TRANSCRIPT OF REAGAN INTERVIEW ON A RANGE OF FOREIGN ISSUES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000505380069-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 12, 2010
• Sequence Number: 69
• Publication Date: February 22, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/12 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000505380069-7
NEW VOR" TIMES
12 F=bruary; 1985
Transcript of Reagan Intervew ,
Issues
on'
a Raiig&of FOreign spedal to me New York Times
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 - Following is a transcript of an interview with
13jisident Reagan today by Bernard Weinraub, Hedrick Smith,. Leslie H. Gelb
chid Gerald M. Boyd, all of the Washington Bureau, as transcribed by The New
Policy on Nicaragua
Q. Could we talk about Nicaragua?
There seems to be a stalemate there.
You're not providing aid to the con-
tras now. There are no negotiations
that are going on now. What are you
planning to do in the way of policy to
try to get something going ti: at might
bring about the kind of Nicaragua
that you would like?
A. Well, I'm going to continue to
ask the Congress to let us and all of
Latin America go forward with the
kind of program that was born of the
Kissinger-led commission down
there, in which 75 percent of the help
we offer is going to be in social and
economic aid to try and make these
countries more self-sufficient and
eliminate the great poverty in so
many of those countries by simply
helping them become more viable
economically, and at the same time
giving them help and security so that
they're not victims of subversion,
particularly from outside of their own
countries.
But with regard to Nicaragua, I
think that we should continue to offer
support to the people of Nicaragua
wbo wave been-betrayed in the revolu-
tion that they themselves supported.
That revolution was supposed to be -
result in democracy. And with the -
the assurances were given by the peo-
ple fighting the revolution - leading
it. Then the Sandinistas did what Cas-
tro before them had done in Cuba.
Once the revolution was successful,
they ousted from the Government -
or any participation in the Govern-
ment - all-the other factions that
were dedicated to democracy - and
have instituted a totalitarian regime.
Q. So support to the people of Nica-
ragua is support to the contras? Or
what?
A. Well, they certainly are part of
the people, and they were part of the
revolution in many instances. The
thing that so many people that are ar-
guing against this don't seem to be
aware of - the difference, for exam-
ple, Nicaragua and El Salvador. El
Salvador now, after several elections,
is a Government that is striving for
democracy that was chosen by the
people. And the people trying to over-
throw - the guerrillas in El Sal-, ador
- are trying to overthrow a Govern-
ment that the majority of the people
elected. In Nicaragua, the so-called
Sandinista Government is a Govern-
ment that seized power out of the bar-
rel of a gun - it's never been'chosen
by the people. And it has directly con-
travened the principles of the revolu-
tion they were fighting, and I think
there's every reason for the contras
to be representing those who continue
to strive for the democracy, which
they fought a revolution to get.
Q. Are you talking about a funda-
mental change in the Nicaraguan
Government? Or can they do things,
incrementally? Can they, for exam-
ple, ease up on press freedom, or can
they provide more press freedom, or
can they provide certain'steps that
you might think would be acceptable
without making a fundamental
change in their government?
A. Well, Gerry, I don't know what,
when we talk about this, are we talk-
ing about the people that are in the
Government? Who form the Govern-
ment? If it's the people, obviously'
those who have grabbed power are
not going to want to give it up. That's
And what the Nicaraguan people' typical of totalitarians. As for the
ld
want is the revolution they fought for.
And I think they are entitled to have
it.
free labor unions, they wanted a free
press - and, subject themselves, or
submit themselves, I should say, and
anyone else who chooses to, to the will
of the people, by way of elections and
voting.
other part - all the Sandinistas wou
have to do is go back to what they
themselves participated in - promis-
ing to the Organization of American
States that they wanted democracy;
they wanted free voting, they wanted
Q. Sir, let me ask you, on the con-
tras question, what form of aid should
this take in terms of helping the con-
tra ? I mean. how o we orooose to
help the contras?
A. Well. I think what we - I still be-
lieve in covert pro?rams where
they're nec and where they're
desira le. And so once you MSat,
then there are some limits as to wt
Q.,Right. I understand.
2XCERP-T LSD,
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/12 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000505380069-7