Bush: politics must not impede Colombia trade vote
(Adds additional comments, byline, changes dateline)
By David Alexander
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 18 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush urged Congress on Tuesday to set politics aside and quickly approve a long-sought free trade deal with Colombia, a key Latin American ally.
"I ask the members of both parties to ensure that politics do not get in the way of a vital priority for our nation and, frankly, a vote that will help people here on the docks," Bush said in a speech at a port in Jacksonville, Florida.
"The time is urgent ... This agreement is too important to be delayed any longer," he said.
The Bush administration has been pressing Congress for months to approve the pact with Colombia, which has received billions of dollars in U.S. assistance in its battle against rebel violence and drugs.
But senior Democrats like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi say the chances are slim for approving the deal until lawmakers see progress on curbing labor violence in Colombia and until a "robust" package of assistance materializes for U.S. workers impacted by trade.
Trade officials, frustrated by what they see as endless delays, say the administration may send the agreement to Congress after lawmakers return from a spring break on March 31 in order to ensure a vote this year.
The Colombia agreement is covered by trade promotion authority, which requires Congress to approve or reject trade deals within 90 legislative days.
But Pelosi has warned Bush risks a 'no' vote if he deviates from the traditional path for submitting deals to Congress.
Trade is a divisive issue these days as many in the Democratic-controlled Congress have doubts about the benefits past agreements have brought blue-collar workers.
SECURITY, ECONOMIC INTERESTS
Bush reiterated that approval of the Colombia pact was essential to bolstering a Latin American ally facing threats from leftist guerrillas at home and from neighboring Venezuela, led by President Hugo Chavez, a fiery anti-U.S. leader.
Colombia triggered a week-long crisis in the Andean region earlier this month by sending troops into neighboring Ecuador on a raid that killed a senior commander of the FARC rebel group. Venezuela joined Ecuador in sending troops to their borders with Colombia.
Keeping up criticism of Chavez, Bush repeated charges by U.S. and Colombian officials of the Venezuelan government's links to the FARC, which the United States lists as a terrorist organization, and he vowed to stand by Colombia.
"Recently when Colombian forces killed one of the FARC's most senior leaders they discovered computer files that suggest even closer ties between Venezuela's regime and FARC terrorists than we previously knew," Bush said.
The disclosure has raised speculation that the Bush administration might be considering putting Venezuela on a terrorism blacklist.
Chavez, an ally of communist Cuba who has called for a socialist revolution in Latin America, has said the accusations are part of a U.S.-backed plot to smear him.
Bush also identified exports -- and possibilities for greater international trade -- as a bright spot in the deepening gloom of the U.S. economy.
"If you're worried about the economy, it seems like you ought to be sending a clear signal that the United States of America will continue to trade, not shut down trade," Bush said. "And that's what this Colombia vote says."
His administration hopes a vote on the Colombia agreement will open the door to approving two other pending trade deals with Panama and South Korea. (Writing by Missy Ryan, editing by Chris Wilson)
By David Alexander
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 18 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush urged Congress on Tuesday to set politics aside and quickly approve a long-sought free trade deal with Colombia, a key Latin American ally.
"I ask the members of both parties to ensure that politics do not get in the way of a vital priority for our nation and, frankly, a vote that will help people here on the docks," Bush said in a speech at a port in Jacksonville, Florida.
"The time is urgent ... This agreement is too important to be delayed any longer," he said.
The Bush administration has been pressing Congress for months to approve the pact with Colombia, which has received billions of dollars in U.S. assistance in its battle against rebel violence and drugs.
But senior Democrats like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi say the chances are slim for approving the deal until lawmakers see progress on curbing labor violence in Colombia and until a "robust" package of assistance materializes for U.S. workers impacted by trade.
Trade officials, frustrated by what they see as endless delays, say the administration may send the agreement to Congress after lawmakers return from a spring break on March 31 in order to ensure a vote this year.
The Colombia agreement is covered by trade promotion authority, which requires Congress to approve or reject trade deals within 90 legislative days.
But Pelosi has warned Bush risks a 'no' vote if he deviates from the traditional path for submitting deals to Congress.
Trade is a divisive issue these days as many in the Democratic-controlled Congress have doubts about the benefits past agreements have brought blue-collar workers.
SECURITY, ECONOMIC INTERESTS
Bush reiterated that approval of the Colombia pact was essential to bolstering a Latin American ally facing threats from leftist guerrillas at home and from neighboring Venezuela, led by President Hugo Chavez, a fiery anti-U.S. leader.
Colombia triggered a week-long crisis in the Andean region earlier this month by sending troops into neighboring Ecuador on a raid that killed a senior commander of the FARC rebel group. Venezuela joined Ecuador in sending troops to their borders with Colombia.
Keeping up criticism of Chavez, Bush repeated charges by U.S. and Colombian officials of the Venezuelan government's links to the FARC, which the United States lists as a terrorist organization, and he vowed to stand by Colombia.
"Recently when Colombian forces killed one of the FARC's most senior leaders they discovered computer files that suggest even closer ties between Venezuela's regime and FARC terrorists than we previously knew," Bush said.
The disclosure has raised speculation that the Bush administration might be considering putting Venezuela on a terrorism blacklist.
Chavez, an ally of communist Cuba who has called for a socialist revolution in Latin America, has said the accusations are part of a U.S.-backed plot to smear him.
Bush also identified exports -- and possibilities for greater international trade -- as a bright spot in the deepening gloom of the U.S. economy.
"If you're worried about the economy, it seems like you ought to be sending a clear signal that the United States of America will continue to trade, not shut down trade," Bush said. "And that's what this Colombia vote says."
His administration hopes a vote on the Colombia agreement will open the door to approving two other pending trade deals with Panama and South Korea. (Writing by Missy Ryan, editing by Chris Wilson)
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