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[NOTE: Excerpts from "exclusive" interview with Argentine
President Carlos Menem by Clemencia Medina Vergara, in Buenos Aires. -DG]
EL TIEMPO [Bogota]
Wednesday, 29 September 1999
Argentine president interviewed on intervention
in Colombia
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- In an exclusive interview a few
hours before making a lightning visit to our country, Argentine President
Carlos Menem has stated that there is no plan for a military intervention
in Colombia, that he never has discussed such a possibility with President
Bill Clinton and that Argentina will never support such an idea without
the consent of the Colombian government.
Menem, the man who has ruled Argentina for the longest consecutive number
of days - a decade, surpassing even the record set by Juan Domingo Peron
- told this correspondent in his office in the Casa Rosada that his government
will not engage in a dialogue with the Colombian guerrillas, but stands
ready to provide all the assistance that Colombia demands to achieve the
success of its peace process.
[Medina] Does Argentina consider Colombia a threat to the region?
[Menem] I would not say Colombia is a threat to the region. I would say
that some sectors of the Colombian community who use force could pose a
threat to the Colombian democratic regime. This is a regime that we intend
to defend to the last consequences, to the extent that democracy, liberty
and respect for human rights are coerced in Colombia, but without interfering
in its domestic affairs. If some day Colombia says: "We need such help
from Argentina," you can rest assured we will be there. We love Colombia,
we know what the Colombian people signify for Latin America and for the
world and we are anxious to have the problem solved rapidly.
[Q] A representative of the FARC [Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia]
(Javier Calderon) is currently touring Argentina. Is this visit taking
place with the consent of your government?
[A] These visits are a surprise up to a certain point and that really bothers
us. Argentina is a country that has already gone through a hard experience
on the matter.
[Q] Would your government receive this person as FARC representative in
the Southern Cone?
[A] I do not agree with expressing solidarity with the guerrillas.
[Q] Would you engage in a dialogue with ranking leaders of the Colombian
guerrillas as the Chavez government [in Venezuela] has done?
[A] No. There are different says of thinking. We cannot engage in a dialogue
with guerrillas and we will only engage in a dialogue with the Colombian
government.
[Q] Around the middle of the year, the Argentine press gave ample coverage
to a report saying the United States had consulted you about a possible
multinational military intervention in Colombia. Was that so?
[A] No. We never spoke with President Clinton about such a possibility,
nor did the president refer to that topic. That possibility, at least for
the moment, has been ruled out completely.
[Q] Would Argentina endorse a multinational military intervention in Colombia?
There is the belief in our country that you are in agreement with this
option.
[A] No. If Colombia does not accept it, we are not going to endorse a solution
of that kind.
[Q] Not even if the United States, its NATO partner, requests it?
[A] It has been totally ruled out. There have been many reports on the
issue, but that is the word of the president. I am very respectful of Colombia's
sovereignty, of the decisions that are made, and we will accompany them
if and when Colombia requests our company.
[Q] How do you think that your country could contribute to the Colombian
peace process?
[A] With whatever assistance Colombia requests.
[Q] Does President Pastrana's invitation respond in part to this?
[A] Of course we will talk about the topic when we get there. Colombia
does not deserve this situation of so many confrontations and so many kidnappings.
These are situations that are obviously undermining the security of the
people and of investors...
[Q] What is your opinion of President Hugo Chavez? Do you believe there
is the threat of an authoritarian regime in Venezuela?
[A] No. I have a very high opinion of President Chavez and he is doing
things well. I was the bridge so that President Chavez could meet with
President Bill Clinton. He is working well.
[Q] Do you agree with Pinochet being taken to trial in Spain?
[A] No, because that violates Chile's sovereignty.
[Q] Do you fear that the same could occur with the Argentine military?
[A] No. Judge Garzon requested the extradition of four military men and
I said no. These military men have already been tried, sentenced and pardoned
by Argentine justice. We cannot tolerate that, in addition to having been
colonized once, we would also have the fate of being colonized in the field
of law. All countries, including Spain with its king and prime minister,
signed an act which does not admit the principle of extraterritoriality
and we severely condemn that judge for his interference in Chile's internal
affairs.
Argentina does not agree and, therefore, we will not attend the Ibero-American
summit - not because of Cuba or Spain - but because of this judge who,
without weighing the consequences, intends to pass judgment on a Chilean
citizen, when in reality those who have to judge him - sooner or later
- are the Chileans...
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