Report
on Issues Related to the Aerial Eradication of Illicit Coca in Colombia
Released by the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement
Affairs
September 2002
Letter from Colombian Ambassador to the U.S. Luis
Alberto Moreno with Attached Diplomatic Note from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Government of Colombia
EMBAJADA DE COLOMBIA
WASHINGTON, D.C.
March 22, 2002
The Honorable
RANDY BEERS
Assistant Secretary for International
Narcotics and Law Enforcement
U. S. Department of State
Washington D. C.
Dear Secretary Beers:
I hereby enclose the Verbal Note sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of Colombia to the United States Embassy in Bogota, certifying that our two
Governments have been conducting consultations regarding the U.S.-supported
aerial coca eradication program in Colombia and that this program is being
carried out in accordance with Colombian laws.
Cordially,
LUIS IS ALBERTO MORENO
Ambassador
REPUBLICA DE COLOMBIA
MINISTERIO DE RELACIONES EXTERIORES
VRE.CEC No. 11355
El Ministerio de Relaciones
Exteriores, saluda muy atentamente a la Honorable Embajada de los Estados
Unidos de América con ocasión de informar que el Gobierno de Colombia, se encuentra
desarrollando el Programa de Erradicación de Cultivos Ilicitos
por Aspersión Aérea con el Herbicida Glifosato (PECIG), atendiendo las normas
colombianas aplicables en la material.
Que en atención al programa
PECIG, viene implementando un plan de manejo ambiental aprobado por el
Ministerio del Medio Ambiente, a través de la Resolución No.1065 de 2001 y
precisada mediante Resolución No. 0108 de 2002.
Que desde el comienzo del
Programa de Erradicación de Cultivos Ilicitos por
Aspersión Aérea con el Herbicida Glifosato (PECIG), este ha contado con una
auditoria ambiental.
A la Honorable
EMBAJADA DE ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA
Ciudad
REPUBLICA DE COLOMBIA
MINISTERIO DE RELACIONES EXTERIORES
En este sentido de acuerdo con
las consultas sostenidas entre los Gobiernos de Colombia y los Estados Unidos
en asuntos relacionados con la fumigación aérea de cultivos ilegales de coca en
Colombia, por este medio el gobierno de Colombia certifica que el programa de
fumigación aérea apoyado por los Estados Unidos se está llevando a cabo de
acuerdo con todas y cada una de las leyes colombianas aplicables en la materia.
El Ministerio de Relaciones
Exteriores se vale de la oportunidad para reiterar a la Honorable Embajada de
los Estados Unidos de América las seguridades de su más distinguida
consideración.
Bogotá D. C., 21 de marzo
de 2002
U.S. Department of State
Office of Language Services
Translating Division
LS No. 07-2002-0012
KFC/JF
Spanish
Republic of Colombia
Ministry of Foreign Relations
VRE.CEC No. 11355
The Ministry of Foreign Relations presents its compliments to the
Embassy of the United States and would like to inform it that the Government of
Colombia is implementing the IProgram to Eradicate Illicit Crops by Aerial Spraying
of the Herbicide Glyphosate (PECIG), in accordance with applicable Colombian
regulations.
Under the PECIG program, an environmental management plan is being
implemented that was approved by the Ministry of Environment, through decision
No. 1065 of 2001, and outlined further in decision No. 0108 of 2002.
The PECIG program has, moreover, been subject from the outset to an
environmental audit.
Embassy of the United States,
Bogotá.
Therefore, in accordance with the consultations held between the
Governments of Colombia and the United States on matters related to the aerial
spraying of illegal coca crops in Colombia, the Government of Colombia hereby
certifies that the aerial spraying program supported by the United States is
being carried out in accordance with each and every applicable Colombian law on
the matter.
[Complimentary close.]
Bogota, March 21, 2002
[Initialed]