"We need to 'denarcoticise' our relations," he said on arrival in Washington for a three-day state visit.

First state visit by a Colombian president for 23 years

He also said he would be seeking America's support to end Colombia's civil conflict.

It is the first state visit to the US by a Colombian president since 1975.

President Pastrana's predecessor, Ernesto Samper, could not even get a US visa because of allegations that he accepted campaign money from Colombian drug cartels.

Concrete efforts wanted

Washington welcomed Mr Pastrana's election in June and the State Department has said this visit will strengthen relations further.

The BBC State Department Correspondent, Richard Lister, says despite the improvement in ties, Mr Pastrana still needs to show concrete efforts in tackling the drug cartels to guarantee US backing.

Some US Congressmen have criticised Mr Pastrana's decision to demilitarise large areas of Colombia in an effort to seek peace with the rebels.

They say it will hamper the fight against drug producers.

However peace with the guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia is Mr Pastrana's main domestic priority.