U.S. OPENS NEW ERA OF RELATIONS WITH COLOMBIA

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- President Clinton opened a new era of
relations with Colombia Wednesday, praising visiting President Andres
Pastrana for a ``new spirit of hope'' in a country troubled by
insurgency and drugs.

``As you embark on your mission to build an honorable and enduring
peace, count on the United States as a friend and partner,'' Clinton
said in welcoming Pastrana to the White House in the first state visit
by a Colombian president since 1975.

U.S.-Colombian relations sank to an all-time low when the United
States revoked the U.S. travel visa of Pastrana's predecessor, Ernesto
Samper, and branded him a ``truly corrupt president'' amid a scandal
over allegations he funded his 1994 election campaign with Cali cartel
drug money.

The Harvard-educated Pastrana, inaugurated two months ago, is seeking
political and financial backing for his fragile plan to negotiate with
leftist guerrillas and end a civil conflict that has killed 35,000
people in the past decade alone.

Clinton, speaking on the South Lawn of the White House after an
elaborate arrival ceremony, noted Colombia was the last site of major
civil strife in the Western Hemisphere but that Pastrana's coming to
power had brought a ``new spirit of hope'' there.

``We admire your courage and determination to end the violence, to
heal the wounds of the past, to build a better future,'' Clinton said.
``We call on the insurgents and paramilitaries to respond to your bold
initiative for peace by ending terrorism, hostage-taking and support
for drug traffickers.''

After their talks, Clinton and Pastrana were to hold a joint news
conference at 3 p.m. EDT, then attend an evening state dinner.

Pastrana said he had come to ring in ``a new era in relations between
Colombia and the United States, an alliance for free trade, an
alliance against drugs, an alliance of hope and high purpose as we
enter the 21st century.''

Clinton and Pastrana signed an anti-drug alliance committing both
countries to fighting the illegal drug trade.

Colombia is the world's largest producer of cocaine and a major source
of heroin sold on U.S. streets.

``We will work together to combat drugs,'' Clinton said. ''The battle
against drugs is a common battle. It must unite our people, not divide
them.''

The 44-year-old Colombian leader plans to begin talks with Colombia's
largest rebel group next month, after temporarily clearing government
troops out of an area the size of Switzerland.

``Let there be no doubt,'' Pastrana said. ``Thousands of my countrymen
and women have given their lives in the fight against drug
trafficking. The only peace treaty acceptable to me and the Colombian
nation is one that strengthens our ability to rid Colombia of cocaine
production.''

The U.S. Congress last week voted for a $2.6 billion boost in funding
to repress the drug traffic from South America, including the purchase
of six powerful Blackhawk helicopters for the Colombian police.

This doubled U.S. anti-drug assistance to Colombia to $280 million in
fiscal 1999, making Colombia the third largest recipient of overall
U.S. economic aid in the world after Israel and Egypt, U.S. officials
said.

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady