(THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE OF GUATEMALA COLONEL ENRIQUE PERALTA AZURDIA ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT TODAY:)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85-00664R000200020007-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 4, 2012
• Sequence Number: 7
• Content Type: STATEMENT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/04: CIA-RDP85-00664R000200020007-1
The Minister of Defense of Guatemala Colonel Enrique ?orate Azurdia
issued the following statement today:
"In effect there are regular troops stationed in Retalhuleu which is a
Guatemalan Military Base where training is being received by those troops to
be prepared for the second aggression Which might be organized within
Guatemala by Castro or any one coming from outside as an invasion force.
"The U.S. Military Officers Which are in Guatemala are members of the
Military and Air Missions and very shortly a Navy Mission will be established
to also lend technical assistance and training. That is the reason for their
being there as they do in most of the Latin American countries. The Guatemalan
troops which were receiving training in Retalhuleu for guerrilla warfare were
used as an Airborne squadron in the battle of Zacapa and in the one in Puerto
Barrios participating very successfully in the crushing of the revolution.
"Guatemala is not an aggressor country, Guatemala is not receiving ten
ships every week loaded with war material and equipment manufactured in
Communist countries., Guatemala has no Chinese Communist instructors, Guatemala
Ms no jet Communist planes, Guatemala has no Communist guided rockets and
missiles, the only thing Guatemala has is men with great hearts ready to fight
for their independence and political liberties,
"Batista is not in Guatemala, but Arbenz is in Cuba."
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/04: CIA-RDP85-00664R000200020007-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/04: CIA-RDP85-00664R000200-020007-1
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JANUARY 7, 1961 . . 2.5c
For the Kennedy Agenda
FIRST STEPS to BETTER SCHOOLS
Myron Lieberman
?
.GUATEMALA'S SECRE
4,44,
?tx n :?14..1",5
Alexander Werth
? ?' integrated. The groups in. most of these. he said, were the United Nations tst week 1%,, "
tied that he hoped it would leg and entertog runways were leturned to the Helvetia North Arrierlean guerrilla-taetie that camps for train ng ' flier- ., Jo ',;
Ase in the foreseesha. future.
The airfield Is partly- fenced of the bier. the *trip win take' The Helvehe erica. nr plants- lit, he wild.
by a eorrilleated metal wall fotr.engine planes up to the tion, lies. high in the foothills lie Indicated that the letter lest Wielarsday that a Johnson
mg in directing the conatru^t un eombat. nther nations also were brought mein. Ifohderas and trIoricia.
He toid the Seetirli v Canted! ?
'ert'illi:1:1r. e:,3....-..1:::?,.,...:,1:'
r transformed to a commervial According to person,. sisistetraining center after limited experts Experte from several cenaries.? were active in Guate, ; '?' "mr"'
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goeLed last senone 0.,..ir ;in in an emergeiley the prise, 1 ta the port of Chaoilicrii n on denied that Ci a to, Wfre Being tip !nrtadAt,ons ID -Clill ',mai 1 '
eNtilY established base that strip could haddle jet Itghters?the Pacific L'Otult trained now ''.1 He:rettR. He said to h., ,1 eti to paraeh ',.. i to, p,
-d been used in the 1.954 re-,but only to limited operational; Its nearly 3.0iX) a,res art, Op- that among the tramera %ere into rohrt. Th. ,11-00 oh r,.[..! .. .?.A1 orn:Ifin !fait.
lutists by tketose panes with scope and with an element ?iterated- and largely owned bYrtw? Riibiarti-sPealting persons riktO?? J? "re a Oilillbsr ,,r 0 Ina,- !CP )?: uiz Ill
merielm.- pit*, who attacked danger. inaborte Akio Anti. president .who wore used psi 'verily foropera. 4,0 h, the t'n P,1 1.;',?! .;, O 'P.-
tan -
lI .?1.,- aft A Omit*. Although the air operation Ii of the National Association of orders In Russian sn p'i-ioloar,"" whe?re g':er, 11'1.. .er,' IT' '
."....Lik libli_ililailliyitia. 'about ten mites front the oom-;cottme Plaint:ea and probably that the trainees could become t.-.3Nr tr iineft 0 i
_ ___,_ ,., ..i.r Promm,mewsunn IV" mandatraining area, the twolthe Megan independent coffoe'acquainted with the language. ? 'T.'ic airport of IL.- 'el,;'i .. t. ri,iii !' ?
^uertimag, rim. around-the. are geared for quick moopers-'producor in the country. He is Residents of the quirt. i
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mit, IlY a North lice action. .2 V- he 'SLIT - .,;c5,, hti.t: ?,; 01;nrij ai , el? q . j? ?? 1
la glom friend and advisor of shaded city of Retalle. ap? titre- 1 t,' Ami'rii fin e Ig?re,, , ' 1 a, ?-re, it -4.4
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SLY. same giver, here WAS Vfortbf?r during an abortive bar-ilost week-sod at the I'lejo He!. ol'f,r 1 he mystery surrounding United Nations were lot avail- (In '3:tgl r,igivt
ornWall-Titoeup,,oh. racks revolt in which the rebels t?etia home, the sir hese and the Helvetia able for comment ii night or $,,nis 1" Solt
fOfficiais of Thompson- had 4-reptile/id three Important At the entrance of the Rel. instal stint:dt o
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iti7Pri ronnV Approved for Release 2012/06/0 _.
4 CIA-RDP85-00664R000200020007-1 homer