROFIT FROM THE DRUG TRADE.

                       // MCCAFFREY ACT //

         COLOMBIA'S PROBLEMS ARE NOT JUST A LACK OF BLACKHAWKS.  
         THERE'S A TREMENDOUS DILEMMA NOW IN CONFRONTING CRIMINAL
         ORGANIZATIONS THAT COMBINE WITH THE 'FARC' AND THE 
         'E-L-N.'  THE FARC AND THE E-L-N HAVE TURNED INTO 
         QUASI-TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS.  THEY ARE DESTROYING 
         COLOMBIA.

                          // END ACT //

//OPT// WHILE VOICING SUPPORT FOR COLOMBIA'S BATTLE AGAINST 
INSURGENTS, THE WHITE HOUSE DRUG CONTROL POLICY DIRECTOR RULED 
OUT ANY DIRECT U-S INVOLVEMENT IN THE COLOMBIAN CONFLICT.   

                       // MCCAFFREY ACT //

         U-S POLICY IS NOT ONLY TO CONFRONT THE DRUG ISSUE, BUT 
         TO SUPPORT COLOMBIAN DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS.  HAVING 
         SAID THAT, THIS INTERNAL STRUGGLE IS COLOMBIA'S 
         RESPONSIBILITY, NOT THE U-S'.

                       // END ACT & OPT //

MR. MCCAFFREY CAME TO MIAMI TO ADDRESS THE CITY'S CHAMBER OF 
COMMERCE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THE BATTLE AGAINST 
ILLEGAL DRUGS.  LATE WEDNESDAY, HE VISITED AN AIR BASE FROM WHICH
THE U-S CUSTOMS SERVICE CONDUCTS COUNTER-NARCOTICS PATROLS ALONG 
SOUTH FLORIDA'S COASTLINE.  (SIGNED)

NEB/MCB/PHW/WFR

02-Jun-99 4:58 PM EDT (2058 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.