Special Report The Nicaraguan No. 126 Peace Process: A Documentary Record April 1985 United States Department of State Bureau of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. CONTENTS 2 lntrodnction 8 Initial Regional Support 8 President Duarte of El 2 The Contadora Framework Salvador, April 4, 1985 2 Contadora Document of Objec- 8 President Betancur of Colom- tives, September 9. 1983 bia, April 5 and 7, 1985 3 Nicaraguan Calls for Dialogue 8 President Suazo of Honduras. April 8, 1985 3 Pastoral Letter on Reconcilia- tion From the Nicaraguan 9 President de la Madrid of Bishops, April 22, 1984 Mexico, April 8, 1985 4 Statement of the Coordinadora 9 President Barletta of Panama, Democratica Nicaraguense, April 10, 1985 February 22, 1985 9 President Lusinchi of 5 Document on National Dialogue Venezuela, April 10, 1985 of the Nicaraguan Resistance, 9 President Febres Cordero of March l, 1985 Ecuador, April 10, 1985 6 Communique of the Nicaraguan 9 President Monge of Costa Rica, Episcopal Conference, April 10, 1985 March 22, 1985 9 President Alfonsin of Argen- tina, April 11, 1985 7 President Reagan's Proposal 7 Remarks by President Reagan, 9 Chronology April 4, 1985 10 Additional References Introduction The self-determination of peoples; operations and pursuing policies of Non-intervention; destabilization against others; The Contadora process had as one of its The sovereign equality of States; The need for concerted political ~{­ agreed objectives "to promote national The peaceful settlement of disputes; forts 'in order to encourage dialogue and reconciliation efforts wherever deep divi­ Refraining from the threat or use of understanding in Central America, sions have taken place within society, force; avert the danger of a general spreading with a view to fostering participation in Respect of the territorial integrity of of the conflicts, and set in motion the democratic political processes." States; machinery needed to ensure the peaceful Nicaragua is one of the signatories. Pluralism in its various manifesta­ coexistence and security of their An internal dialogue to promote na­ tions; peoples; tional reconciliation has been a central Ji,ull support for democra,tic institu­ feature of President Duarte's policy in tions; Declare their intention of El Salvador, where four competitive na­ The promotion of social justice; achieving the following objectives: tionwide elections have been held in 3 International co-operation for To promote detente and put an end years. development; to situations of conflict in the area, The establishment of an effective Respect .for and promotion of hu,man restraining from taking any action that dialogue for national reconciliation has rights; might jeopardize political confidence or been a critical necessity in Nicaragua The prohibition of terrorism and obstruct the achievement of peace, ever since the failure to establish a subversion; security and stability in the region; working democracy, perhaps the fun­ To ensure strict compliance with the damental objective of the revolution aforementioned principles of interna­ against the Somoza dictatorship. tional law, whose violators will be held This special report provides basic We want to help opposition accountable; documentation concerning the groups join the political proc­ To respect and ensure the exercise of Nicaraguan peace process, including the ess in all countries and com­ h:uman, political, civil, economic, social, Contadora framework, the proposals of pete by ballots instead of religious and cultural rights; the Nicaraguan Catholic bishops and the bullets. To adopt measures conducive to the various opposition groups, and the posi­ establishment and, where appropriate, tions taken since by President Reagan President Reagan, improvement of democratic, represent­ and leaders in the region itself. l\pril 27, 1983 at1:1Je and pluralistic systems that will guarantee effective popular participation in the decis'ion-making process and en­ sure that the various currents of opinion The Contadora Framework The desire to reconstruct the Cen­ have free access to fair and regular elec­ tral American homeland through pro­ tions based on the .fUll observance of gressive integration of its economic, The Contadora negotiations involve five citizens' rights; legal and social institutions; To promote nat'ional reconciliation Central American countries (Costa Rica, The need for economic co-operation El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and e.ffOrts wherever deep divisions have among the States of Central America so taken place within society, with a vieu; to Nicaragua) and the four members of the as to make a fundamental contribution Contadora Group (Colombia, Mexico, fostering participat1:on in democratic to the development of their peoples and political processes in accordance with the Panama, and Venezuela). the strengthening of their independence; The text of the basic negotiating ob­ law; The undertaking to establ·ish, pro­ To create political conditions in­ jectives agreed to by all nine Contadora mote or revitalize representative, countries is reprinted below. Three of tended to ensure the