The United States will reduce its financial aid to Colombia in its fight against drug trafficking by about 10 percent, accusing the country of violating human rights, Colombia's ambassador to the U.S. Carolina Barco said on Monday.
"The cut will be between 30 and 60 million U.S. dollars," Barco said without explaining the reason.
The United States has been providing financial assistance to Colombia through the program Plan Colombia, which Colombia uses to fight both drug trafficking and guerilla groups.
Barco said the comparatively small reduction would not significantly affect the program, which has received a total of five billion dollars to date.
Plan Colombia was signed by former President Andres Pastrana. It worked as an anti-drug-trafficking measure in the beginning but was extended to cover guerrilla fighting by President Alvaro Uribe.
The U.S. legislature, the Congress, which is controlled by the Democrats, has accused Colombia of violating human rights in its military operations and has linked the country's progress in combating drug trafficking on a free trade agreement.
Some payments were already frozen in April following allegations that the Colombian army had been working alongside paramilitaries.
In 2007, Colombia hopes to eradicate 70,000 hectares of illicit poppy plantations, according to Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos.
Source: Xinhua
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