U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE 
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING 
Briefer: Richard Boucher, Spokesman 
TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2000, 1:15 P.M. 
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS
OTHERWISE NOTED) 

QUESTION: Different subject. Peru and Colombia. Do you have any reaction to the 
Peruvian government intercepting or having the proof of arms trafficking in 
Colombia for the FARC guerrillas? 

MR. BOUCHER: The arrest by Peruvian authorities of alleged arms traffickers to 
the guerillas in Colombia is a positive sign of regional action to counter the spill-over
effects of the Colombian conflict. Increasingly, the countries in the region
recognize that the crisis in Colombia represents a hemispheric problem
in which they have a direct and immediate stake. I think those of you who
followed the Secretary's trip last week and her discussions of Colombia
and the hemispheric problem of drugs will recognize that as well. >From
the outset, the United States has recognized the threat to regional stability
that is created by the Colombian conflict. The 1.3 billion aid package
that supports Plan Colombia includes regional assistance for Colombia's
neighbors, including Peru. The package, as approved by the Congress and
signed by the President, provides $180 million in regional assistance,
including $32 million for Peru. 

QUESTION: Richard, do you have any reaction to what President Fujimori says, 
criticizing the Secretary of State directly because she avoided a visit Peru 
during her trip to South America? 

MR. BOUCHER: I just note there are a lot of countries in South America she
did not go to on this trip. We have explained why she went to the ones
she went to, the importance of doing that. I think if we have to explain
every time she takes a trip why she didn't go anywhere else, that is impossible.


QUESTION: Do you consider Fujimori as an ally in South America in the war
against narco-traffickers? 

MR. BOUCHER: I am not going to use new words on that. We want to work with them, 
we want to work with the Government of Peru to pursue the drug problem. We have 
done that all along, we are going to continue to do that. 

QUESTION: Richard, President Fujimori has kind of cast himself in the role, 
after announcing these arrests, has cast himself in the role of the champion 
of democracy and now he's making Colombia safe for democracy. Would you like to 
see any of that effort, given your past statements, turned internally, making 
his own country safe for democracy?


MR. BOUCHER: What a great opportunity you're offering me here. But let
me simply say first of all there is a hemispheric problem with drugs, there
is a regional problem created by the fighting in Colombia. We want to work
on these problems with the countries of the region, countries of the hemisphere.
We are going to continue to do that in the way we have. As far as Peruvian
democracy, this is something we have been quite clear about and the need
is for Peru to cooperate with the OAS and to move forward on the program
that they have been discussing. 

QUESTION: In other words, action like this is not going to convince you that 
President Fujimori is a true democrat, committed to those ideals? He's going 
to have to follow the OAS? 

MR. BOUCHER: This is a different kettle of fish. ... 

QUESTION: But I recall very well that President Clinton, weeks before the 
elections in Peru, considered Fujimori as an ally against narco-traffickers 
- ally of the United States. And now you react to make a collective decision it seems - 

MR. BOUCHER: I just personally do not remember that word being used. I don't want to
try to re-characterize it in some way or accept your words for mine. The
fact is, it is important to us to cooperate against drugs; it is important
to us to cooperate against violence in the region. We recognize there is
a problem in the region; we put our money behind it as well as our words
and our efforts, and we will continue to do that. We are not here just
to use words. We're trying to do something about the problem. 

QUESTION: Since the Peruvian runoff election in late May, I think there have been
two OAS missions to Peru. And beyond that, Fujimori said nothing in his
inaugural address about - 

MR. BOUCHER: Yes, and I think we pointed that out. 

QUESTION: All right. Can you bring us up to date on how these OAS
missions have done? 

MR. BOUCHER: I will have to get you something on that.
I'll have to look at it. 

QUESTION: Didn't the National Reconciliation Talks, under the auspices of 
the OAS, start yesterday? 

MR. BOUCHER: I would have to check on that. I just don't know. 

QUESTION: Can we just stay directly on Peru? I just want to make sure I 
have this straight. Fujimori casting himself as the role of the champion of 
democracy in Colombia, or helping to save democracy in Colombia, is not going 
to alleviate any of your concerns about what's going on in his own country? 

MR. BOUCHER: Our concerns about the state of democracy in Peru remain. 
I'll get you an update on where we stand in working on those through the OAS. 

QUESTION: Can you just say something that says that the United States does 
not see a link - 

MR. BOUCHER: Do you want to write it? I mean, you know - 

QUESTION: No. I'm just looking for a straight answer. 

MR. BOUCHER: I said these are different things. I said, that's a different 
thing. Democracy and drugs and violence are different things. Working on 
one doesn't alleviate the need to work on another. Is that clear enough? 

QUESTION: Thank you. Yes. ... 

QUESTION: Can I go back earlier with Colombia? 

MR. BOUCHER: Let's bounce around.


QUESTION: Well, the Foreign Minister of Colombia announced today that the
government of President Pastrana was aware of the arms trafficking from
Jordan to South America. My question is, the US government was, in any
case, aware of this arms trafficking? You spoke with the Pastrana government
about it before Fujimori took the scene and said, we are the champions?


MR. BOUCHER: Some of you may remember better than me, but it strikes me
that this came up a month or two ago, didn't it? Reports of things like
this. Someone better informed than I am and with a better memory than I
am asked about this a month or so ago. Certainly we were made aware of
it by our friends in the press corps, who asked us the question. But at
the same time, these are issues we do follow, but clearly the governments
in the region have a special interest. 

QUESTION: Is the US government aware of any involvement by Peruvian security 
forces in the trafficking? 

MR. BOUCHER: I don't know, I guess is the only good answer to that. I don't
know and I am not sure I can get you an answer, but I will see. 

QUESTION: Could you get me an answer specifically - 

MR. BOUCHER: Maybe. I will give you a definite maybe on that one. 

QUESTION: - the story goes that we, in the Peruvian press, were aware like a month ago, that there was some arms
trafficking and things pointed to the security - to the intelligence service
in Peru being the traffickers. They are the ones who are championing now,
saying that they have stopped this. Can you answer - 

MR. BOUCHER: I will see if we have any information, but I am really not sure I can get anything
for you on that. 

(The briefing was concluded at 2:00 p.m.)