WASHINGTON — Colombian President Alvaro Uribe labored Wednesday to repair his country's reputation in the U.S. capital in the wake of allegations that members of his inner circle had ties to illegal paramilitary groups.
Democrats in Congress have blocked a portion of the $700 million that the government in Bogota receives annually from the United States after reports that Colombia's army chief, Gen. Mario Montoya, had colluded with paramilitaries.
"I have supported President Uribe for five years. I continue to support him, and I want him to succeed," said Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), who has held up about $55 million in U.S. aid to the South American country until the Senate can fully explore "reports of paramilitary infiltration of the Colombian government and military."
White House officials expressed support for Uribe, the Bush administration's staunchest ally in South America, and voiced optimism that any wrongdoing would be prosecuted.
"Before my administration, many Colombians had the idea that the only way for my country to reach peace, it was by private criminal organizations," Uribe said after having breakfast with President Bush at the White House. "Today, the vast majority of Colombians are convinced that we will defeat terrorists."
National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the two leaders discussed the allegations of links between paramilitaries and political allies of Uribe and that Bush stands by his ally.
"It is only under President Uribe that the paramilitaries have had to face justice," Johndroe said.
"The Colombian government has been forthright in calling for investigations into all allegations of wrongdoing, regardless of rank or title."
The allegations also were prominent in a series of meetings Uribe held on Capitol Hill. Rep. Sander M. Levin (D-Mich.), chairman of the House Ways and Means subcommittee on trade, said committee members had a "frank discussion" with Uribe about problems in Colombia.
"There's a lot of uncertainty. The uncertainty has to be addressed. We're going to do that," Levin said.
Uribe makes frequent trips to Washington to lobby the White House and Congress to support what is known as Plan Colombia, a U.S.-financed anti-drug program centered on crop eradication and military aid. Since 2000, Colombia has received $4.7 billion for the effort, making the nation the recipient of the largest share of U.S. aid outside the Middle East and Afghanistan.
