From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [pttp] US drug czar, in Colombia, says reviewing policy "The United States is pouring more than $1 billion in mainly military aid into President Andres Pastrana's anti-cocaine "Plan Colombia." Even though the United States brands Marxist FARC rebels as drug traffickers and "terrorists," so far it has not allowed the Colombians to channel the aid into the counter-insurgency war. " US drug czar, in Colombia, says reviewing policy By Phil Stewart BOGOTA, Colombia, Jan 16 (Reuters) - U.S. drug czar John Walters said on Wednesday that Washington was reviewing its counter-narcotics policy in Colombia, which is pressing the United States to allow it to use U.S. anti-drug aid against leftist rebels. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Colombia's armed forces chief Gen. Fernando Tapias, Walters declined direct comment on any possible change of policy -- saying only that Washington's focus continued to be the war on drugs. The United States is pouring more than $1 billion in mainly military aid into President Andres Pastrana's anti-cocaine "Plan Colombia." Even though the United States brands Marxist FARC rebels as drug traffickers and "terrorists," so far it has not allowed the Colombians to channel the aid into the counter-insurgency war. "I can't discuss all of the planning. We're doing a review of policy," Walters told reporters in Bogota on his first trip to Colombia since his appointment last year. "We remain focused on supporting democratic institutions in Colombia. We remain focused on reducing violence where we can make a contribution to doing that, and, most of all, reducing drug trafficking that contributes to the funding of violence, and anti-government activity," he added. Colombia's three-year-old peace talks with Marxist FARC rebels lurched back from collapse on Monday, but Tapias is keeping the army on high alert for a possible presidential order to move into a massive rebel safe haven next week. U.S.-COLOMBIA PARTNERSHIP 'STRONG' The United States -- long reluctant to get dragged into Colombia's 38-year guerrilla war -- has recently toughened its line against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known by its Spanish initials FARC, following the Sept. 11 attacks. But so far it has not made public any big changes to its policies regarding Colombia's conflict. "We are supporting President Pastrana and trying to make sure that in this time of change and concern in our country and in Colombia, we remain as strong if not stronger in our partnership with him," Walters said. The United States has sent 16 Black Hawk helicopters for Plan Colombia. Another 33 troop transport helicopters have arrived and 25 Huey-II helicopters will get here later this month. Pastrana has given the Marxist-inspired FARC until Jan. 20 to agree to a precise timetable for negotiating a cease-fire. If they do not, he threatens to send the army into a Switzerland-sized enclave which he ceded the rebels in late 1998 to launch negotiations. The conflict has claimed 40,000 mainly civilian lives in the past decade. Pastrana asked to be allowed to use U.S. resources against the rebels when he met with President George W. Bush and congressional leaders late last year. "I have been working with the U.S. government for some time more than anything for much more integrated (aid) for security in Colombia," said Colombia's ambassador to the United States, Luis Alberto Moreno, who accompanied Walters in his meetings. 16:20 01-16-02 Copyright 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
