Transcript: Albright-Pastrana Joint Press Conference, January 15

(U.S. aid package will support Colombia's anti-drug efforts) (2080)

Citing U.S.-Colombian "unity of purpose" in confronting the illicit
drug trade, which he described as "one of the greatest plagues of our
time," President Andres Pastrana of Colombia welcomed U.S. Secretary
of State Madeleine Albright at a January 15 press conference in
Cartagena, her first stop on a weekend-long trip to Colombia, Panama
and Mexico.

Addressing reporters on the subject of President Clinton's proposed
aid package to Colombia, the two leaders explained that U.S.
assistance in support of Pastrana's "Plan Colombia" is designed to
enhance the Colombian government's ambitious program to fight illegal
drugs and the complex problems related to drug trafficking. The
proposed aid would help curb the guerrillas whose insurgency is fueled
by drug profits, restore civil order and promote democratic
institutions, they stressed, while also advancing Colombia's economic
development and protecting human rights.

Noting that the "social and economic dimensions to this crisis"
threaten the stability of countries far removed from Colombian
borders, Pastrana said that he welcomed the recognition that
counter-drug efforts are "much more than a regional or bilateral
issue," inviting "the nations of Europe, Asia and Africa" to "work
with us more closely." He added: "To truly succeed, we need the active
participation of the entire global community. And the fact that the
United States agrees with us here bodes well for the prospect to
further internationalize our common cause."

Albright echoed this theme, urging "other donors to come forward" with
assistance to Colombia, while pointing out that the U.S. is also
stepping up "support for counter-narcotics and alternative [crop]
development programs for Colombia's neighbors" as well. "It's not
enough to drive drug criminals out of Colombia," she observed. "Our
goal is to drive them out of business, once and for all."

Before taking questions from reporters, Albright concluded her
prepared remarks by praising "the courageous struggle of the Colombian
people," re-affirming U.S. partnership with Colombia and the two
countries' shared goals. "We are determined to help you overcome the
evils brought about by the drug trade" in pursuit of "peace, democracy
and rising prosperity for both our nations," she declared.

Following is a transcript of the joint press conference:

(Note: In the transcript, "billion" equals 1,000 million)

(begin transcript)

(REVISED)

U.S DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
(Cartagena, Colombia)

January 15, 2000

JOINT PRESS AVAILABILITY
WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT
AND COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT ANDRES PASTRANA

Presidential Guest House
Cartagena, Colombia
January 15, 2000

PRESIDENT PASTRANA: Let me begin by thanking the U.S. Secretary of
State, Madeleine Albright, for visiting us in Colombia. Madame
Secretary, your tireless and principled work in the name of freedom
and human democracy and human decency has earned you the unqualified
respect of millions of people around the world and we are deeply
honored that you have come here today. Your presence symbolizes much
more than the amity between our two nations. It demonstrates our unity
of purpose, our shared commitment to confront one of the greatest
plagues of our time -- illegal drugs -- as well as our mutual
determination to uphold democracy and economic growth and prosperity
and to strive for lasting peace.

As you all know, Secretary Albright is here following the announcement
by President Clinton that his administration has recommended increased
U.S. assistance to Colombia in support of Plan Colombia. As a nation
we are indeed heartened by this news. The single greatest threat
Colombia faces, and has faced bravely and at a great sacrifice for a
generation now, is fueled by illegal drugs. More than anything else,
it fuels the insurgency, feeds violence and delinquency, breeds
insecurity and fear and threatens our democratic institutions. We have
made enormous strides ... (inaudible) ... and most recently working
side by side with the United States authorities in the success of
Operation Milenio. Yet, we can and will do more as a consumer and
producer nation with respect to supply, demand and interdiction at all
levels -- from destroying laboratories, shooting down money laundering
and contraband schemes and treating problems of addiction. Future
generations deserve nothing less.

At the same time I am equally pleased that the United States
assistance package also supports the Colombian peace process, economic
development, the defense of human rights and the need for alternative
development. The United States clearly understands what my
administration has stated all along: that to be successful counter
narcotics has to be more than eradication and arrests; that there are
social and economic dimensions to this crisis which must be addressed.
And finally, we also welcome the recognition that it is much more than
a regional or bilateral issue and that the nations of Europe, Asia and
Africa must work with us more closely. To truly succeed, we need the
active participation of the entire global community. And the fact the
United States agrees with us here bodes well for the prospect to
further internationalize our common case.

Madame Secretary, we are grateful for your pledged support and the
support of the United States Government and we remain sincerely
hopeful that together we will be able to make an enduring, positive
difference in the world. Thank you very much.

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Thank you very much Mr. President for your kind
words and your incredible hospitality. I am truly delighted to be here
in this beautiful and historic city of heroes.

