Pubdate: Fri, 07 Sep 2001
Source: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (TX)
Section: International Digest, 4th article
Copyright: 2001 Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas
Contact:  http://www.star-telegram.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/162

Colombia

PRESIDENT SAYS DRUG WAR NEEDS RE-EVALUATION

BOGOTA - President Andres Pastrana, one of Washington's closest allies in 
the global war on drugs, called Thursday for a review of that struggle, 
saying it has produced few victories.

"The conclusions are not good," Pastrana said in a rare talk with foreign 
journalists ahead of next week's visit by Secretary of State Colin Powell. 
"The conclusions are that drugs are still the first-or second-biggest 
business of mankind."

In the wide-ranging discussion in the presidential palace, Pastrana said he 
still hopes for a negotiated end to Colombia's civil war. He also said the 
United States should re-establish intelligence-sharing with Colombia's air 
force about suspected drug flights, and urged President Bush to help 
organize an international narcotics conference.
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