WASHINGTON, D.C. — Colombia President Andrés Pastrana will deliver a keynote address to U.S. Mayors at their Winter Meeting. The speech is part of a day-long conference focusing on the drug crisis in cities and rural communities. Following the speech, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Barry R. McCaffrey and Mayors will hold a press conference to discuss drug control efforts and the Clinton Administration's recently proposed Colombian aid package.

The speech will occur during a plenary luncheon scheduled for January 26, 2000 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. A press conference will follow at 2:00 PM. Press is required to register for this event and others during the Conference's 68^th Winter Meeting. Pre-registrations will be accepted by telephone or on the Internet at the Conference's Winter Meeting Information Center, /68thWinterMeeting.

Also during the drug crisis conference, the Mayors will release an analysis of drug use in the U.S. prepared by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. The study will form the basis for a dialogue by national leaders that begins at 9:00 AM. Scheduled to participate are: Boise Mayor and Conference Drug Control Task Force Chair H. Brent Coles, CASA President Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Attorney General Janet Reno, SAMHSA Administrator Nelba Chavez, Clallam County (WA) Sheriff Joe Hawe, and General McCaffrey. These participants will also appear at a Noon press conference to discuss the CASA study.