Press release from Embassy of Colombia to the United States, February 13, 2001

Press release from Embassy of Colombia to the United States, February 13, 2001

COLOMBIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH SECRETARY OF STATE POWELL
IN WASHINGTON

February 13, 2001

Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guillermo Fernández de Soto, met today with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in Washington, to discuss the current peace process in Colombia and bilateral relations between Colombia and the United States.

Minister Fernández de Soto took the opportunity of the meeting to brief Secretary Powell on the specifics of last week's two days of negotiations between President Andrés Pastrana and Manuel Marulanda, leader of the FARC, the largest guerrilla organization in Colombia. Both sides agreed that last week's meeting was an important initiative to revitalize the Colombia peace process, and toward finding a political solution to bring an end to violence and armed conflict in the country.

Minister Fernández de Soto emphasized that bilateral relations between Colombia and the United States are as important now as at any time in the past. He pledged Colombia's continued commitment to fighting narco-trafficking and briefed Secretary Powell on the results of aerial spraying and voluntary eradication programs that began in December 2000, with support from the United States. Minister Fernández de Soto told Secretary Powell that nearly 30,000 hectares (equivalent to 74,100 acres) of coca have been sprayed by Colombian authorities over the past six weeks in the Putumayo state in the southern part of the country. The Minister also said that a series of alternative development and social programs have begun in Putumayo.

Minister Fernández de Soto also discussed the importance of expanding trade and commercial relations between Colombia and the United States as an important element in promoting peace, fighting narco-trafficking and encouraging regional integration. The Minister discussed the need for Colombia and the United States to renew and enhance the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) this year, which is due to expire in December. Minister Fernández de Soto said an enhanced ATPA would help the Andean region and Colombia successfully fight narco-trafficking activities and improve economic conditions in all the Andean countries.

Today's meeting was the first high-level discussion between the Bush Administration and the Colombian Government. President Pastrana and President Bush are scheduled to meet in Washington on Tuesday, February 27, 2001.

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