Excerpts from State Department briefing, October 25, 2001

Excerpts from State Department briefing, October 25, 2001

State Department Briefing, Philip Reeker, spokesman, October 25, 2001

Q (Off mike) -- from the Mexican News Agency. I have two questions on Latin America, first on Colombia. The ambassador of Colombia yesterday was talking about the possibility of the United States to see the extradition of members of the FARC and ELN. My question is if you can give us more details about it -- or is something new in terms of this international campaign against terrorism by the United States and the cooperation of countries in America Latina.

And a second question. Today on the Hill, during the hearing with Secretary Powell, Senator Helms asked for a quorum of support to Otto Reich on his nomination to be assistant secretary for Western Hemispheric affairs. And only Mr. Helms and another senator raised up their hands. It was evident that there is no support for him, for Mr. Reich. Do you think the administration will continue to support his nomination, or are you guys already looking for another candidate?

MR. REEKER: On your first question, I believe yesterday Ambassador Patterson, in Colombia, gave a speech to a conference in Cartagena on money laundering, and simply restated what as you know, Jesus, is long-standing U.S. policy, that where U.S. courts have indictments against individuals who are in a foreign country -- individuals indicted for drug trafficking crimes and related offenses, that we will seek to extradite such individuals to stand trial in the United States. Any links that those drug traffickers or indicted individuals may have to terrorist groups, such as the FARC or the ELN, or the AUC -- as you know, we designated all three of those organizations as terrorist groups. They could easily -- those individuals could easily be included if they were indicted. As you know, we talked for many years about the links between terrorist groups in Colombia with drug trafficking, with narco traffickers, and our efforts to help Colombia eradicate the narco trafficking there. So I think there was a simple restatement of U.S. policy on that.

In terms of the nomination of Otto Reich to be the assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere affairs, let me just refer you to exactly what Secretary Powell said, and that was he met with Mr. Reich -- he very much supported him. He recommended to the president that we -- that he nominate, that the president nominate Mr. Reich to be assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere affairs. He'd bring tremendous expertise in that field. And the secretary absolutely supports that. We have looked to the Senate to schedule la hearing for Mr. Reich -- that's their decision to make. But, as the secretary indicated, we'd like him to have a hearing, and would like the Senate to give their advice and consent to that nomination. So I'll refer you to exactly what the secretary said, his remarks. And obviously that's a question for the Senate to take up.

Q A follow up?

MR. REEKER: Yeah. Sure.

Q (Name and affiliation inaudible) -- TV, Colombia. The government of Colombia -- sections of the government of Colombia are saying that if the U.S. requests extradition for some guerrilla members that are actually -- probably one of them are in the table talking on the peace process, it would be damaging for the peace process that are slow, but going in Colombia. And also, then again, some of them are in the opposition part of the government -- for the government, they are pretty much for the requests of extradition. What do you think about it, because the U.S. has been always supporting the peace process in Colombia? That's one question. And the second one, do you have an indictment here for one or many of those guerrilla or paramilitaries, and can you give me --

MR. REEKER: In terms of indictments, obviously, you'd need to talk to the Justice Department or law enforcement agencies. That's not something that the State Department is responsible for. Again, I can repeat our long-standing position, which has been that where U.S. courts indict individuals for drug trafficking and related offenses, and those individuals are in foreign countries, we will seek to extradite such individuals. So I think we're speaking a little bit in hypotheticals here, but our policy is quite clear on that. And if you want to pursue specifics on indictments of those charged with drug trafficking and related crimes, then I would refer you to law enforcement agencies.

Q (Off mike.)

MR. REEKER: Again, I think we're talking in hypotheticals. What I can do is tell you what our position is, what U.S. policy is, and I just repeated that for your twice now. The Colombian government will have to speak for themselves.