Pubdate: Thu, 21 Aug 2003
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2003 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact:  http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Freddy Cuevas, Associated Press Writer

HONDURAN PRESIDENT SAYS NO US DRUG BASE IN HIS COUNTRY

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) -- The United States has no interest in setting up
an anti-drug base in Honduras, President Ricardo Maduro said Thursday in the
wake a visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.

"Honduras will not lend its territory as an anti-drug base for Washington,"
Maduro told the Associated Press, though he noted that the two countries do
cooperate.

"Honduras is on the drug route between Colombia and the United States, which
greatly affects us, but there will not be a greater U.S. military presence
here," he said.

About 450 U.S. troops are based at the Soto Cano air base at Palmerola, about
50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Tegucigalpa.

The base opened in 1983 during an era in which U.S.-backed forces were opposing
Soviet-backed groups in Central America.

"The United States supports Honduras, and we respond with friendship," Maduro
said, calling his country "a permanent ally of the United States."

Local media speculation about U.S. intentions was stimulated by the visit June
10 by Undersecretary of Defense Dov Zakheim, on Aug. 13 by Joint Chiefs head
Gen. Richard B. Myers and on Wednesday by Rumsfeld.

Maduro said the visits were aimed at thanking Honduras for sending 370 troops
to help in Iraq and for ratifying a treaty exempting U.S. troops from war
crimes trials.

Defense Minister Federico Breve also said that his country "at no time has
asked Washington to broaden its military presence in Honduras to help in the
fight against drugs. That topic has never been raised."

During his visit on Wednesday, Rumsfeld said areas such as Central and South
America deserve attention in the "truly global struggle" against terrorism.
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