U.S. SEES REASONS FOR OPTIMISM IN COLOMBIA

WASHINGTON - The Clinton administration Tuesday gave a
strong endorsement to the Colombian government's plans to counter
guerrillas and drug dealers.

A senior U.S. official told a Senate caucus that the administration
saw reasons for optimism about the South American country, where
guerrillas control 40 percent of the territory and cocaine finances a
vast alternative economy.

Rand Beers, assistant secretary of state for international narcotics
and law enforcement affairs, said the Colombian police were performing
well and for the first time the Colombian military was committed to
fighting the drug trade.

Colombian President Andres Pastrana, after one troubled year in
office, drew up a five-point national recovery plan expected to cost
$7.5 billion over three years, up to $1.5 billion of which could come
from the United States.

Pastrana met President Clinton in New York Tuesday and will have
meetings in Washington Wednesday with leaders of Congress, which would
have to approve any U.S. aid money.

``There are reasons for optimism,'' Beers told the Senate caucus. ``In
the Pastrana administration, the United States finally has a full and
trustworthy partner.''

``The Colombian National Police ... has continued its superb record of
counternarcotics activity, reinforcing its image as one of the premier
counternarcotics forces in the world.

``Now, for the first time, the CNP's (Colombian police's) committed to
counternarcotics has been adopted by the Colombian armed forces,''
Beers added.

Together the police and military have recently been able to inflict
significant defeats on the guerrillas, who have thrived on drugs money
and cooperate with drug dealers, he said.

Inside the armed forces a ``cultural transformation'' is taking place
as Defense Minister Luis Fernando Ramirez and Armed Forces Commander
Fernando Tapias tackle a legacy of human rights abuses and impunity,
he added.

Beers was part of a high-level U.S. delegation that visited Colombia
in August to assess the government's plans and see what it might need
from the United States.

He said despite the positive signs, the Colombian military still
needed to improve its training, doctrine, organization and equipment
to deal with the twin threat.

>From the U.S. point of view, a major priority is to start operations
against cocaine production in the southern province of Putumayo, which
government aircraft that spray herbicides cannot reach because of the
guerrilla presence, he added.

``As long as this region remains a sanctuary for traffickers, progress
elsewhere will be undermined,'' he said.

Beers said Pastrana's plan clearly implied U.S. funding. ''We are
currently involved in discussions within the administration regarding
how we can use existing authorities and funds to support
counternarcotics operations, and whether new and additional resources
might be required,'' he added.

``In Colombia, we have ... a leadership that regularly demonstrates
the political will to execute the needed reforms and operations. Our
challenge is to identify ways in which the U.S. government can assist
and to assure that we deliver that assistance in a timely manner,'' he
said.

Colombia is already the third-largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid,
after Israel and Egypt. It is receiving $287 million in aid this year
and the U.S. drug czar, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, previously suggested
Colombia and other countries in the region might need an extra $1
billion in emergency assistance.