Excerpt from State Department Daily Briefing, January 3, 2003

Excerpt from State Department Daily Briefing, January 3, 2003
Daily Press Briefing
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC
January 3, 2003

QUESTION: I have heard from many sources, including Mr. Secretary Powell, that aerial interdiction program for Colombia and Peru is going to restart early this month. Do you have any updates about this program and maybe accurate date?

MR. BOUCHER: I do not have a final date for you on the restart. I think when the Secretary was down in Colombia he explained to the public -- and as we explained to the Government of Colombia -- that we were nearing the point to move into the final checks that had to be made before we went for re-certification. Exactly what date it can restart, I do not know, but I think, if I remember correctly, the Secretary said it would start early in this year.

QUESTION: And also about the question that I did ask you yesterday with peace negotiations with paramilitary groups, do you have any reaction?

MR. BOUCHER: Did we put up an answer to that? I think we put up an answer, if you can get it from the Press Office.

QUESTION: Okay.

As of January 9, 2003, this document was also available online at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2003/16359.htm