Colombia minister: US aid cuts perilous

Colombia minister: US aid cuts perilous

	Published : Thu, 14 Jun 2007 23:03 By : Agencies Print this Story

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Colombia's defense minister warned Thursday that cocaine production would rise sharply if Democrats in the U.S. Congress proceed with plans to cut military aid to the South American nation, the world's largest producer of the drug.

Colombia is the largest recipient of U.S. aid outside the Middle East and Afghanistan, more than $5 billion since 2000. But Democrats in Congress -- concerned over the disappointing results of the drug war and allegations of government collaboration with murderous paramilitary groups -- want to slash overall aid by about 10 percent starting in 2008.

The House appropriations committee is recommending Congress slash funding to Colombia's military by $150 million, much of it used to pay for the chemical eradication of coca crops that is the cornerstone of the U.S. counter-narcotics strategy here. Another $100 million would be reassigned to boost economic development and strengthen Colombia's judicial system.

Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said the U.S. funding cuts would have a grave impact on the war on drugs and lead to an important rise in overall cocaine production destined mainly for the United States.

'Initial estimates indicate we would have to reduce eradication by one-third,' Santos said.

The minister spoke during a presentation by the United Nations showing that land devoted to growing coca -- the plant used to make cocaine -- fell 2 percent across the Andes last year to 387,700 acres. Global cocaine production was virtually unchanged at 1,084 tons.

Any change to the 2008 foreign aid bill would have to pass the full House and Senate, as well as get a favorable nod from President Bush, who is a firm supporter of the hard-line government of President Alvaro Uribe.

Last year, U.S.-supplied armored planes destroyed a record 425,000 acres of coca, helping the country reduce its crop by 9 percent to 192,740 acres, according to joint U.N.-Colombian estimates.

The gains in Colombia were partially offset by setback in the world's two other main coca-producing countries, Peru and Bolivia.

Coca production was up 7 percent in Peru to 127,000 acres in 2006, and up 9 percent in Bolivia at 68,000 acres, said Sandro Calvani, director of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime in Colombia.

'The overall situation is stable, yet fragile,' said Calvani, who said for progress to continue more international development assistance was needed.

The latest U.S. government estimate puts the amount of coca in Colombia at 385,500 acres -- double the amount found there by the United Nations -- and 27 percent more than in 1999, before the U.S.-backed anti-narcotics strategy known as Plan Colombia was enacted.