Pubdate: Wed, 13 Feb 2002
Source: Wall Street Journal (US)
Copyright: 2002 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wsj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487

U.S. TO TRIPLE ANTI-DRUG AID TO PERU

The U.S. plans to triple its antinarcotics funding to Peruvian President 
Alejandro Toledo's government this year and hopes to announce the 
resumption of drug-surveillance flights during President Bush's visit to 
Peru next month, U.S. Ambassador John Hamilton said. He told reporters in 
Lima that U.S. antidrug aid to Peru will increase this year from about $50 
million "to more than $150 million." At least $80 million will finance 
alternative-development programs that help farmers switch from growing 
coca, the raw material of cocaine , to planting other crops. The rest of 
the aid will support interdiction, eradication and demand-reduction 
programs, including $30 million for more helicopters. Peru is the world's 
second-largest producer of coca leaf and coca paste. He said Washington 
hopes to announce "as soon as possible" the resumption of drug-surveillance 
flights that were suspended last April after a Peruvian jet mistakenly shot 
down a small plane, killing a U.S. missionary and her 7-month-old daughter.
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MAP posted-by: Beth