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DATE=1/14/2000 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=ALBRIGHT / COLOMBIA (L) NUMBER=2-258096 BYLINE=KYLE KING DATELINE=CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says it will take hard work and determination to implement Colombian President Andres Pastrana's plan to fight drug traffickers and revive his country's economy. The Secretary made the comments in the Colombian port city of Cartagena, where she has been meeting with Mr. Pastrana. V-O-A's Kyle King has this report. TEXT: Secretary of State Albright's visit comes just two days after the Clinton Administration announced plans for a one-point-six-billion-dollar aid program that focuses mostly on counter-narcotics efforts. Senior officials traveling with the Secretary say she hopes to use the trip to plant the seeds for a cooperative U-S - Colombian relationship that will continue after President Clinton leaves office (next year). Speaking to reporters before beginning her talks with President Pastrana, Secretary Albright expressed support for his so-called "Plan Colombia." The program aims to simultaneously negotiate an end to the country's guerrilla war, fight narcotics traffickers and revive the economy. /// 1ST ALBRIGHT ACT /// We are very impressed with "Plan Colombia," because it is a comprehensive plan in order to deal with issues that are so important for Colombia, not only the issue of narco-trafficking but the peace process and the economy and helping the social situation. So it is a comprehensive plan that President Pastrana has designed that we want to support. /// END ACT /// Ms. Albright and Mr. Pastrana are also expected to discuss how U-S foreign aid will be used to support the Colombian leader's program. Most of the aid package will go for the purchase of military helicopters and equipment, as well as the training of two additional anti-drug battalions. Critics of the plan say the massive increase in U-S aid and its focus on military training and equipment will fuel the country's three-decades-old guerrilla war. The government and the country's main guerrilla group resumed talks this week, with some rebel leaders expressing optimism. Secretary of State Albright, citing the success of neighboring Peru and Bolivia says the Colombian government's program can work, but it will not be easy. /// 2ND ALBRIGHT ACT /// We do know that various plans in neighboring countries have in fact cut the production and the growth [of narcotics crops] by huge percentages, and we believe that if followed through with the determination that has been shown already and needs to be pursued, that this is how success is achieved, but it clearly takes hard work and determination. /// END ACT /// Over the last decade, drug production in Colombia has more than doubled. Traffickers have benefited from the countries civil strife. Meanwhile, the economy has been reeling from a recession. Secretary of State Albright, who holds another round of talks today (Saturday) before departing for Panama and Mexico, says she also wants to discuss how other countries can help in Colombia's recovery. (Signed) NEB/KBK/WTW 14-Jan-2000 23:25 PM EDT (15-Jan-2000 0425 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .