Quayle Opposes ‘Debtor Cartel’

Vice President Dan Quayle, arriving Wednesday on his first visit to Latin America, discussed anti-drug efforts with Colombia’s president and declared U.S. opposition to any Latin “debtor cartel.”

The vice president arrived a day before inaugural ceremonies for Venezuela’s new president, Carlos Andres Perez. His met first with President Virgilio Barco Vargas of Colombia.

Quayle mostly listened as Barco talked about Colombia’s fight against drugs and guerrillas “and how much help they need from the United States,” said Quayle’s press secretary, David Beckwith. Quayle told Barco that U.S. resources to help out are limited.

Entering the busy capital by motorcade, Quayle created a cacophony of horn-honking when he stopped to buy bananas, guavas and mangoes at a small market. “Stimulating the economy already,” he joked to reporters.

Quayle said on arrival that his primary mission is to be “a cheerleader for democracy.” But the massive debt owed by Latin countries is expected to dominate the discussion among two dozen heads of state attending the inauguration.

Quayle indicated the United States is maintaining a hard line on so-called debtor cartel movements to form a unified organization of Third World nations that face huge national debts.