Excerpt from Secretary of State Colin Powell interview with Univision, February 1, 2002

Excerpt from Secretary of State Colin Powell interview with Univision, February 1, 2002

U.S. Department of State
Secretary Colin L. Powell Interview
by Mr. Enrique Gratas
New York, New York

February 1, 2002

Interview on UNIVISION Network Television

...

MR. GRATAS: (Inaudible) program in Colombia (inaudible) situation over there. The FARC, the Revolutionary Forces of Colombia, are in the least a terrorist organization. (Inaudible) the United States troops now have been in the Philippines. Are you planning to look at the situation and probably send some troops to Colombia and (inaudible)?

SECRETARY POWELL: Well, our support to Colombia has been in the counter-narcotics sector. Of course, we also have a military-to-military relationship with them. But there are no plans for the United States armed forces to become actively and significantly involved in combat operations in Colombia (inaudible).

The FARC is fighting the government. The FARC is also terrorizing the citizens of Colombia, and they've done that for many, many years. And they have now another chance to try to move forward, venture into negotiations with the Government of Colombia in this long armed conflict.

As of February 6, 2002, this document was also available online at http://usinfo.state.gov/admin/011/lef110.htm