CLINTON: COLOMBIA AID HELPS OTHERS

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States and many other countries would benefit
from a proposed multibillion dollar aid package to help Colombia rid itself
of the drug culture that grips its economy and national life, President
Clinton said Tuesday.

"Every one of you here has a deep and abiding interest in helping to see
that the fight for freedom, democracy and good government in Colombia is
successful," Clinton said during an afternoon address to Latin American
diplomats and policy experts.

Colombia is asking the United States and European countries to contribute
$3.5 billion to a $7.5 billion plan to fight drug trafficking in Colombia.
Clinton wants Congress to approve $1.7 billion in U.S. aid this year.

Clinton praised Colombia's president, Andres Pastrana, as brave,
forward-thinking and committed to democracy. But in a State Department
address to members of the international Council of the Americas, Clinton
warned that drug crime and violence could undo Pastrana's advances.

The Internet and other communications advances will only make the drug
lords more powerful and interconnected, Clinton said.

"We must not stand by and allow a democracy elected by its people, defended
with great courage by people who have given their lives, (to) be undermined
and overwhelmed by those who literally are willing to tear the country
apart for their own agenda," Clinton said.

"And make no mistake about it, if the oldest democracy in South America can
be torn down, so can others."

The $1.7 billion anti-narcotics aid package passed the House in March but
has stalled in the Senate.

"The United States want to do its part," Clinton said as he issued another
appeal for congressional passage. "It's very much in our interest to do
so," Clinton said.