21 February 2002

State Department Spokesman on Breakdown of Peace Talks in Colombia

"The United States government understands and supports" the decision of Colombian President Andres Pastrana to suspend peace negotiations between his government and an armed guerrilla group calling itself the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, says Richard Boucher, spokesman for the U.S. Department of State.

Boucher observed that Pastrana's attempts to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the decades-old civil strife in his country had been repeatedly rebuffed by the guerrilla group, known by its Spanish acronym FARC. Pastrana decided to end the talks when FARC guerrillas recently hijacked a commercial airplane in Colombia and kidnapped a Colombian senator who was onboard.

In the wake of the airplane hijacking and the senator's abduction, Pastrana also "gave orders to the [Colombian] armed forces to regain control of the demilitarized zone" occupied by FARC guerrillas, Boucher said, adding that Pastrana's decision has "elicited statements of support from virtually all of Colombia's leading political figures."

President Bush and his administration "are looking at specific ways to continue to support the government of Colombia during this difficult period," Boucher said. "We agree with the Colombian government on the need to prevent other terrorist groups, such as the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN), from exploiting the current situation."

Following is the text of Boucher's statement:

Colombian President Andres Pastrana on Wednesday announced the suspension of the 3-year-old peace talks between the government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels and gave orders to the armed forces to regain control of the demilitarized zone.

President Pastrana and the Colombian government have made every effort to negotiate peace with the FARC. The FARC has failed to respond in good faith to any of President Pastrana's efforts to achieve peace. The United States government understands and supports the decision President Pastrana has made. We note that President Pastrana's decision has also elicited statements of support from virtually all of Colombia's leading political figures.

On January 20 the government of Colombia and the FARC reached their latest agreement on a timetable for the peace talks. Since then, the FARC has increased its terrorist attacks. In addition to numerous attacks on military and police installations, the FARC has killed at least 20 innocent civilians, including women and children; been responsible for 4 car bombings; and launched attacks on Colombia's infrastructure, including the city of Bogota water supply, energy pylons, the Cano Limon-Covenas oil pipeline, and bridges. The FARC is also responsible for yesterday's hijacking of a Colombian airliner carrying 35 passengers and the kidnapping of Colombian Senator Jorge Eduardo Gechen Turbay, who was taken away into the FARC demilitarized zone. We are looking at specific ways to continue to support the government of Colombia during this difficult period. We agree with the Colombian government on the need to prevent other terrorist groups, such as the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN), from exploiting the current situation.

We are also in close contact with the government of Colombia and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to assist with a possible outflow of people leaving the "despeje."