U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
DPB #84
MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2000, 12:45 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

QUESTION:  Last week, the Government of Brazil rejected the idea
of participation in the Plan Colombia, to help the United States
combat narco-traffickers there.  Brazil is one of the leaders of
Latin America and there is also reaction from other countries,
saying that they don't want to participate, too, in helping in
Plan Colombia.

How do you plan to convince these Latin American countries of the
urgency of the situation in Colombia?

MR. BOUCHER:  I think if we had to, we would.  But I think if you
look carefully at what happened during the Secretary's visit last
week and the things that were said, you will find first of all
that the Brazilian government is not opposed to Plan Colombia.
Second of all, you will find that there is support in the region
for taking action against drugs in the region and particularly in
Colombia.  That was a major topic of her trip and we would be
glad to get you a ton-and-a-half of information on it.

(The briefing concluded at 1:15 p.m.)