COLOMBIA NEEDS INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

The death of five American and two Colombian soldiers in a plane crash
during a counternarcotics mission in Colombia last month put the
spotlight on our stake in South America's most troubled country.

Colombian drug traffickers produce more than 80 percent of the world's
cocaine and a rising proportion of the heroin that reaches our shores.
Two guerrilla organizations -- the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) -- are at war
with the government and control a significant amount of territory.

The guerrillas are opposed by right-wing paramilitary groups that,
like the guerrillas, regularly abuse human rights. Both the guerrillas
and the paramilitaries use the drug trade to finance their operations.
Efforts by Colombia's president, Andres Pastrana, to negotiate peace
have stalled. Crime is rampant, and the nation's economy is in the
midst of its worst recession since the 1930s.

Colombia's problems extend beyond its borders and have implications
for regional security and stability. To turn the tide, Pastrana must
wage a comprehensive effort. And he needs -- and deserves --
international support that focuses on more than drug interdiction and
eradication.

As Pastrana understands, the goals of peace, law, prosperity and
respect for human rights are not separate from one another, but rather
reinforcing of each other. Progress toward one will make the others
easier to achieve.

There are, for example, many dimensions to the pursuit of peace. After
38 years of struggle, it should be clear that a decisive military
outcome is unlikely. Pastrana was right to initiate talks; the
question is whether he can muster a combination of pressure and
incentives that will cause the guerrillas to respond.

The peace efforts must be guided by Colombians themselves. Pastrana
has taken courageous risks in this quest, and it is up to him to
decide what carrots and sticks are needed. But the United States and
other friends of Colombia must be ready to help. President Clinton
already has pledged our support.

The Colombian National Police are spraying and seizing impressive
amounts of cocaine and heroin. But coca production is soaring, drug
organizations are well armed and financed, and Colombia's judicial
system is plagued by corruption, inadequate resources and a backlog of
3.5 million cases. Success will not come quickly, but progress is
possible if the government has international support.

The protection of human rights is similarly intertwined with the other
goals. Most victims of Colombia's conflict have been civilians. In its
most recent offensive, FARC indiscriminately attacked villagers and
deployed child soldiers as young as 9.

The guerrilla group still refuses to account for three American
missionaries kidnapped from Panama in 1993, and in March its forces
murdered three Americans who were working with local indigenous
groups. In addition, paramilitary groups recently have stepped up
attacks on human-rights workers and political activists.

Under Pastrana, the military has improved its record, but we continue
to press for further progress, especially to ensure that any remaining
ties between military commanders and paramilitaries are broken.

Nations interested in helping Colombia fight drugs or achieve peace
will have an interest in helping it recover economically. The United
States has been working with the International Monetary Fund, the
World Bank and other partners to ensure that needed assistance is available.

Yesterday Under-Secretary of State Thomas Pickering met in Bogota with
Pastrana and conveyed U.S. support for Colombia's efforts to move
forward. He is now in Caracas, Venezuela, as part of our effort to
secure strong regional backing for policies to achieve peace,
establish law and build prosperity.

Colombia's people are engaged in a vital test of democracy, a test
they must pass for themselves. But they should know that we understand
the many dimensions and long-term nature of the problems they face and
that we will do all we can to help them.