Russ Feingold: “I rise to address a serious situation which exists with a key Latin American ally of the United States. I am speaking of…”

“I rise to address a serious situation which exists with a key Latin American ally of the United States. I am speaking of Colombia. Colombia is widely recognized as one of the most stable democracies in the hemisphere. It has a traditional civilian and democratically elected government. Colombia is the largest recipient of United States aid in the hemisphere and a critical element in our drug strategy. Colombia is also a country close to the hearts of many people from Wisconsin. My own Dane County has a Colombian sister city, Apartado. Madison, WI is the home of a leading Colombian human rights organization, the Colombian Support Network. I am indebted to these fine Americans for their tireless efforts to uphold the principles of human dignity which should be the foundation of every country including Colombia and the United States. I know my Senate colleagues understand the troubles which President Gaviria has faced in the last 4 years in his struggles with drug cartels and guerrilla forces. The Colombian people are a spirited and courageous people with a passion for their beliefs. Whether or not their struggles are channeled for good depends on whether their government sustains an environment for legitimate social processes. As allies, I believe that Colombia and the United States need to be truthful with each other--even when the truth maybe difficult to face.”