Pastrana heads for Bush talks

Pastrana (right) has spent three days wooing US officials

By Jonny Dymond in Washington

Colombian President Andres Pastrana meets his United States counterpart, George Bush, in Washington on Tuesday for talks expected to focus on the country's battle against illegal drugs.

It's important that the US is there to directly exchange with them [rebels] their points of view

President Pastrana

Ahead of the meeting, Mr Pastrana called on the US to join peace talks with Colombia's largest rebel group, the FARC, who are financed by the drugs trade.

Mr Pastrana has already spent three days in the US capital talking to state governors and members of the new administration.

He has let it be known that his priorities in his discussions with US officials are:

• to reassure

• to request

• to seek renewal.

The reassurance will be over the United States' escalating involvement in Colombia's battle against drugs.

"Plan Colombia" promises $1.3bn of US aid to help the country reduce the production and distribution of cocaine.

Escalation worries

But many in the US are concerned that an escalating level of involvement could drag US military forces into battle against Colombia's guerrilla and paramilitary forces.

US has backed anti-drug units

Mr Pastrana has promised that the US will not become involved in a Vietnam-style conflict, but he says a US presence would strengthen the peace process, which aims to end the 37-year leftist rebellion.

Last week, FARC invited the United States and Cuba to join the European Union and other Latin American countries as observers to peace talks.

"This is the first time that these people are willing to open the door to the presence of the international community at the table of negotiations," he said.

''I think it's important that the US is there to directly exchange with them their points of view.''

The US broke off contacts with FARC two years ago following the killings of three Americans who were captured by a guerrilla unit.

Trade talks

During his talks with Mr Bush, Mr Pastrana is also expected to discuss trade.

He wants a renewal of the trade-preference agreement that expires in December.

Mr Pastrana will request further aid for farmers to cut the production of coca, the central element of cocaine.

He will also continue discussions he has already been having about the creation of a free trade area throughout the Western hemisphere.