Pubdate: Sat, 05 Aug 2000
Source: Columbian, The (WA)
Copyright: 2000 The Columbian Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.columbian.com/
Forum: http://www.webforums.com/forums/trace/host/msa70.html
Author: George Gedda, Associated Press Writer

CLINTON TO TRAVEL TO COLOMBIA TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR DRUG WAR

WASHINGTON -- President Clinton will travel to Colombia on Aug. 30 to show 
solidarity with President Andres Pastrana in his efforts to defeat 
narcotics traffickers and end the country's 36-year civil war.

The administration has strongly supported Colombia's counternarcotics 
effort, persuading Congress to approve $1.3 billion in assistance last 
month. The funding is being used mostly to equip and train Colombian 
military units assigned to anti-drug duty.

It will be Clinton's first trip to Colombia. He will fly to the port city 
of Cartagena for his meetings with Pastrana, returning to Washington the 
same day.

A U.S. official, asking not to be identified, said an overnight stay was 
ruled out for security reasons.

The visit mirrors a trip former President George Bush made in February, 
1990 when, highlighting his administration's anti-drug campaign, he spent 
four hours in Cartagena.

Bush was joined there by Colombia's president and leaders from other Andean 
countries.

Clinton said in a statement that it is "profoundly in the interest of the 
United States" for Colombia to succeed in its efforts to seek peace, fight 
illicit drugs, build its economy and protect democracy.

The U.S. assistance package is earmarked solely to aid in counterdrug 
efforts, but some lawmakers are concerned that the United States might get 
bogged down in the war the Colombian army has been waging against two 
leftist guerrilla groups.