Pubdate: Fri, 07 Sep 2001
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2001 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Ken Guggenheim

US OFFICIAL SUPPORTS DRUG MEETING

WASHINGTON -- Colombian President Andres Pastrana's call for an 
international narcotics conference is worth pursuing, a State Department 
official said Friday.

"The idea of better cooperation and better coordination is a very good 
idea," said William Brownfield, deputy assistant secretary for Western 
Hemisphere affairs.

Brownfield spoke with reporters ahead of Secretary of State Colin Powell's 
visit to Peru and Colombia next week.

On Thursday, Pastrana said the global drug fight has produced few victories 
and he called on the United States to organize a narcotics conference.

Brownfield said it is "a matter of common sense" that global drug fighting 
efforts have not been successful.

But Brownfield rejected suggestions that the early results have been 
discouraging from last year's $1.3 billion Colombian drug package.

"It is not only going well, but probably going better than we would have 
expected it to be going at this time," he said.

In nine months, more than 61,000 acres of coca, the raw material for 
cocaine, have been fumigated, 35,000 peasant farmers have agreed to stop 
growing coca and more than 200 laboratories have been destroyed, he said.

The U.S.-financed anti-drug efforts in Colombia have been criticized both 
in Colombia and the United States. Peasant farmers claim the spraying has 
damaged their health and destroyed food crops. U.S officials deny this.

American opponents object to U.S. assistance for Colombia's military, which 
has been linked to human rights abuses. They also question whether any 
foreign drug programs can be effective while U.S. demand for cocaine 
remains high.

Besides discussing drug interdiction, Powell will also talk to Colombian 
officials about negotiations to end the country's war with leftist 
guerrillas. Brownfield said the United States supports the peace process, 
but believes rebel violence is undermining its chances of success.

Powell will likely also stress human rights, he said.

Powell's trip comes shortly before he is to testify in Congress in support 
of the Bush administration's proposal for another $882 million in 
additional aid for Colombia and its neighbors.

In Peru, Powell will attend a foreign ministers' meeting to approve a 
democratic charter for the Organization of American States. The charter 
spells out standards for democracy for the 34 active member nations. It 
also outlines steps to deal with members that stray from those standards. 
Those steps range from friendly advice to suspension from the organization.

Roger Noriega, the U.S. ambassador to the OAS, said the proposed charter 
"flatly asserts that the peoples of the Americas have the right to democracy."

Powell will also meet with Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo and discuss 
that country's democratic advancements after the 10-year government of 
Alberto Fujimori collapsed in a corruption scandal. 
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