DATE=8/22/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S-BRAZIL DRUGS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-253017
BYLINE=BILL RODGERS
DATELINE=BRASILIA
CONTENT=
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INTRO:  U-S drug policy director Barry McCaffrey meets 
with top Brazilian officials Monday for talks aimed at 
expanding joint cooperation in the fight against drugs 
- especially narcotics trafficking from Colombia. VOA's 
Bill Rodgers reports from the Brazilian capital.


Text:  Monday's visit to Brasilia by White House drug 
policy director Barry McCaffrey comes as the Brazilian 
government is becoming more concerned over the rise of 
drug trafficking through its Amazon basin.  Increasing 
amounts of cocaine, and even heroin, are being smuggled 
through the sparsely populated region - much of it 
coming from Colombia.

Mr. McCaffrey, who meets Monday with Brazilian 
President Fernando Henrique Cardoso and other top 
officials, will discuss expanding U-S-Brazilian 
cooperation in halting this trafficking.  The u-s drug 
policcy director also is expected to discuss U-S 
concerns over the deteriorating situation in Colombia, 
where leftist guerrillas are being paid to protect the 
drug cartels and then use the money to finance their 
war against the government.  Mr. McCaffrey, who was in 
Bogota last month, said the ties between the guerrillas 
and drug traffickers in Colombia threaten the stability 
of the region.  

Mr. McCaffrey's Brazilian counterpart, Walter 
Maierovitch, says Monday's discussions will concentrate 
on developing a coordinated strategy against drug 
trafficking.
  
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Mr. Maierovitch - who heads the National Anti-Drug 
Secretariat (Eds: Secretaria Nacional Antidrogas, 
SENAD) - says he expects the visit will lead to a new 
phase of international cooperation, which will be much 
more active and more efficient.

Brazil will be Mr. McCaffrey's first stop in a five-day 
trip through South America.  He also will visit Boliva, 
Peru, and Argentina.  His trip comes as the Clinton 
Administration examines various proposals for 
increasing the amount of anti-narcotics assistance to 
Colombia and other nations in the hemisphere. (Signed)


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22-Aug-1999 22:20 PM LOC (23-Aug-1999 0220 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.