G-8 ADDS COLOMBIA TO AGENDA

Leaders of the Group of Eight major nations attending the Okinawa Summit in
July will call for international support to address issues facing
Colombia--a nation plagued by guerrilla activities financed by illegal
profits from cocaine and marijuana production--government sources revealed
to The Yomiuri Shimbun on Friday.

A joint statement by the G-8 leaders in support of revitalizing Colombia's
economy is expected to be released. It is the first time that Colombian
issues will be discussed at a G-8 summit meeting.

The government will also give independent financial and technological
support to the country, in addition to the joint support that will be
announced at the summit.

Cocaine production in Colombia has recently been increasing. There were
over 100,000 hectares of coca plantations in the country in 1998--the
world's largest production area.

The amount of refined cocaine reached 480 tons in 1999, accounting for more
than 50 percent of total world production.