South American presidents meet, pledge economic unity

In this story: 'Plan Colombia' arouses concern Brazil emerges as regional leader Officials see no threat to U.S. plans RELATED STORIES, SITES

BRASILIA, Brazil -- Twelve South American presidents came together in Brazil's capital on Friday to launch their most ambitious bid for economic unity despite fears that Colombia's escalating drug war might destabilize the continent.

A document signed by the leaders, the "Brasilia Communique," contains their pledge to create free trade as soon as possible, economically uniting 340 million people in an area with a combined economic output of $1.3 trillion.

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The document, which characterized the two-day summit as a "trailblazing event," included a clause obliging the 12 to "strictly respect" democracy in a region which for decades was deeply divided by distrustful military dictators.

'Plan Colombia' arouses concern

The two-day summit in Brasilia, convened by Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, began one day after U.S. President Bill Clinton visited Colombia to lend support and release $1.3 billion in military aid to the counter-narcotics program.

Colombian President Andres Pastrana quickly reassured the other leaders that his anti-drug campaign -- known as Plan Colombia -- will not lead to American military intervention.

"I am the president of Colombia. There will not be a military intervention," he told reporters Thursday. "Instead of criticizing, the world should understand that drug trafficking is the common enemy."

The U.S. military hardware and training are aimed at combating armed groups that protect plantations producing 90 percent of the world's cocaine.

"We will fully support the plan provided its main goal is a negotiated peace settlement," Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told reporters. "What worries us is the plan's strong military-oriented focus. The level of military involvement must be lowered."

He said Venezuela has reinforced its border with Colombia and planned to provide humanitarian assistance to refugees.

Colombia shares a 1,400-mile (2,250-kilometer) border with Venezuela and a 960-mile (1,540-kilometer) border with Brazil.

Countries bordering Colombia feared that the effort will spill over their borders in the form of refugees, guerrillas or drug traffickers.

Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela are all reinforcing their jungle borders with Colombia -- moves which were underlined by news from the United Nations that 500 Colombians had crossed into Venezuela last month to escape the conflict.

Brazil emerges as regional leader

Cardoso, crowning a long-held dream of hosting a South American summit, told journalists the commodities-dependent region has to integrate, but industrialized countries must open markets.

"We are not prepared to open up more our economies without negotiations which will give us access to rich countries," Cardoso said.

Peru's President Alberto Fujimori, who himself has been reprimanded for poor democratic credentials, praised the coming together of South America.

"Up to now we have faced external problems in an isolated fashion," Fujimori said. "One of these problems is precisely the drug trade and what has been the result? A very weak and fragile position."

Brazil -- the region's giant, bordering on every country except for two -- has spearheaded efforts for closer unity and analysts say a new-found confidence in Brasilia after two years of economic hardship helped it go on the diplomatic offensive.

"Looking at this summit, it is clear that Brazil has become a regional leader," said Luciano Dias, a political analyst in Brasilia. He cited visits by U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Mexican president-elect Vicente Fox as evidence of the nation's importance.

The leaders said Brazil's role would help create a 10-country South American trade bloc uniting the two existing economic groups: the southern Mercosur -- which consists of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, along with Bolivia and Chile as associate members -- and the northern Andean Community -- which takes in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

January 2002 was set as the deadline for the launch of the free trade area.

"As a region we are politically weak," said Fujimori. "Nevertheless, Brazil is one of the biggest countries in the world and one of its greatest economic powers."

Officials see no threat to U.S. plans

Brazilian officials have attempted to calm fears that regional integration would be a threat to the U.S. vision of a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Washington hopes for a 2005 launch of a single hemispheric bloc stretching from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.

In order to make closer integration physically possible, the final document launched a new drive for the development of projects such as bridges, energy lines and roads.

The infrastructure projects would boost the links in a region which has formidable physical barriers like the Andes mountains and the vast Amazon jungle, which is four times the size of France.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Impact of Colombia's anti-drug campaign key issue at South American Summit
August 30, 2000

Repœblica Federativa do Brasil (Portugese)
Presidencia de la Republica de Venezuela (Spanish)
Presidencia de la Republica de Colombia (Spanish)
Mercosur (English/Spanish/Portuguese)
Center for International Policy Latin America Demilitarization Program
United States Institute of Peace Library, Plan Colombia
U.S. State Dept. Fact Sheet: Plan Colombia

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