(7 Apr 2001)
1. Wide of Andres Pastrana and Vicente Fox coming out of the presidential residence
2. Various of Pastrana and Fox meeting Colombia's high ranking officers
3. Various of Pastrana and Fox inspecting armed forces
4. Various of Pastrana and Fox signing documents
5. Wide at press briefing
6. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Vicente Fox, President of Mexico
"I would like to point out that in the case of Mexico and in the case of Marcos, it was precisely this that made it work: a determination on the part of the government to reach peace and a positive response on the part of Marcos. This is what makes peace agreements possible. Peace cannot be made by just one of the sides. It takes the co-operation, compromise and willingness of both sides. That's what we are expecting from the FARC - both on the part of their representatives both in Mexico and here in Colombia."
7. Cut to wide of podium
8. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Andres Pastrana, President of Colombia "Ultimately we have to hit their financing. We must hit the wealth of the narco traffickers - as we've seen in other countries and in Colombia. We have to hit these illegal groups of organised crime (which is the biggest business in the world) where it hurts.
9. Cut to wide of podium
10.SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Andres Pastrana, President of Colombia;
"We don't have any evidence that they are trafficking or that they are part of a Cartel but yes, they have recognized that they live and they finance themselves from the trafficking of drugs. That is the reason why in front of the International Community - and I repeat - that they cannot have any links with the narco traffickers if they want to take part in a negotiation process"
11. Wide of Fox and Pastrana leaving the briefing
12. Various of Fox visiting Bolivar's monument
13. Mid shot of Fox and Pastrana walking protected by bodyguards
STORYLINE:
The presidents of Colombia and Mexico cast doubt on assertions by U-S and other officials that Colombian rebels were trafficking drugs - an international crime that could result in their extradition for trial abroad.
Assistant U-S Secretary of State, Rand Beers, recently asserted that the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and drug traffickers "are the same thing," and held out the possibility they could be extradited to the United States.
But Colombian President Andres Pastrana, who met with President Vicente Fox of Mexico on Friday, said that "for the moment no proof or evidence exists that the FARC is a drug cartel."
Fox echoed Pastrana's comments at a joint news conference, saying there is "no confirmation" that the FARC is selling drugs to powerful Mexican drug cartels, who ship cocaine and heroin from Colombia to the United States.
The FARC has admitted to "taxing" Colombian peasant farmers who grow drug crops, along with a rival right-wing paramilitary group, but denies it smuggles cocaine or works directly with international drug traffickers.
However, the comments from the presidents come just two days after Colombia's army chief said he would deliver evidence to prosecutors and international bodies showing the FARC is selling cocaine to international traffickers.
Calling drug trafficking a "scourge," Fox and Pastrana created a joint security council composed of their defence ministers and other top officials to enhance cooperation in the drug war.
Pastrana and Fox also urged the United States to cut drug consumption and criticised Washington's annual certification of other countries' cooperation in the drug war.
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