U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

For Immediate Release September 9, 2002
2002/776
STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER , SPOKESMAN

Colombia: Determination and Certification of Colombian Armed Forces with Respect to Human Rights Related Conditions

On September 9, 2002, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage determined and certified to Congress that the Colombian Armed Forces are meeting the statutory criteria related to human rights and ties to paramilitary groups. These conditions are that: the Colombian Armed Forces are suspending military officers credibly alleged to have committed gross violations of human rights or to have aided or abetted paramilitary groups; are cooperating with civilian prosecutors and judicial authorities in prosecuting and punishing in civilian courts such members; and are taking effective measures to sever links with paramilitary groups and to execute outstanding orders for capture of members of such groups.

This determination and certification, in accordance with section 567(a)(2) of the Foreign Operations Authorization Act, allows the remaining 40 percent of funds appropriated by the Act to be obligated to the Colombian Armed Forces. The first 60 percent was obligated when the Secretary of State made his determination and certification on May 1, 2002.

The Deputy Secretary's determination is based on a thorough, careful evaluation of the conditions in section 567 and the relevant actions and policies of the Colombian military. The process leading to the determination was not intended to be a complete review of the human rights situation in Colombia, but was focused on the statutory criteria. The Deputy Secretary made the decision to certify based on our discussions with the Government of Colombia and Colombia's Armed Forces, a wide range of international and Colombian non-governmental organizations active on human rights issues, and information provided by our Embassy in Bogotá.

Human rights are central to our policy in Colombia. Despite some real progress, we recognize that more needs to be done to improve the human rights performance of the Armed Forces, including ending military-paramilitary collaboration. President Uribe shares our concern and is committed to working with us on concrete measures the Government of Colombia should take to achieve these objectives.