DATE=8/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=US -ECUADOR-COLOMBIA RELATIONS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-265640
BYLINE=RALPH KURTENBACK
DATELINE=QUITO
CONTENT=



INTRO:  U-S Secretary of State Madeline Albright and 
leaders of the South American nation of Ecuador signed 
a deal for Washington to donate 26 million dollars 
worth of grains to Ecuador. We have this report from 
Ralph Kurtenbach.



TEXT:   Ms. Albright says the U-S donation through 
Ecuador's World Food Program will in turn help to  
finance its social programs. 

            /// Albright act /// 

      The funds generated -- as has been explained -- 
      will be used primarily to improve nutrition for 
      children and pregnant and nursing women and we 
      hope to help as many as one million people 
      through this donation.


            /// End act ///

Speaking to journalists in Quito Friday, Ms. Albright 
fielded questions on the threat of spillover violence 
from Ecuador's northern neighbor Colombia, where the 
U-S is investing one-point-three billion dollars in 
the war on drugs under the so-called "Plan Colombia." 
She says Ecuador's concerns have been taken into 
account by the U-S, which is appropriating funds to 
meet that eventuality.

            // ALBRIGHT act TWO ///

      We have provided additional money to Ecuador as 
      a result, we are providing 20 million dollars in 
      aid under "Plan Colombia" and we are looking for 
      additional assistance to help on the northern 
      border.


            /// end act /// 

Ms Albright says funds are also available to help 
displaced people fleeing Colombia's violence.

            /// Rest opt ///

Earlier this week in Argentina, Ms. Albright met with 
the human rights group, "Grand mothers of the Plaza de 
Mayo" whose children disappeared during the Argentine 
dictatorship of 1976 through 1983.

After the meeting, the U-S State Department promised 
to do its best to release secret documents from U S 
archives. A senior U-S official says the Argentine 
group's particular interest was in children taken from 
imprisoned women and allegedly adopted into military 
officers' families.

Ecuardo is Ms. Albright last stop of her five nations 
tour in South America. (Signed)


NEB/PT 



18-Aug-2000 22:35 PM EDT (19-Aug-2000 0235 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.