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Updated:4/19/01 |
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from State Department Daily Briefing, April 19, 2001 DAILY BRIEFING Q It was reported in the Post this morning that the paramilitaries have taken over most of that area in northeastern Colombia that was to be -- that the government was thinking of turning over to the ELN, the second guerrilla group. And President Chavez of Venezuela, who is over in Cartagena today to discuss with the Andino group the extension of the deadline for the ALCA (sp), for the FTAA -- something like that -- until 2010, has offered to mediate between the ELN and the Pastrana government. How does the United States see the possibility of his getting involved in this? And does the United States support the turnover of that area to the ELN? MR. BOUCHER: Let me try to deal with all the different elements that you raise. I think we'll leave this matter to be handled between the Venezuelans and the Colombians, first of all. Second of all, as far as the Colombian government approach to these issues, we have supported President Pastrana's approach. We've supported his efforts to make peace. And that includes decisions that he might make about demilitarized areas or whatnot. I guess the only news I saw out of those discussions was President Chavez saying that any doubts that he had had about Plan Colombia were erased. Perhaps that means that, like us, he will be a strong supporter of the Colombian government's plan now. Q (Off mike) -- say any doubts he had about the ineffectiveness of Plan Colombia have been erased? (Laughter.) Is that what he said? MR. BOUCHER: There were words to the effect that -- Q And he now supports it? MR. BOUCHER: -- any doubts that he had were no longer operative. |
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