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30th October 2006, 15:57
25 October 2006
U.S. Commitment to Colombia Remains Strong, U.S. Official Says
U.S. midterm elections not likely to lessen American support for Colombia
By Eric Green
Washington File Staff Writer
Under Secretary of State R. Nicholas Burns speaks during a news conference in Bogota, Colombia. (© AP Images)Washington – R. Nicholas Burns, the under secretary of state for political affairs, says the November 7 U.S. midterm elections, whatever their outcome, will not affect the United States’ strong support for Colombia.
At a briefing October 24 in Colombia's capital, Bogotá, Burns said that no matter which U.S. political party controls the U.S. Congress after November 7, the United States will continue to support Plan Colombia, continue to back Colombia's fight against narco-terrorist groups in Colombia and continue supporting programs that fight the production of coca and its illicit sale in the Western Hemisphere.
Setting the scene for his October 24-26 visit to Colombia, Burns said he would talk to Colombian officials about extending Plan Colombia -- the strategy devised by Colombian authorities to combat the country's illicit drug trade, boost economic growth and strengthen democratic institutions. Discussions about such an extension, he said, have continued for the last year.
Burns said the Bush administration will ask Congress to maintain the current level of funding (about $600 million a year) to help Colombia fight narco-terrorists, to demobilize combatants in the Andean country's ongoing internal conflict, to reduce poverty and to enhance social justice.
The under secretary said the United States wants to sign a U.S.-Colombia free-trade agreement, "and we're going to ask our Congress" to ratify that agreement "as soon as possible." (See related article.)
The official called the free-trade pact a "landmark initiative in the history of the relationship" between the United States and Colombia. The trade deal, he said, will dramatically expand the levels of trade between the two countries and will have "real benefits" for the Colombian people.
Burns said the Bush administration also will ask Congress to continue the Andean Trade Preference Act, "because we think that program has been beneficial to Colombia" and to the United States.
On the subject of human rights in Colombia, Burns said that in every meeting that U.S. officials have with the Colombian government "we do draw attention to the fact that there have been a number of human rights cases that have not been adjudicated" in Colombia in many years. Burns said he hopes to hear from Colombian human rights activists on "their perspective of these issues" because of its importance to people in both the United States and Colombia.
The United States is "open" to any suggestions the Colombian government wants to make about possible adjustments to Colombia's counternarcotics strategy, Burns said, and is "very pleased" to provide financial and other assistance to Colombia's counternarcotics program. "[I]f the Colombian government has modifications to make to it, of course we'll listen to that."
Burns added that the United States has a responsibility to try to decrease demand for the heroin and cocaine from Colombia that is shipped across U.S. borders.
"That's our responsibility, that's our self-interest, to make sure that our kids are not entrapped by narcotics," Burns said. He added that "it's a two-way street" regarding U.S. and Colombian efforts to fight illegal drugs.
The Bush administration, he emphasized, believes the Colombian government "has really done an extraordinary job of defining" the counternarcotics issue as a priority, with its drug eradication and related programs proving effective to date. But he added that in any counternarcotics campaign, "you sometimes have to adjust strategy in order to be effective as conditions change."
Additional information about Plan Colombia and Andean Trade Preference Act is available on the State Department Web site.
For more information on U.S. policy, see Colombia.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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More Coverage
Bush Hopeful for Free Trade Agreement with Colombia
U.S. Announces Completion of Free-Trade Agreement with Colombia
Colombia
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The Americas
International Security
Trade and Economics
Democracy
Global Issues
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U.S. Commitment to Colombia Remains Strong, U.S. Official Says
U.S. midterm elections not likely to lessen American support for Colombia
By Eric Green
Washington File Staff Writer
Under Secretary of State R. Nicholas Burns speaks during a news conference in Bogota, Colombia. (© AP Images)Washington – R. Nicholas Burns, the under secretary of state for political affairs, says the November 7 U.S. midterm elections, whatever their outcome, will not affect the United States’ strong support for Colombia.
At a briefing October 24 in Colombia's capital, Bogotá, Burns said that no matter which U.S. political party controls the U.S. Congress after November 7, the United States will continue to support Plan Colombia, continue to back Colombia's fight against narco-terrorist groups in Colombia and continue supporting programs that fight the production of coca and its illicit sale in the Western Hemisphere.
Setting the scene for his October 24-26 visit to Colombia, Burns said he would talk to Colombian officials about extending Plan Colombia -- the strategy devised by Colombian authorities to combat the country's illicit drug trade, boost economic growth and strengthen democratic institutions. Discussions about such an extension, he said, have continued for the last year.
Burns said the Bush administration will ask Congress to maintain the current level of funding (about $600 million a year) to help Colombia fight narco-terrorists, to demobilize combatants in the Andean country's ongoing internal conflict, to reduce poverty and to enhance social justice.
The under secretary said the United States wants to sign a U.S.-Colombia free-trade agreement, "and we're going to ask our Congress" to ratify that agreement "as soon as possible." (See related article.)
The official called the free-trade pact a "landmark initiative in the history of the relationship" between the United States and Colombia. The trade deal, he said, will dramatically expand the levels of trade between the two countries and will have "real benefits" for the Colombian people.
Burns said the Bush administration also will ask Congress to continue the Andean Trade Preference Act, "because we think that program has been beneficial to Colombia" and to the United States.
On the subject of human rights in Colombia, Burns said that in every meeting that U.S. officials have with the Colombian government "we do draw attention to the fact that there have been a number of human rights cases that have not been adjudicated" in Colombia in many years. Burns said he hopes to hear from Colombian human rights activists on "their perspective of these issues" because of its importance to people in both the United States and Colombia.
The United States is "open" to any suggestions the Colombian government wants to make about possible adjustments to Colombia's counternarcotics strategy, Burns said, and is "very pleased" to provide financial and other assistance to Colombia's counternarcotics program. "[I]f the Colombian government has modifications to make to it, of course we'll listen to that."
Burns added that the United States has a responsibility to try to decrease demand for the heroin and cocaine from Colombia that is shipped across U.S. borders.
"That's our responsibility, that's our self-interest, to make sure that our kids are not entrapped by narcotics," Burns said. He added that "it's a two-way street" regarding U.S. and Colombian efforts to fight illegal drugs.
The Bush administration, he emphasized, believes the Colombian government "has really done an extraordinary job of defining" the counternarcotics issue as a priority, with its drug eradication and related programs proving effective to date. But he added that in any counternarcotics campaign, "you sometimes have to adjust strategy in order to be effective as conditions change."
Additional information about Plan Colombia and Andean Trade Preference Act is available on the State Department Web site.
For more information on U.S. policy, see Colombia.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
PAGE TOOLS Email this story
Print this story
XML Transcript
Article translated in: Español
More Coverage
Bush Hopeful for Free Trade Agreement with Colombia
U.S. Announces Completion of Free-Trade Agreement with Colombia
Colombia
Related Collections
News from Washington
The Americas
International Security
Trade and Economics
Democracy
Global Issues
Tell us what you think about this article.USINFO delivers information about current U.S. foreign policy and about American life and culture. This site is produced and maintained by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs. Links to other internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein.
Home | About USINFO | Site Index | Contact Us | Privacy
Topics | Regions | Resource Tools | Products