Shultz Vows Aid for Colombia Drug War

Secretary of State George P. Shultz on Wednesday praised Colombia as a “stand-up government” in the war against narcotics and pledged additional U.S. assistance to the South American nation in its fight to eradicate cocaine.

Shultz, on his way to Bogota to attend the inauguration today of Virgilio Barco Vargas as Colombian president, said Washington is “ready to expand our effort” in support of government programs to uproot coca plants and smash clandestine cocaine laboratories.

“A very high proportion of the prospective crop was destroyed (by government programs),” Shultz told reporters aboard his U.S. Air Force jet on the way from Washington to this U.S. naval base, where he spent the night.

‘Most Effective Country’

A senior State Department official later said that Colombia has been “the most effective country in the world over the last several years” in combatting cocaine and marijuana production.

Nevertheless, the trip to Bogota clearly had the State Department nervous. Narcotics-related violence--much of it aimed at U.S. interests--has plagued Colombia.

Bulletproof vests were issued to members of the Shultz party, and security was extremely tight. Shultz is scheduled to spend less than 12 hours in Bogota, avoiding an overnight stay either before or after his meetings.

“There clearly are security problems,” Shultz said. “They (Colombian officials) have made a great deal of headway (against narcotics). That’s one reason why the drug traffickers and the terrorists are raising so much Cain. The Colombian government has challenged them.”

Although Barco has been reluctant to spell out his program in much detail before his inauguration, U.S. officials believe they know him well. The 65-year-old centrist politician once served as his country’s ambassador in Washington. By and large, the Americans like what they have seen.

A senior State Department official said Washington expects Barco to support a tough line against the leftist Sandinista government in Nicaragua. Outgoing President Belisario Betancur, as one of the founding members of the Contadora peace initiative, took a more even-h1634624613pute between Washington and Managua.

Shultz conceded that Nicaragua’s government is becoming more skillful in lobbying the U.S. Congress against the Administration’s $100-million aid package for the anti-Sandinista contras.

“They have been students of our congressional process,” Shultz said of the Sandinistas. He said they are “playing for time” to stall a final vote on the rebel aid package until after the summer congressional recess.

Marijuana Crop Destroyed

The senior State Department official said Betancur’s outgoing Colombian government has destroyed 85% of the marijuana crop and has made substantial inroads against all aspects of cocaine production.

Neither Shultz nor the other State Department officials spelled out the additional assistance Washington will offer Colombia. Shultz is scheduled to hold a private meeting with Barco today before the inauguration ceremonies.

“We’re ready to listen to any ideas that he has,” Shultz said. “We are trying to work out something that we can do and that they want and put it into place.”