U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING

Briefer:  Philip T. Reeker, Deputy Spokesman

TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2000, 1:42 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

QUESTION:  Do you have any comment on the concerns voiced
yesterday by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, in the
Washington Office of Latin America, about the fact that the human
rights of conditions have been waived - actually the conditions
imposed by Congress, in connection with the military aid being
sent to Colombia?  This is seen as a green light being given to
the government to continue its --

MR. REEKER:  First, I think we addressed it in great deal when
the announcements were made last week, but let me just say that
the challenges faced by Colombia are a matter of national
security interest to the United States.  We have certainly
discussed that at great length.

Our assistance package is crucial to maintaining our counter-drug
efforts there, and to helping the Colombian Government and people
to preserve Colombia's democracy.  Moreover, the United States
has important interest in promoting economic reform, protection
of US citizens, hemispheric stability, all of which are addressed
by our support for Colombia, and by our financial support through
Plan Colombia.

Human rights, as we have made very clear here, is a central issue
in our bilateral relations with Colombia, and we are going to
continue to engage with the Colombians - with the Government of
Colombia on the concrete measures that that government should
take to meet the certification conditions, and to improve its
human rights performance.

We continue to press the Government of Colombia to achieve
tangible results in these areas, and we are going to carry out a
continuing series of consultations with the nongovernmental
organization community regarding human rights and humanitarian
issues in Colombia.  I think we have always seen such
discussions, which we have had on an ongoing basis for a long
time, as a very positive exchange of ideas which truly help to
advance our mutual desire to assist Colombia in improving its
human rights environment.

As a number of people noted last week, we feel that the
government of President Pastrana is making a very good faith
effort to pursue that, and we are going to continue to work very
closely with them on that.

QUESTION:  You said you are going to continue to consult with the
groups like she mentioned.  They - yesterday, in the press
conference - gave us a document that was given to the State
Department, and they are very disappointed with the answer they
get to that report.

MR. REEKER:  That is their right to be but, as I just told you
now, our position hasn't changed on that.  We take human rights
as a central issue in our bilateral relationship with Colombia,
and we are going to continue to make that a major focus of our
relationship and indeed our aid and support for Colombia.

QUESTION:  They give the name of five specific generals that are
working now in Colombia that they have concerns about their
relations with human rights' abusers, like the paramilitaries.
Have you given any advice to the Pastrana government about the
activities of these five generals?

MR. REEKER:  I am not aware of the list.  I am not aware of
specific individuals.  That is obviously part of the reason for
our dialogue with these organizations, and why we find it
extremely useful.  And it is something that we have done, not
just on Colombia, but on many, many countries, and many, many
issues, particularly in terms of human rights.

So those dialogues are useful; the information they can provide
us is useful.  It is the kind of thing we follow up on, but I
just don't have the specifics on it.  What I can tell you is that
we take this very seriously.  This is a central issue in our
bilateral relationship with Colombia.  It obviously will be a
major factor in our relationship as we continue to support
Colombia with our assistance package, and the counter-narcotics
efforts, and all of these issues which are really an important
matter of national security interest to the United States.

(The briefing was concluded at 2:40 P.M.)