Graham Comments on Administration's Proposal for Additional Aid to Colombia, January 11, 2000

Graham Comments on Administration's Proposal for Additional Aid to Colombia, January 11, 2000

-- For Immediate Release --
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GRAHAM COMMENTS ON ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL
FOR ADDITIONAL AID TO COLOMBIA

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United States Senator Bob Graham today made the following statement:

"I welcome the Administration's proposal to provide additional aid to fight the drug war. Aiding Colombia is in our interests. I recently visited Colombia and saw first hand the harmful effects of rising violence and an estimated tripling in drug production. Together with a declining economy, expanded activity by drug dealers and intensified violence by guerillas and paramilitaries, have added to the daily turmoil which is the reality of daily life for the Colombian people.

"As the oldest democracy in South America, the second largest nation on the continent, and one of our largest trading partners, the United States must come to the assistance of our friendly neighbor to prevent destabilization in Colombia and the region."

As of March 22, 2000, this document is also available at http://graham.senate.gov/pr0111a.html