THE EU AND THE UN CAN HELP A NEW APPROACH TO PEACE

LONDON - Colombia should have everything in its favor. An Atlantic and
Pacific coastline, the wealth of oil, coal, diamonds and coffee, a rich
potential for tourism and a long history of respect for democratic
institutions should make the country a model Latin American nation.
Instead, Colombia has a long history of violence: 40,000 have been killed
in nearly four decades of guerrilla and paramilitary violence. Illegal
armed groups routinely kidnap, take hostages, commit murder and extortion,
and show unrestricted contempt for international humanitarian law, both
against the civilian population and against their political opponents.

In some distant past the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as
FARC, and the National Liberation Army or ELN proclaimed some social
left-wing purpose, but today they have no democratic legitimacy and sustain
their livelihood through open complicity in the drugs trade and other
illegal activities, at the same time maintaining and extending their
military power through a flow of smuggled arms.

While negotiations are continuing with ELN, the FARC have talked peace
while preparing for war. The latest cold-blooded kidnapping of a Colombian
senator and the green presidential candidate show FARC's love of violence
and terror. President Andres Pastrana's assertion of government control
over the zone run by FARC has the clear support of the Colombian people and
the EU.

But as guerrilla violence has increased there has been an opposite and
equal reaction from the murderous paramilitaries, the Colombian United
Self-Defense Forces or AUC. The AUC offers "protection" to some ranch
owners and rural businessmen of Colombia and there is still much evidence
of collusion with elements in the armed forces. But like the guerrilla
groups, the AUC now exists only for itself. It has flows of money from the
drug producers who control large tracts of land. These illegally armed
groups have wrought death and destruction across the nation.

The tragedy of Colombia is that it is a country with a relatively weak
state apparatus, especially in some isolated rural areas. Too many ordinary
Colombians do not have access to basic services including health and
justice. The gap between rich and poor has grown, making it easier for some
to fall victim to the drug business or to be swept into the ranks of the
guerrillas and AUC.

Many parts of Colombia have never known the first stage of rule of law.
Although the Colombian army and police are now more professional and better
equipped than ever before, they are still pressed to provide adequate
security guarantees for all. Strengthening the legitimate and properly
accountable forces of law and order is crucial to resolving Colombia's long
running internal conflict.

There are more than 200 municipalities without a police presence. The army
and police forces are still under-equipped. The inadequacy of the state
apparatus means that enforcement of human rights norms is hard to achieve.

In short, what are missing are the means to take on the challenge of the
guerrillas and the paramilitary to the rule of law and to democratic
institutions. This is why the United Nations and the European Union, which
reject simplistic answers to complex violence, must become more involved

There can be no military solution to the internal divisions of Colombia. A
new approach is needed, including these elements:

Stronger measures on both the demand and supply side to tackle illicit drug
production and consumption.

UN efforts to stop illegal small arms production and exporting must be
strengthened, and the flow of so-called precursor chemicals to Colombia
must be limited.

Colombia needs more economic aid, more investment, more multinational firms
offering real jobs and managed according to the norms of internationally
accountable business.

Colombians who have fled their nation to live in Miami and Europe need to
show patriotism and bring their skills and the capital back home. None of
this will happen, though, until the illegal armed groups renounce all violence.

Urban poverty must be tackled by economic growth and social investment to
dry up the wells of recruitment for both the guerrillas and the AUC. This
is where the EU will spend its money.

Europe will work hard for peace in Colombia. The EU's Common Foreign and
Security Policy demands engagement with Latin America. We believe that the
causes of national and international crime and political or
pseudo-political terror need to be tackled.

But Europe will no longer tolerate those who chose violence, nor have the
European left-wing parties any more solidarity for erstwhile
revolutionaries who have long since mutated into violent, self serving,
cynical groups.

A prosperous, peaceful and socially just Colombia will benefit the whole
Andean region. The EU and its member states will continue to show
solidarity with all those in Colombia and elsewhere searching for peace and
promoting rule of law.