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  Colombia Welcomes U.S. House Resolution
Posted by FoM on March 07, 2002 at 16:15:55 PT
Breaking News 
Source: United Press International 

justice The Colombian government has responded positively to a non-binding resolution passed by the U.S. House that supports the government of President Andres Pastrana and calls for a broadening of American aide to civil war-torn country.

Gustavo Bell, Colombia's defense minister and vice president, described the resolution passed Wednesday as a sign Colombia enjoys the confidence of the United States and of the international community.

"This resolution is a solid show of support for Colombia and for President Andres Pastrana's policy of continuing the struggle against terrorism in order to achieve peace," Bell said.

Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., chairman of the House International Relations Committee, and Rep. Tom Lantos of California, the senior Democrat on the committee, jointly sponsored the bipartisan resolution.

Hyde said he previously had submitted the resolution to President Bush, whom he said seemed to favor a more flexible policy towards Colombia.

The resolution recommended the government promote a new policy towards Colombia that would allow U.S. assistance to be used in the campaign against rebel groups.

Congress had restricted the use of U.S. financial and military aid to Colombia to efforts to combat the drug trade.

The U.S. government began considering lifting these restrictions after renewed rebel activity led to the Colombian government halting the peace process in mid-February.

Those who want to lift restrictions argue that the best way to damage the Colombian drug industry is to ensure the Colombian government defeats the rebels and imposes law and order throughout the country.

Supporters of the move also say that the U.S. government has a moral imperative to help the Colombian authorities defeat terrorism.

During the House debate, Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., said the breakdown in the peace process meant the U.S. government could not carry on "as if nothing had changed, as if Colombia was just fighting a war against drugs."

Kolbe also argued that it was impossible to implement the anti-drug measures included in "Plan Colombia" without establishing security in the country.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said Wednesday that the U.S. government needed to reexamine its Colombian policy in light of recent between the government and the rebel group known as FARC.

"We are going to have to readjust our policies, look closely at what we are doing and see if there are other ways we can help Colombia defend itself," Powell said.

The secretary of state said U.S. assistance is now "within the legal limits, but obviously the kind of assistance they are asking for ... will soon bring us up against the existing legislation."

The Colombian foreign ministry issued a statement late Wednesday welcoming Powell's statement and the House's non-binding resolution.

"The government welcomes the support expressed today by the secretary of state, Colin Powell, which will make assistance in defending civil liberties and our country's democracy more efficient," the foreign ministry said.

The statement noted that "both the U.S. legislature and the executive have backed the Colombian government's management of the struggle against terrorist groups."

The Colombian government said that it had not requested direct military assistance from the United States, after Powell ruled out the prospect that U.S. troops would take an active role in the Colombian conflict.

Colombian Interior Minister Armando Estrada said the country's military needed technological and financial assistance rather than reinforcements.

"The Colombian security services are well-trained, their moral is high and they know exactly what is expected of them at the present time," Estrada said. "Increased U.S. support and assistance will, however, mean we can bring the battle against terrorism to a successful conclusion faster."

The interior minister noted that Colombia has repeatedly asked the U.S. government for "greater assistance in areas such as intelligence, logistics and training."

On Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Gary Speer, the U.S. officer in charge of the Southern Command, told the Senate's Armed Forces Commission that the resources currently available to Colombia's Armed Forces were "insufficient."

The general also said the Colombian military had significantly improved its record on human rights. The issue of human rights was one of the main reasons why the U.S. Congress initially refused to provide assistance for purely military operations.

Speer also warned that unless the country's Armed Forces received further assistance soon, U.S. investment in anti-drug campaigns and projects would be put at risk by a prolonged civil war in Colombia.

Source: United Press International
Published: March 7, 2002
Copyright 2002 United Press International
Website: http://www.upi.com/

Related Articles & Web Site:

Colombia Drug War News
http://freedomtoexhale.com/colombia.htm

House Approves Resolution Calling For More Aid
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12175.shtml

Hill Stance on Colombia Aid Shifts
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12145.shtml

Plan Colombia: This Will Be Worse Than Vietnam
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12137.shtml


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