DATE=10/19/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-268162

TITLE=Latam/Defense (L-only)

BYLINE=Bill Rodgers

DATELINE=Rio de Janeiro

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Controversy has arisen at a meeting of Latin American Defense Chiefs in Brazil following comments by a U-S Defense official regarding U-S backing of Plan Colombia. VOA's Bill Rodgers reports from Rio de Janeiro Colombia's anti-drug program has been the focus of the conference which is taking place in the Brazilian Amazon city of Manaus.

TEXT: Some Latin American defense officials meeting in Manaus are reported to have reacted with surprise at the strong comments made by U-S Defense official, James Bodner, about U-S support for Plan Colombia. At a closed door meeting Wednesday, Mr. Bodner is quoted by participants as having complained about what he described as the lack of "solidarity" by South America for Colombia's anti-drug program. Mr. Bodner who is the Undersecretary of Defense -- also is quoted as saying Plan Colombia will go ahead with or without support by other Latin American nations.

Washington is providing one-point-three billion dollars, much of it in military aid, for Plan Colombia which is aimed at reducing drug production and trafficking in Colombia. Much of the Plan is focused on addressing the root causes of the drug problem. But it also includes support for Colombian military efforts against leftist guerrillas and other armed groups that profit from the drug trade.

Colombia's neighbors -- Brazil, Ecuador, and especially Venezuela -- have expressed deep concern that Plan Colombia could lead to an upsurge of fighting, and have a spillover effect across their borders. Officials from some of these nations reportedly have again voiced these concerns at the Defense Chiefs conference underway this week in Manaus.

The comments by U-S Defense official Bodner reportedly were made in response to some of these complaints. Some participants at the meeting later described his comments as "peculiar" and "arrogant". Meanwhile, Colombia's Defense Chief Luis Fernando Ramirez called for understanding by his country's neighbors saying Colombia is suffering from a serious cancer and needs help.

The issue of Plan Colombia was not on the official agenda at the Manaus conference but appears to have dominated discussions at the closed door meetings.

This is the fourth meeting of Defense Chiefs from the Americas since 1995. The meetings are aimed at strengthening regional security and defense, and to reinforce civilian-military relations in a hemisphere where many countries were once ruled by military dictatorships. (Signed)

neb/wfr/plm