BOGOTA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday that Germany fully supports Colombian government's anti-drug operations and plans to offer aid to the Latin American country's anti-narcotics program to eradicate coca plants.

    Merkel made the remarks at a press conference after meeting with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. The German chancellor started her two-day visit to Colombia Saturday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets with Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa at the start of a bilateral meeting at the European Union-Latin America and Caribbean Summit (EU-Latam) in Lima, May 16, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Germany is quite interested in Colombia's strategy of coca plants eradication and will consider offering funds or technology in aid to ensure the sustainable implementation of the plan, Merkel said.

    In 2003, the Colombian government launched an anti-narcotics strategy, encouraging some 66,000 families with allowances or alternative plants to give up planting coca, a raw material for cocaine. The strategy is expected to help eradicate about 100,000 hectares of coca plants in 2008.

    During the meeting, Merkel and Uribe also discussed combating anti-government military forces in Colombia. The two governments also signed two agreements on increasing German investments in Colombia and the cancellation of export duties.