DATE=2/14/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PICKERING - COLOMBIA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259161
BYLINE=RHODA METCAFE
DATELINE=BOGOTA
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO: A senior U-S State Department official visiting 
Colombia says a proposed one-point-six billion dollar 
package of anti-drug aid for the South American nation 
will be used in part to fight leftist guerrillas.  
Under-Secretary for Political Affairs Thomas Pickering 
defended the controversial proposal at a news 
conference Monday in Bogota.  We have more from 
reporter Rhoda Metcalfe.

TEXT:  Mr. Pickering tried to downplay the military 
side of the proposed U-S financing.  Instead he 
stressed that the aid package would be very wide 
ranging.

            /// FIRST PICKERING ACT ///

      Our mutual goal is to eradicate drugs, promote 
      alternative crops and  economic development, 
      foster respect for human rights, the rule of 
      law, achieve peace  and build democracy.

            /// END ACT ///

But the undersecretary had to admit a full two-thirds 
of the proposed package -a billion dollars -- is 
expected to be funneled into training and equipment 
for the Colombian military.  That's where the 
controversy lies. A number of recent newspaper 
articles in the United States - including an editorial 
in the New York Times - worry that this could entangle 
the United States in Colombia's complex guerrilla war. 
Mr. Pickering brushed off the concerns.

            /// SECOND PICKERING ACT ///

      Being drawn into a terrible quagmire issue has 
      everything to do with my statements that the U-S 
      has no intention of sending troops into Colombia 
      to fight."

            /// END ACT ///

American military personnel have been used in 
Colombia, but only for training.  Mr. Pickering 
pointed out that the military aid is strictly aimed at 
the drug trade. But Colombia's left-wing guerrilla 
groups are now deeply involved in protecting drug 
production.  Replying to a question in Spanish, 
Mr.Pickering admitted the U-S program would in part be 
aimed at the guerrillas.

            /// PICKERING SPANISH ACT FADES UNDER ///

He said our goal is to eliminate the production and 
transport of drugs. If the guerillas are participating 
in the trade - and he said, he has no doubt that they 
are - then they will be a target.  He said if the 
rebels drop their drug ties, they have nothing to 
fear. 

But with Colombia's rebels now drawing close to half 
their financing from drug activities, analysts say 
they're unlikely to give it up without a fight.  If 
the fight heats up, critics wonder whether the U-S 
will feel pressure to invest even more money and more 
American lives in Latin America's last insurgent war.

Mr. Pickering's visit coincides with the release of 
new statistics that the amount of land in Colombia 
dedicated to producing cocaine and heroin expanded by 
20% last year.  Despite the eradication effort, 
production of the drugs rose by even more, thanks to 
improved plant varieties. (Signed)

NEB/rm/gm  



14-Feb-2000 22:37 PM EDT (15-Feb-2000 0337 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.