Colombia in 2003

Colombia, the fifth-largest country in Latin America by area, and the third largest by population (with 41million people) was the world's second largest supplier of coffee and cut flowers.

For much of the past century, Colombia had been a rare model of Latin American economic stability and success. It had one of the highest credit ratings among countries in the region. In recent times, the Colombian economy had been in recession, with soaring unemployment. Colombia had also become notorious for its two interrelated problems - drugs, law and order. The security forces controlled only about half of the country. Out of 1100 municipalities, 180 did not have any police or army presence.