Brazil, Colombia to Join Forces on Drugs

www.kansas.com Posted on Fri, Mar. 07, 2003 ADALID CABRERA LEMUZ Associated Press

BRASILIA, Brazil - Brazil's president promised Friday to help Colombia in its fight against drug traffickers and guerrillas, labeling the insurgents "terrorists."

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pledged the assistance at the end of a five-hour visit from his Colombian counterpart, Alvaro Uribe.

"Brazil has committed itself to support Colombia in its fight against drug traffickers and terrorists," Silva said.

Silva's labeling the guerrillas terrorists came a day after the U.S. ambassador to Ecuador said nations neighboring Colombia could help Uribe by calling the FARC group terrorists because that's "what they are."

Brazil's first leftist president in 40 years, Silva has frequently been critical of the proposed Free Trade Agreement of the Americas, which is scheduled to take effect by 2005. Silva's opposition, as he leads South America's largest economy, could complicate approval of the agreement, which Bush supports. The agreement seeks to create a free-trade zone stretching from Alaska to Argentina.

Neither president provided details on Brazil's help, but diplomatic sources said it would probably include tighter controls along the 1,020-mile frontier between the two countries.

Brazil is also expected to provide Colombia with information obtained by its Amazon Surveillance System _a network of radars, surveillance airplanes and computers.

The $1.4 billion system was inaugurated last year to help Brazil unlock the economic potential of the vast Amazon region and fight intrusions from Colombian guerillas or drug traffickers.

"Terrorism destroys democracy, life and natural resources, including those of the Amazon (rain forest)," Uribe said. "If it is not dealt with, it will expand its activities across the border into Brazil."

Colombia's war, now in its 38th year, pits the FARC and a smaller rebel group against the government and outlawed paramilitary groups. The guerrilla groups and a rightist paramilitary operation all rely on drug trafficking to fund their operations.

The two presidents also discussed ways to strengthen relations between the Mercosur and Andean Community trading blocs. Mercosur is made up of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. The Andean Community is made up of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.