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Secretary of State Powell Meeting with Officials in Colombia Today

Aired September 11, 2001 - 08:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Secretary of State Colin Powell is making his first visit to Latin America since taking office. He's meeting with officials in Colombia today, showing support for the embattled government, and been struggling with drugs and a civil war, as you know.

More on that now from CNN State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPT. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Almost one year after the United States agreed to spend $1.3 billion to help Colombia fight its drug war, both governments claim the effort is paying off. The U.S. says 120,000 acres of coca plantations have been sprayed. And 34,000 farmers have agreed to replace coca plants with legal crop.

Still, much of the U.S. military equipment has get to arrive. To date, only three of 16 Blackhawk helicopters, which Colombian troops need to fight drug traffickers, are in use. So the Colombian government says the work of plan Colombia designed to rid the country of drugs end the civil war has only begun.

ALBERTO MORENO, COLOMBIAN AMB. TO U.S.: This is a long-term issue that requires an integrated approach, that requires the support of the world community and the work of the Colombian people, as well as the work of people in this country to solve it. It is for the good of all of us.

KOPPEL: Complicating matter, the drug traffickers, leftist guerrillas like the FARK and ELN, who use profits from the drug trade to fuel the civil war, have refused to come to the peace table. And while Colombia's President Andres Pastrana has tried for three years to negotiate peace, his term ends next summer.

ARTURO VALENZUELA, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Despite the fact that Pastrana is not going to be able to get peace this process by the time he leaves office, you know, it's like the Middle East; you don't look for an easy solution, but you also look for a process to continue.

KOPPEL (on camera): Secretary of State Powell's trip to Colombia this week is meant to underscore U.S. support for Colombia's drug war and its president. But privately, Powell's aides worry what will come of plan Colombia, and the hundreds of millions the U.S. has invested in it once Pastrana leaves office. Said one Powell aide, we want to make sure our assistance pays off.

Andrea Koppel, CNN, at the State Department.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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