NETHERLANDS/WORLD COURT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000201190007-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 10, 2008
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: May 10, 1984
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2008/12/10: CIA-RDP88-01070R000201190007-0
CBS EVENING NEWS
10 May 1984
NETHERLANDS/ RATHER: In the Hague, the World Court issued a ruling
WORLD COURT today that Nicaragua welcomed as, and I quote, 'the first
condemnation of American imperialistic policies in Central
America,' end quote. But the ruling, nonbinding, but
important in the battles of international public opinion,
didn't carry much weight with U.S. officials, as we hear
from State Department correspondent Bill McLaughlin.
MCLAUGHLIN: The 15 judges of the International Court of
Justice in the Hague unanimously ordered the U.S. to stop
mining Nicaragua's harbors. The court also ruled the U.S.
should respect Nicaragua's sovereignty and stop backing
rebels seeking to overthrow the Sandinista government,
The immediate comment at the State Department was that the
court's ruling would not affect U.S. policy. JOHN\HUGHES
(State Department spokesman): Our initial reaction is
that nothing contained in the measures indicated by the
court is inconsistent with current United States policy or
activities with respect to Nicaragua.
(File tape) MCLAUGHLIN: That seemed to mean that since
the CIA has already stopped the mining operation of
Nicaragua's ports, the court ruling comes too late, but it
would not, said sources here, stop the U.S. from backing
the rebels in Nicaragua.. One high-ranking State
Department source dismissed the ruling out of hand. Most
people here, said the source, don't pay attention to the
World Court. The ruling came after President Reagan's
speech last night, in which he said Nicaragua was in the
grip of a Communist reign of terror that could spread
revolution to the U.S. border. That brought an angry
response from Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega in
Nicaragua, who said the president's speech was filled with
slanders and lies and vowed that Nicaragua would not bow
to U.S. pressure. President Reagan also warned that left
guerrillas would topple the Salvadoran government unless
Congress approved additional military aid, an appeal
echoed by the man who appears to be El Salvador's new
president. JOSE\NAPOELEON\DUARTE (President contender, El
Salvador): The country is not capable, having this
economical situation, is not capable of supporting the
expense that a war means.
MCLAUGHLIN: CBS News has learned that the State
Department has told the CIA that President Reagan's claims
must be backed up by facts and to do that the CIA should
release classified information it has to support charges
of Nicaragua's involvement in El Salvador's civil war.
Bill McLaughlin, CBS News, the State Department.
Approved For Release 2008/12/10: CIA-RDP88-01070R000201190007-0