PLAN WOULD BOOST AID TO COLOMBIA IN WAKE OF PASTRANA VISIT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A $1.5 billion congressional plan to combat illegal
drugs from the Andean region brought praise from Colombian President Andres
Pastrana as ``a good starting point'' for his own $7.5 billion economic
recovery and anti-drug program.

Pastrana is asking for $3.5 billion in foreign assistance. During a 24-hour
visit to Washington, he got statements of support from President Clinton,
members of Congress and World Bank president James Wolfensohn but no
concrete pledge of cash.

His visit also brought some criticism Wednesday for his efforts to
negotiate with leftist rebels, his recognition of a demilitarized zone with
the rebels and his failure to bring along a top police commander to boost
his cause.

The closest thing to an offer with a figure attached came in a $1.5 billion
bipartisan proposal by Sens. Paul Coverdell, R-Ga., and Mike DeWine, R-Ohio.

They are drafting legislation that over three years would give:

- --$540 million for helicopters and other equipment to attack new coca crops
and opium poppy in southern Colombia.

- --$405 million for air interdiction and enhanced law enforcement programs.

- --$365 million to enhance regional drug interdiction.

- --$120 million to develop alternative opportunities to growing drug crops
in Colombia, Bolivia and Peru.

- --$70 million to bolster democracy and human rights in Colombia.

``We need this help, this support urgently,'' Pastrana said before
returning to Bogota.

Colombia received $300 million in U.S. aid this year, making it one of the
top aid recipients in an era of declining foreign assistance and reflecting
concern that most cocaine and heroin on U.S. streets comes from the country.

President Clinton expressed support for Pastrana's program in a meeting
with the Colombian leader in New York on Tuesday.

Wolfensohn pledged World Bank support, although he did not suggest a figure
for low-interest loans or assistance. He said the bank wants to help
Colombia ``deal with the social impact of the anti-drug campaign and the
country's other economic programs.'' Meantime, the House International
Relations Committee issued a statement from its chairman, Rep. Benjamin
Gilman, R-N.Y., rejecting increased military aid until government access is
restored to a ``Switzerland-sized demilitarized zone ceded to
narcoterrorists.''

Pastrana told reporters Gilman never raise the condition when the two met.
He said the government has control in the territory.

Gilman said only, ``A great deal of support was expressed by our committee
today.''

Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., criticized the Colombian governments' contacts
with the FARC leftist rebels, who are also linked with the drug trade. He
said Pastrana lost credibility because he failed to bring along his most
effective drug fighter, Gen. Jose Serrano, national police chief.

``President Pastrana knows how much influence General Serrano carries with
the Congress,'' Burton said, adding that it would be difficult to support
aid unless the bulk of it goes to the police.

Pastrana, saying the matter did not come up in their meeting, told a
reporter: ``The president of Colombia is President Pastrana, not General
Serrano.''