There Are Growing Signs The US May Widen The Scope Of Its Military Aid To Bogota In A Stalemate Against Rebels In January 1999, when Colombia's newly-elected President Andres Pastrana launched peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), there was great initial optimism of a realistic chance of ending the conflict with the country's largest rebel force, which has been conducting an increasingly bloody insurgency since the mid-1960s. However, peace negotiations have moved slowly and have increasingly lost credibility. Despite three years of talks, critics say that virtually no tangible results have been achieved and that the FARC is not committed to negotiating an end to the conflict. [continues 1031 words]
Sources in Colombia's Ministry of Defence told Jane's Defence Weekly that it will order 14 Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk utility helicopters to improve the mobility of its forces battling rebels and drug traffickers. The aircraft will be procured through a leasing arrangement to ease the payment burden. The sources said that the decision to purchase the Black Hawks has been under consideration for at least two years, but the purchase was put back due to budgetary constraints. The army and the air force will each receive seven Black Hawks. The first helicopter is expected to arrive about July, with deliveries completed in 2001. Earlier this year the armed forces received five Black Hawks ordered in 1999 to join the 25 already in service. [continues 155 words]