international democratic systems in all the countries security, integrity and sovereignty of the the 21 objectives deal with the centrality of the region; of democracy and internal reconciliation State of the region; The unjust economic, social and To stop the arms race in all its to the resolution of conflict in Central political structures which exacerbate the America. forms and begin negotiations for the conflicts in Central America; control and reduction of current stocks The urgent need to put an end to of weapons and on the number of armed the tensions and lay the foundations for Contadora Document of Objectives 1 troops; understanding and solidarity among the To prevent the installation on their countries of the area; territory of foreign military bases or any Considering: The arms race and the growing The situation prevailing in Central other type of foreign military in­ arms traffic in Central America, which terference; America, which is characterized by an aggravate political relations in the atmosphere of tension that threatens rro conclude agreements to reduce region and divert economic resources the presence of foreign military advisers security and peaceful coexistence in the that could be used for development; region, and which requires, for its solu­ and other foreign elements involved in The presence of foreign advisers and military and security activities, with a tion, observance of the principles of in­ other forms of foreign military in­ ternational law governing the actions of view to their elimination; terference in the zone; States, especially: To establish internal control The risks that the territory of Cen­ machinery to prevent the traffic in arms tral American States may be used for from the territory of any country in the 1Empha..ses added. the purpose of conducting military region to the territory of another; To eliminate the traffic in arms, whether within the region or from out­ side it, intended for persons, organiza- 2 tions or groups seeking to destabilize the Contadora Group, have begun negotia­ dialogue in a joint statement signed in Governments of Central American coun­ tions with the aim of preparing for the San Jose, Costa Rica, on March 1, 1985. tries; conclusion of the agreements and the On March 22, the Bishops' Council To prevent the use of their own ter­ establishment of machinery necessary to then reemphasized its availability to ritory by persons, organizations or formalize and develop the objectives con­ mediate among an Nicaraguans without groups seeking to destabilize the tained in this document, and to bring exception or favoritism. Governments of Central American coun­ about the establishment of appropriate tries and to refuse to provide them with verification of monitoring systems. To or permit them to receive military or that end, account will be taken of the Pastoral Letter on Reconciliation logistical support; initiatives put forward at the meetings From the Nicaraguan Bishops, 1'o refrain from inciting or support­ convened by the Contadora Group. April 22, 1984 ing acts of terrorism, subversion or Panama City, 9 September 1983 sabotage in the countries in the area; To the priests and deacons in our To establish and co-ordinate direct dioceses: communication systems with a view to To members of religious orders: preventing or, where appropriate, set­ Nicaraguan Calls for Dialogue To catechists and bearers of the tling incidents between States of the Word: region; To our brothers and sisters in the The peace process in Nicaragua is apostolic lay movements: To continue humanitarian aid aimed framed by the four documents excerpted To principals, teachers, and students at helping Central American refugees below. in Catholic schools: who have been displaced from their The Nicaraguan bishops' 1984 To all our beloved faithful: countries of origin, and to create Easter Pastoral took stock of the suitable conditions for the voluntary worsening conflict inside Nicaragua and Grace and peace from God our repatriation of such refugees, in con­ its spillover into neighboring countries in Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. sultation with or with the co-operation Central America. The bishops called for of the United Nations High Commis­ Dear brothers and sisters: a dialogue among ~'all Nicaraguans in­ sioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other side and outside the country . [in­ At this solemn Easter celebration, international agencies deemed ap­ cluding] Nicaraguans who have taken up the ultimate expression of God's love for propriate; arms against the government." mankind through the redemption, we in­ 'fo nndertake economic and social After the elections of November 4, vite you to share more fully in the development programs with the aim of 1984, had failed to provide either free spiritual wealth of the Holy Year, which promoting well being and an equitable competition or reconciliation, the inter- will be extended in Nicaragua by a distribution of wealth; special concession from Pope John To revitalize and restore economic Paul JI until June 17, 1984, the feast of integration machinery in order to attain the Holy Trinity.