Article: IDB Hails Results of International Donors Meeting on Colombia

02 May 2001

Article: IDB Hails Results of International Donors Meeting on Colombia

Says new pledges reconfirm strong support for Colombian peace process

By Eric Green
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has hailed the results of an April 30 meeting in Brussels, where international donors, including the United States, pledged millions of dollars in additional financing to support efforts to end Colombia's 37-year civil conflict.

The IDB said in a statement issued after the meeting that the new pledges "complete the international financing the Colombian government requires to complement its own funding of the peace process."

The gathering in Brussels was the third held by what is called the "International Support Group for the Peace Process in Colombia" to supplement pledges of financing for Colombia made at its two previous meetings in Bogota last October and in Madrid in May 2000. The Brussels meeting was hosted by the European Commission and co-organized by the IDB.

The IDB said the United States pledged support of $146 million in Brussels, while the European Union (EU) pledged some 338 million euros (about $297 million), the Andean Development Corporation $100 million, and other countries $37 million. In all, 27 countries and nine international organizations took part in the meeting, the IDB said. Representing the United States was Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman.

In a statement issued April 30, Grossman said the United States has made an "extraordinary commitment" to Colombia, having approved a $1,300 million assistance package for that country in 2000. Grossman said President Bush has announced plans to seek an additional $882 million for Colombia and other countries in the Andean region and that the new aid package would focus heavily on social and economic development programs.

The IDB quoted EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten as saying: "Our shared aim is to reiterate to the Colombian people our collective determination to persevere with the peace process, through thick and thin. If we persevere together, we have the chance to tip the scales once and for all in the direction of peace."

At the end of the Brussels meeting, donors issued a declaration welcoming the efforts of Colombian President Andres Pastrana's government to bring the peace process to fruition and to make it irreversible, the IDB reported. The international community expressed its hopes, echoing those of Colombian civil society, that the National Liberation Army guerrilla group, known by the Spanish acronym (ELN), would resume talks with the government shortly, and called on all parties in the Colombian conflict to reach a cease-fire, the IDB said.

The IDB said donors voiced their deep concern at the continuing violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law in Colombia and called on all hostages held by armed groups to be released. The donors also stressed the importance of combatting all aspects of the illicit drug trade.