U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
(La Paz, Bolivia)

Press Availability with
Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright
and Bolivian Foreign Minister Javier Murillo
Government Palace
La Paz, Bolivia

August 18, 2000


Q (in Spanish): Good afternoon. Thank you and welcome to Bolivia, Mrs.
Albright. What is your opinion regarding the reaction of some Latin
American countries towards Plan Columbia and the position of the
United States in the Colombian conflict?


SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I believe that Plan Colombia is a comprehensive
and excellent plan designed by President Pastrana, and it has our
support. As I have traveled around Latin America, I have taken away
from this that the countries in Latin America support it -- that they
understand that this is a comprehensive plan that not only deals with
the problem of drugs, but also deals with social and economic problems
in Colombia, the peace process, and a way to try to deal with human
rights. And I think that what we are learning throughout the world --
but I'm concentrating on Latin America this week -- is that we are in
this together and that when one country is able to eradicate coca, we
have to make sure that it doesn't spread somewhere else, and that this
is a regional issue, and that it should have, and does have, I
believe, the support of the neighboring countries and the countries in
the region. Nobody wants to see the whole issue militarized. People do
not want to have this become a larger military conflict. People want
this to deal with the problem that we are dealing with --
narcotrafficking -- and then do what is possible to help the societies
be able to have an alternative form of supporting the people.


Q: This is a question for the Foreign Minister. Given the success of
the eradication program, do you feel that your country should have
gotten a greater proportion of the U.S. funding in Plan Colombia?


FOREIGN MINISTER MURILLO (in Spanish): Well, as the Secretary of State
just said, U.S. cooperation and its support in Bolivia's fight against
drugs has tripled, compared to the last few years. I think that this
is major progress and a very clear signal of the support Bolivia has
enjoyed in this effort. It is possible it is not enough, but in any
case, it is an indication of the very favorable trend for support in
the fight against drugs.


(end transcript)