DATE=6/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233601
TITLE=DRUGS / SAMPER (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LARRY FREUND
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER, AT A NEWS CONFERENCE 
(TUESDAY) AT THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK, SAID THE THREE MAJOR
DRUG CARTELS IN HIS COUNTRY HAVE BEEN VIRTUALLY DISMANTLED.  
CORRESPONDENT LARRY FREUND REPORTS.  

TEXT:  PRESIDENT SAMPER POINTED TO THE ARREST THIS PAST WEEKEND 
IN COLOMBIA OF ALBERTO ORLANDEZ, DESCRIBED AS THE HEAD OF THE 
DRUG CARTEL ON COLOMBIA'S ATLANTIC COAST.  COLOMBIAN OFFICIALS 
SAY THE ACCUSED CARTEL CHIEF WAS ARRESTED ON SEVERAL CHARGES, 
INCLUDING DRUG TRAFFICKING, KIDNAPPING, AND MURDER. 

PRESIDENT SAMPER, SPEAKING THROUGH AN ENGLISH INTERPRETER, TOLD A
NEWS CONFERENCE COLOMBIA NOW HAS NINE-THOUSAND DRUG TRAFFICKERS 
IN JAIL.

              /// SAMPER INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///

         CONSEQUENTLY, WE CAN ANNOUNCE THAT THE THREE MOST 
         IMPORTANT DRUG CARTELS IN COLOMBIA -- CALI, MEDELLIN AND
         THE COASTAL CARTEL -- HAVE BEEN VIRTUALLY DISMANTLED.  
         THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO OBTAINED APPROVAL OF ONE OF THE 
         TOUGHEST ANTI-DRUG LAWS THAT HAS EVER EXISTED IN THE 
         WORLD.

                     //// END ACTUALITY ///

MR. SAMPER SAID COLOMBIA IS NOW SPENDING ONE-BILLION DOLLARS A 
YEAR FIGHTING DRUGS AND PLANS ON CREATING AN INTERNATIONAL 
ACADEMY FOR THE TRAINING OF POLICE OFFICERS FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF
THE WORLD IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS.

MR. SAMPER'S U-S VISA WAS REVOKED IN 1996 BY THE CLINTON 
ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE OF CHARGES HIS 1994 ELECTION CAMPAIGN 
BENEFITED FROM DRUG MONEY. 

 IN ANSWER TO A REPORTER'S QUESTIONING WHETHER AN ANTI-DRUG 
ACADEMY SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN A COUNTRY WHERE DRUG TRAFFICKERS
HAVE HAD SOME SUCCESS IN BRIBING PUBLIC OFFICIALS -- MR. SAMPER 
SAID COLOMBIA HAS ACHIEVED DISTINGUISHED RESULTS IN ELIMINATING 
CORRUPTION. 

IN HIS REMARKS TO REPORTERS, THE COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT COMPLAINED 
THAT IN MANY CASES, HIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN THE VICTIM OF -- WHAT HE
CALLED -- A UNILATERAL APPROACH TO THE STRUGGLE AGAINST DRUGS, AN
APPARENT REFERENCE TO THE FOCUS ON ELIMINATING DRUG PRODUCTION IN
COLOMBIA.  HE URGED INSTEAD THE CONCEPT OF SHARED RESPONSIBILITY 
AND A COMPREHENSIVE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS, INCLUDING PROGRAMS ON 
ERADICATION, CROP SUBSTITUTION, INTERDICTION, CONSUMPTION AND 
MONEY LAUNDERING.

IN HIS SPEECH MONDAY TO THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE U-N GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY ON THE WORLD DRUG PROBLEM, THE COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT SAID 
NO OTHER COUNTRY HAS DONE MORE, AND UNDER MORE LONELY 
CIRCUMSTANCES, IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS.   (SIGNED)

NEB/NY/LSF/RAE

 

09-Jun-98 3:21 PM EDT (1921 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.