(23 Jan 1996) English/Nat
The United States won't be making a judgement about Colombia's embattled president Ernesto Samper until charges that he financed his re-election campaign with drug money have been investigated.
A spokesman for the State Department said it won't change policy toward Colombia and President Samper until all of the facts are known.
His accuser - former campaign manager and Defence Minister Ernesto Botero - says Samper took huge sums of money from the Cali cartel to fund his 1994 election campaign.
President Samper denies the charge, says he's staying in office and has no plans to resign.
The official line from the State Department is that while the developing crisis in Colombia is of concern to the U-S, it's still a domestic matter.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The current situation in Colombia is one that we are watching closely and we certainly expect that the situation there will be resolved through a thorough investigation within the framework of Colombia's legal system and within the framework of Colombia's constitution."
SUPER CAPTION: Nicholas Burns, U-S State Department spokesman
Burns avoided questions on whether the charges against Samper would sour relations between Bogota and Washington.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Are we satisfied with the level of commitment? I think the most direct and honest thing I can say is 1995 was a year of some success and some disappointment. And we certainly hope that in 1996 will see an improved level of co-operation between our countries."
SUPER CAPTION: Nicholas Burns, U-S State Department spokesman
The State Department is refusing to comment on the crisis until after all the facts are known.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It really wouldn't be prudent for us or logical for us to decide a course of action when we are not sure of the facts. We need to see what facts are produced by this investigation and then we will draw the necessary conclusions."
SUPER CAPTION: Nicholas Burns, U-S State Department spokesman
While the U-S has long harbored suspicions about Samper's alleged ties to drug traffickers, officials have been slow to openly criticize him.
Many believe that this bout of silence may soon end.
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