Uribe lobbies U.S. lawmakers on aid, trade deal
Reuters
Uribe lobbies U.S. lawmakers on aid, trade deal
2 May 2007
WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters) - With support of U.S. President George W. Bush, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe sought to convince U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday to approve more military and anti-narcotics aid and back a trade deal.
Bush and Uribe held a working breakfast at the White House to discuss strategy before the Colombian leader headed to Capitol Hill for talks with lawmakers.
Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont last month ordered frozen $55.2 million in military aid to Colombia over concerns about human rights and accusations that Colombia’s army chief colluded with illegal paramilitaries.
The frozen aid is part of assistance to the armed forces that needs approval by Congress, which monitors improvement of Colombia’s human rights situation. The Bush administration recently certified that Colombia had made progress on rights.
The move by Leahy came as some members of his party push for a tougher line with Colombia, which receives billions of dollars in U.S. aid through Plan Colombia to fight left-wing rebels and the illicit drug trade.
Uribe is under scrutiny as he fends off a scandal linking several of his lawmaker-supporters to the militias, who are accused of drug-trafficking and massacres during their dirty war with left-wing guerrillas.
Uribe defended his tenure, telling reporters on the White House South Lawn that during his five-year term, "we have healthy elections, and Colombians have enjoyed effectiveness of our freedoms because of our policy on security."
"It is very important that the United States considers the necessity to advancing Plan Colombia. We haven’t won yet in eradicating illicit drugs, but we are winning," he said.
Bush argued specifically for Congress to approve free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and Peru, deals that have been the subject of negotiations on Capitol Hill.
Democrats want the administration to modify the agreements with the three nations to include an enforceable commitment to abide by core International Labor Organization standards, such as freedom from child labor, freedom from slave labor and the right to organize and bargain collectively.
Bush said the agreements have strategic implications in a region where U.S. intentions have been met with suspicion.
"These agreements are more than just trade votes. They are signals to South America that we stand with nations that are willing to make hard decisions on behalf of the people," Bush said.
He said Uribe has a "good, solid record" and urged members of Congress to be open-minded.
