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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 02 August 2003 00:00 |
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The United States is close to approving an accord with Colombia to resume drug interdiction flights halted after the deaths of a U.S. missionary and her baby in Peru two years ago, U.S. officials said on Friday.
WASHINGTON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - The United States is close to approving an accord with Colombia to resume drug interdiction flights halted after the deaths of a U.S. missionary and her baby in Peru two years ago, U.S. officials said on Friday.
The officials, who asked not to be named, said the accord could be approved as early as next week by U.S. President George W. Bush, who has been eager to restart the interdiction flights to curb the flow of cocaine into the United States.
The officials said the final issue to be resolved concerned U.S.-supplied and maintained ground-based radar systems and whether the data they generate was covered by the agreement.
The accord lays out safety procedures designed to prevent a recurrence of the 2001 incident in which a small aircraft was mistakenly shot down over neighboring Peru, killing U.S. missionary Veronica Bowers and her daughter Charity.
U.S. officials said the agreement on the Airbridge Denial program had been blessed at the inter-agency working level and was expected to be approved by senior officials shortly.
"It looks like everybody's on board. It has to go up a few notches for approval," said one U.S. official who asked not to be named, saying the Bush administration may be in a position "next week to say this is ready to go."
A second official echoed the assessment, saying the process under which the relevant agencies -- notably the State and Defense Departments -- must vet the deal was all but complete.
"As far as the inter-agency process is concerned, we're on the verge of giving the green light," said the official.
Officials, however, were wary of setting a date for an announcement, noting Bush must approve resuming the flights and that the negotiations have been subject to lengthy delays.
Two weeks ago diplomatic sources said Colombia sent the United States a letter confirming the radars would be covered by the agreement. However, one official said Washington sought assurances that the data from the radars would only be used to stop drug flights in parts of Colombia covered in the accord.
"They've agreed to that," he said.
Colombian and Peruvian officials, who view the flights as an important way to fight the drug trade, wanted them to resume last year and the delay has frustrated many in the region.
While the Colombia deal appears on the verge of completion, efforts to design safeguards with Peru are far less advanced.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 January 2007 10:43 |
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