LATIN AMERICAN DIGNITARIES DESCEND ON WASHINGTON TO AIR THEIR AGENDAS

The Chileans are hanging tough on their shopping list for new planes and
trade. The Ecuadorans are exuberant about their role in the war against
drugs. The Colombians are sticking to their pricey plan to combat drug
trafficking -- and there is more to come.

Keep up, if you can, with the parade of fast-talking Latin dignitaries in
Washington this week.

They are all here to meet with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell as soon
as he recovers from the jet lag of his just-concluded trip to the Middle
East and Europe, and with those who have been appointed by the new Bush
administration to deal with the Americas. They will press their demands,
urge engagement by Washington and air their agendas before the end of the
week, which will also bring visits from Brazil's foreign minister and the
president of El Salvador.

Colombian President(person) Andres Pastrana met with Bush yesterday after
dinner guests at the residence of Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno were
reminded on Monday that only two years ago, the Colombian leader could not
get a visa to visit Washington.

In a session with Washington Post editors and reporters Monday, Chilean
Foreign Minister Soledad Alvear defended her government's bid to purchase
modernized F-16C/D jets updated with advanced avionics from Lockheed Martin
Corp., hinting that if negotiations did not lead to the purchase initially
sought, Chile would shop elsewhere. "If as a result of the negotiations
that were begun we find the basis established cannot be complied with, then
we will go elsewhere," Alvear responded when asked whether Chile was
willing to abridge its wish list for safe yet less threatening aircraft.

She claimed her country was "not involved in an arms race" and had made the
acquisition process as "transparent as possible," unlike othercountries in
the region.

Chilean Ambassador(person) Andres Bianchi made it clear that although the
White House announced the start of talks on a U.S.-Chilean free-trade
agreement by saying it would be fashioned along the lines of the one
concluded with Jordan last year, his country sees things differently.

The agreement with Jordan "includes trade sanctions for enforcing [labor
and environmental provisions] on which we disagree. We are very much
against having trade sanctions as a way of enforcing issues on labor and
the environment," Bianchi pointed out.

Chile would be willing to have two separate documents dealing with these
issues, he added. Alvear noted that negotiating a free-trade agreement with
the United States would contribute to -- not compete with -- the process
for molding a future free-trade agreement for the Americas.

Ecuadoran Fears About Plan Colombia

Heinz Moeller, the garrulous foreign minister of Ecuador, made a strong
case for procuring $600 million, mostly from the United States and Europe,
to purchase equipment and invest in social programs so his eco-rich country
can resist a spillover of neighboring Colombia's drug-related problems.

Arguing that "we are the victims of the effect of Plan Colombia," Moeller
complained that his country was never consulted during the intensive
discussions that led to forging the $7.5 billion package to help Colombia
shore up its military and combat its burgeoning drug trade. "We were not
invited to the ball and now we are dancing with the ugliest partner," he
said, using a Spanish proverb to illustrate his country's fear of a
"ballooning effect" from Plan Colombia's efforts to put drug lords out of
business. If Ecuador is not equipped with the necessary defenses and social
safety nets to guard its population against displacement, kidnappings,
killings and drugs, Moeller said, "we are going to lose all" of the
country's efforts and investments in fighting drugs. Moeller claimed that
the Clinton administration had promised Ecuador $40 million from its
surplus; $8 million of another $20 million in U.S. assistance has been paid
to a U.N. agency working on migration issues, he said.

"It is my strong belief that the Bush administration will keep supporting
Plan Colombia and give it regional perspective," he said, meaning
electronic surveillance, speedboats, telecommunication equipment and
logistical support for Ecuador. "It is not a plea for Ecuador, but for
everybody." Ecuador is willing to give its all to fight the drug war, he said.

Moeller is to meet with Powell on Thursday and has already met with members
of the House and Senate, some of whom were not so enthusiastic about Plan
Colombia's prospects. "One of the problems I am having here is that maybe
we have come too soon," Moeller said of the many unfilled positions at
sub-secretary level that usually deal with Latin American issues.