Last summer I wrote an article for the United States press calling
attention to the difficult and vital test to democracy Colombia's
people faced. And I noted then what all of you know very well: that
this is a test that Colombians themselves must pass. But I pledged the
United States would do all that we could to help. I am pleased to say
that we are honoring that pledge. President Clinton and I will work
closely with our Congress to secure passage of the funding package
that we announced on Tuesday. That package will provide substantial
support for President Pastrana's plan to achieve peace, promote
prosperity, protect human rights and fight crime. We are also asking
the rest of the international community to join in this effort. With
our strong support the IMF has approved a new $2.7 billion program. We
are endorsing Bogota's request for nearly $3 billion in loans from the
World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. And we are
encouraging other donors to come forward.

Neither criminals nor conflict respect national borders. Accordingly,
we are also stepping up our support for counter narcotics and
alternative development programs for Colombia's neighbors. It's not
enough to drive drug criminals out of Colombia. Our goal is to drive
them out of business, once and for all. We are also determined to
protect the rights of many United States citizens who work and travel
across the hemisphere. The kidnappers who have targeted so many
Colombians have also abducted scores of U.S. citizens, including four
whose cases are still unresolved. As I told President Pastrana, these
cases remain one of our top priorities.

One of the world's greatest novels, authored by a man with whom I was
honored to have dinner last night, is entitled "One Hundred Years of
Solitude." Today, as the new century begins, Colombia does not stand
alone. The United States and the international community recognize the
courageous struggle of the Colombian people and we are determined to
help you overcome the evils brought about by the drug trade. I vow, on
behalf of President Clinton, and in very close partnership with
President Pastrana, to seek one hundred years of peace, democracy and
rising prosperity for both our nations. Thank you again, Mr.
President, for your great personal hospitality and for the wonderful
things that you are doing for your country.

QUESTION: (Inaudible to President Pastrana) ... that you are looking
for aid from around the world. Can you tell us if there are any other
countries that will be willing to help and how much more help do you
think you need?

PRESIDENT PASTRANA:  (speaking in Spanish - not translated)

QUESTION: I would like to know whether the support which you are
offering to the Plan Colombia is pursuing a national security strategy
for the United States in the new century.

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Let me explain it this way. Speaking as a North
American, I believe that it is in our national interests to have a
hemisphere in which there are democracies, where human rights is
practice, where we are free of drugs, where the economies work, and we
have excellent trade relationships. Those are the goals of a North
American. But I think they are also goals that benefit the people
throughout the hemisphere. Because people in every country wish to
have human rights, democratic institutions, an economy that brings
them work and benefits, and to be drug-free. So it is part of our
national strategy that we have a hemisphere that works. But I think
that what is most important and that what is evident as a result of
the statements that President Pastrana has made and the issues that we
have been talking about since I have been here and my colleagues who
have been here previously, we have no difference. Because this idea of
Plan Colombia is a Colombian plan for the people of Colombia proposed
by the President who was elected by people who want this kind of plan
and who support it. So this is one of those very important moments in
international relations and foreign policy when the plans of one
country or the strategy of one country is fully in synchronization and
in harmony with the national plans of another. This is when things
work, when countries can deal with the same goals in the same way.

QUESTION: What is the principal recommendation that the U.S.
government will make now that you have learned more about our country
in the meetings you have held with different (Colombian) institutions.
And what seems to you to be the major concern about the Plan Colombia?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well I think that all parts of it are of great
importance. And when Plan Colombia was put forward what we found
impressive about it was its comprehensiveness and its integration. So
obviously, it is very important to get rid of narco-trafficking
because it is undermining the well-being of the people of Colombia and
undermining democratic institutions. It is important to have the peace
process go forward because that is sucking away also the strength of
Colombia. It is important to have the economy functioning, democratic
institutions and the government throughout Colombia, and to make sure
that there are alternative economic opportunities. And under all this
and throughout all this there has to be the thread of respect for
human rights. So what I believe is important now, is for us to go back
to Congress and get the support. For us, along with President
Pastrana, to try to get international wider support for it, and for
the President and his team and the people of Colombia to role up their
sleeves and get to work at the various parts of it. The dream is
there, and the determination is there, and now the details have to be
put into place and the work must begin.

QUESTION: What are the possibilities, Madame Secretary, for the Plan
Colombia in the U.S. Congress? And what are the possible obstacles?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well let me say that none of us can ever totally
predict the workings of anybody's democratic system. Congress clearly
has the partnership role with us in getting this assistance. But we
already know that there are many Members of Congress, of both parties,
who support the idea of this assistance, who support various parts of
it or all of it. We have a lot of work ahead of us. But as I have
said, President Clinton is very determined about this assistance
package, as I am. We are going to be working very closely, along with
Ambassador Moreno, on this subject and we will be working very hard.
Nothing is ever easy when you are asking for money. But I can tell you
that we have the determination to make this work. And based on the
very detailed reports and discussions that I have had with President
Pastrana and his team, I believe that I go back to the United States
armed, well armed, to be able to defend the package and to tell people
that this government is on its way to dealing with the issues that are
a part of Plan Colombia.

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State)