[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book II)]
[October 28, 1998]
[Pages 1898-1900]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Joint Communique With President Andres Pastrana of Colombia
October 28, 1998

    In their second meeting since President Pastrana's election last 
June, President Clinton and President Pastrana consolidated a 
comprehensive partnership between their two governments designed to 
promote democracy and economic growth, fight illicit drugs, strengthen 
respect for human rights, extend the rule of law, and help bring an end 
to Colombia's armed conflict. Toward these ends, President Clinton 
pledged over $280 million in new assistance to Colombia, to be made 
available in the course of the current fiscal year. President Clinton 
noted that the scope of this assistance, which is more than double that 
of last year, makes it by far the largest American assistance program 
for the hemisphere. This assistance is indicative

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of the strong bipartisan support, in the Congress as well as his 
Administration, for Colombia and its new leadership.
    The two Presidents agreed on the importance of increased trade and 
investment in sustaining growth, reducing poverty, and permitting 
societies to meet the aspirations of their people. They expressed 
support for the establishment of a Free Trade Area of the Americas by 
2005, while also noting the continuing importance of the Andean Trade 
Preferences in promoting economic growth throughout that region, and 
underpinning the viability of alternative development programs. They 
initiated consultations on a Bilateral Investment Treaty, and agreed to 
conclude with the other countries concerned the creation of a Trade and 
Investment Council for the Andean region. They welcomed the expanded 
activities of the Export Import Bank and the Overseas Private Investment 
Corporation in support of United States/Colombian trade and investment. 
President Clinton offered and President Pastrana accepted a program of 
technical assistance by the United States Treasury, with funding from 
United States Agency for International Development, for the financial 
sector. The Presidents agreed to work to create the fair and equitable 
conditions necessary to implement an Open Skies regime, and to conclude 
a new bilateral aviation agreement as soon as possible. President 
Pastrana welcomed the forthcoming visit of United States Commerce 
Secretary Daley to further expand cooperation in the fields of trade and 
investment.
    The two Presidents signed an Alliance Against Drugs committing their 
nations to use all means at their disposal to stem narcotics production, 
trafficking, consumption and related crimes. They agreed that education, 
prevention, law enforcement, judicial action, extradition of 
narcotraffickers, aerial and other forms of eradication, alternative 
development and efforts to end armed conflict are all essential elements 
in an overall strategy to combat illegal drugs. They looked forward to 
the early completion of a customs mutual assistance agreement. They 
called for greater international efforts, and welcomed the work underway 
through the Organization of American States to forge a hemispheric 
alliance, and to establish a multilateral process to monitor and 
evaluate national as well as collective performance toward agreed goals.
    President Clinton expressed admiration and support for President 
Pastrana's efforts, based upon democracy and the rule of law, to 
establish a dialogue with Colombia's insurgent groups, to initiate a 
peace process, and to seek an end to many decades of armed conflict. 
President Clinton pledged to work with other international donors to 
mobilize substantial additional resources to support implementation of 
the peace process, to promote programs for internally displaced persons, 
to give financial and technical support to a program of alternative 
development, and to thereby promote reconciliation within a democratic 
society of laws. The two Presidents agreed that concrete action on the 
part of insurgent groups to cease hostage taking and other forms of 
terrorism, to cut their ties to narcotrafficking, to respect 
international humanitarian law and to join the fight against illicit 
drugs will be the test of their sincerity and genuine interest in peace.
    The two Presidents shared a commitment to a cleaner environment and 
sustainable development. They welcomed the signing of a ``GLOBE'' 
agreement to link schools and education together through the Internet 
for environmental work. President Pastrana expressed appreciation for 
the provision of Visiting Fellowships by the United States Environmental 
Protection Agency for the study of watershed management.
    The two Presidents agreed that respect for human rights was at the 
core of their effort to promote peace, extend the rule of law, and 
strengthen democratic institutions. They welcomed the completion of a 
Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Colombia and 
United States Agency for International Development establishing a 
program for the training and support for the Colombian judiciary. They 
welcomed the signing of a forfeited-assets sharing arrangement that will 
direct forfeitures to Colombian counternarcotics law enforcement 
efforts. They also attached special importance to the establishment 
between the two Defense Ministries of a Bilateral Working Group that 
will establish and oversee a program of support and training for the 
military justice system.
    In order to manage and extend their comprehensive partnership, the 
two Presidents established a high-level Joint Consultative Group, led by 
the United States State Department and Colombian Foreign Ministry, with 
senior representation from all the other affected cabinet agencies, 
which will meet on a regular basis.

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Acting Assistant Secretary Romero will lead a U.S. team to Colombia in 
early November to agree upon a work program for the Group, and to 
consult on the peace process.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint communique.