Brasília, December 2, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin) sponsored the 5th Meeting on the Colombia Plan this week, in Brasília. The meeting, to discuss the repercussions of the military components of the Plan on neighboring countries, was attended by representatives of 12 countries. The agenda ended up being enlarged to include the themes of terrorism and money-laundering. At the end of the encounter, participants took the position that the battle against these transnational crimes will succeed only if there is mutual collaboration and information-sharing among the countries of the continent.

The minister who heads the Presidential Office of Institutional Security, general Alberto Cardoso, reaffirmed the Brazilian position of total support for the Colombian government in its effort to stamp out armed conflict and narcotraffic. "As fellow countries we have the obligation to back Colombia in this fight, always mindful that there are domestic questions, in which we cannot intervene, and external ones, with repercussions in the entire continent," the minister declared. (DAS)