U.S. DEFENDS ANTI-NARCOTICS POLICY

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Two U.S. congressmen defended their
country's efforts to combat drug trafficking in the Andean region,
against criticism that the United States isn't doing enough to fight
drugs at home.

At the Andean Parliament summit on drug trafficking Wednesday, Rep.
Cass Ballenger of North Carolina and Rep. Mark Souder of Indiana
answered concerns that the United States is spending too much money
on fighting drug trafficking and too little on reducing demand.

There is a "misnomer that the United States is only pointing the
finger" at drug producing nations, Souder told representatives of the
Andean Parliament, which includes Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru
and Venezuela.

"It's important for you to understand that we understand we have a
major problem (with drug abuse), and we are trying to tackle it," he
added.

Souder listed several initiatives to reduce drug consumption in the
United States: suspending federal student loans for those found to
have abused drugs; encouraging private companies to submit their
employees to drug tests; and guaranteeing college loans for students
who maintain good grades and avoid drugs.

Ballenger emphasized that the United States spends $15 billion a year
battling substance abuse.

The U.S. recently contributed $1.3 billion to Colombia to eradicate
coca production in rebel-held territories using U.S.-trained soldiers
and American Black Hawk helicopters.

The Andean region, especially Colombia, is the world's biggest
producer of cocaine while the United States is the world's biggest
consumer.

Earlier this year, Colombian President Andres Pastrana and Mexican
President Vicente Fox criticized Washington's annual certification of
other countries' cooperation in the drug war, saying the practice
"offends our countries."

During the Wednesday summit, Venezuelan Vice President Adina Bastidas
questioned whether "rich countries" should not shift the resources
they spend on combatting drug trafficking to cutting demand at home.

Interior Minister Luis Miquilena said Venezuela was still concerned
that Plan Colombia would lead to coca production spilling into
Venezuela. Venezuela is not a narcotics-producing nation, but it is
key transit point for Colombian cocaine being smuggled into the U.S.
and Europe.

"We understand that drug production in Colombia will spill over. But
we argue ... that the biggest threat to Venezuela is not getting
control of (coca production in) Colombia," Souder said.

The House of Representatives last month passed a $15.2 billion
foreign aide bill that includes $676 million allotted for helping the
Andean region fight drug trafficking. The bill is awaiting discussion
in the Senate.