ALBRIGHT LAUDS EFFORTS TO CUT FARMERS' PRODUCTION OF COCAINE

LA PAZ, BOLIVIA Secretary of State Madeleine Albright praised Bolivia's
efforts to get its farmers out of the cocaine business and promised $110
million in U.S. aid for alternative development.

Albright met with President Hugo Banzer Suarez and other officials Friday
during a three-hour stay.

The visit also included discussions of Bolivian proposals to eliminate U.S.
duties on imported textiles from Bolivia.

Bolivia says the lifting of duties on textiles would bring in $400 million
to the Bolivian economy and create at least 30,000 jobs.

Albright said the issue of lifting duties is "a complicated problem in terms
of trade relations with any country" but said the administration will work
on it.

Albright then flew to Ecuador, where she said the Clinton administration
would ask Congress for $15 million in additional aid to handle any refugees
displaced by U.S.-funded anti-drug efforts in neighboring Colombia. Congress
has approved $20 million.