PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA

A multilateral approach was necessary in the world's struggle against drugs, Ernesto Samper Pizano, President of Colombia, said at a press conference held this morning at Headquarters on the occasion of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly devoted to countering the world drug problem together. Colombia believed that any forward-looking anti-drug effort should be based on two principles: shared responsibility and comprehensiveness.

In the last four years, Colombia had scored important successes in combating drugs, the President said. In the past four years, 60 per cent of all coca fields had been eradicated. A social crop substitution programme had also been developed. Agreements between drug traffickers and peasant farmers had been replaced by legal agreements, and entire areas -- especially in the south of the country -- where there had been production of illicit crops were being integrated.

In his talks today with Pino Arlacchi, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, it had been agreed that United Nations funds would be earmarked to help initiate medium-term social crop substitution programmes, beginning at the end of the year. That was a recognition of Colombia's stand that it was not enough to merely have forced crop eradication -- especially in socially vulnerable areas.

The President said 9,000 drug traffickers were now in jail in Colombia. The latest of these -- the leader of the drug cartel on the Atlantic coast -- had been arrested a few hours before the press conference. Consequently, it could be announced that the three most important drug cartels in Colombia had been virtually dismantled.

The Colombian Government had obtained approval for one of the toughest anti-drug laws that had ever existed in the world, the President continued. It provided for an increase in sentences for drug trafficking, defined the crime of money-laundering and extended jurisdiction. Extradition of nationals had also been re-established.

The President went on to say there was an important relationship between Colombia's quest for peace and reduction of the intimidating power of drug traffickers. If drug trafficking had not emerged in Colombia 20 years ago, guerrilla strife could have been dealt with. Drug trafficking elements financed guerrillas, as well as their own armies, especially in the south. Colombia would continue to seek a political outcome to the armed conflict. The coexistence in the south between guerrillas and drug traffickers had to be part of the overall analysis of the problem.

Colombia Press Conference - 2- 9 June 1998

Over the past four years, Colombia had succeeded in accumulating experience that was recognized worldwide, the President said. Therefore, an international academy for combating drug trafficking would be established. It would be a veritable university for the training of police officers from various parts of the world. Underlying the formulation of the international academy would be the 33 agreements for exchange of information and sharing of experience that had now been signed by the Colombian police with various police forces around the world.

A correspondent asked questions with regard to the international academy and the Argentinian proposal for the establishment of an international court for drug traffickers.

The President said the essential job of the academy would be to exchange both practical and theoretical information. Experience had shown that if close links -- particularly with regard to intelligence operations -- were not established between countries, the international ability to combat drug trafficking was diminished. With regard to the proposal for an international court, the President noted that, although it was not on the official list of topics to be addressed, the upcoming international conference in Rome could provide a forum for addressing that subject. Colombia stood open to any kind of international approach.

A correspondent, making reference to the alleged bribing of officials, asked how it was possible to have such an academy in Colombia. The President said if there was one aspect in which Colombia could show distinguished results, it was on the matter of corruption.

General Jose Serrano, Colombia's General Director of Police, then took the floor to comment on the question. He said that draconian measures had been taken in the last four years. More than 7,000 policemen had been withdrawn from service and an anti-corruption plan had been established. In that regard, Colombia was taking the lead in the Central American and Andean areas. The police today was transparent and honest. That was what hurt drug traffickers most.

Asked to comment further on social crop substitution, the President said that 10 years should be envisaged for the implementation of the programme. It was not merely a question of substitution. Colombia wished to change the underlying economic and social structures in the areas where there were crops -- alternative development programmes must be developed.

Asked to comment further on the relationship between guerrillas and drug traffickers, the President said drugs were purchased and the money was used to import weapons. That phenomenon had an impact on the pursuit of peace. A political solution to the armed conflict should be sought at the same time as steady pressure on illicit drug-related activities was maintained. He added that a political solution to the armed conflict was inevitable because that was what Colombians, as well as the international community, wanted.

Colombia Press Conference - 3 - 9 June 1998

How effective was the cooperation between Colombia and Mexico? a correspondent asked. General Serrano said that in the last two years intelligence channels had been strengthened, and liaison officers had been sent to each country.

In response to a further question, the President said that a country that had experienced the tragedy related to drugs could not agree to their legalization. Emphasis should be placed on what was now transpiring at the United Nations. Like any market, the drug market was composed of both supply and demand. For once, consumer countries were agreeing that work should be done on the demand side.

Responding to a question on the supply of drugs from Colombia, the President said that, obviously, Colombia accepted its responsibility, and understood that a substantial share of drugs that reached Haiti and the Dominican Republic came from Colombia. Recently, a maritime interdiction treaty, covering 400,000 square nautical miles in the Caribbean, had been signed. A global intelligence agreement was needed to successfully address the problem.

In response to a question regarding the Colombian proposal for multilateral comprehensiveness, the President said that the problem was not as clear as it had been 10 years ago. Producer countries had begun to face serious consumption problems. Consumer countries had, in turn, begun to face production problems. More marijuana was being grown in the United States than anywhere else in the world, he pointed out. The drug problem involved virtually all countries.

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