TRANSCRIPT OF REAGAN INTERVIEW ON A RANGE OF FOREIGN ISSUES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000807260027-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 12, 2012
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: February 2, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/12 : CIA-RDP90-00965R000807260027-3
NEW VOR" TIMES
12 F_bruarv; 1985
Transcript of Reagan Jm
_ _ ~ ' n Issues
on a Ran e of Forelg
Special to The New York Timm
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 - Following is a transcript of an interview with
resident Reagan today by Bernard Weinraub, Hedrick Smith, Leslie H. Gelb
c tW Gerald M. Boyd, all of the Washington Bureau, as transcribed by The New
Policy on Nicaragua Q. So support to the people of Nica-
ragua is support to the contras? Or
Q. Could we talk about Nicaragua? what?
There seems to be a stalemate there. A. Well, they certainly are part of
You're not providing aid to the con- the people, and they were part of the
tras now. There are no negotiations revolution in many instances. The
that are going on now. What are you thing that so many people that are ar-
planning to do in the way of policy to gig against this don't seem to be
try to get something going that might aware of - the difference, for exam-
bring about the kind of Nicaragua ple, Nicaragua and El Salvador. El
that you would like? Salvador now, after several elections,
A. Well, I'm going to continue to is a Government that is striving for
ask the Congress to let us and all of democracy that was chosen by the
Latin America go forward with the people. And the people trying to over-
kind of program that was born of throw - the guerrillas in El Salvador
Kissinger-led commission down - are trying to overthrow a Govern-
there, in which 75 percent of the help meet that the majority of the people
we offer is going to be in social and elected. In Nicaragua, the so-called
economic aid to try and make these Sandinista Government is a Govern-
countries more self-sufficient and ment that seized power out of the bar-
eliminate the great poverty in so rel of a gun - it's never been chosen
many of those countries by simply by the people. And it has directly con-
helping them become more viable travened the principles of the revolu-
economically, and at the same time tion they were fighting, and I think
giving them help and security so that there's every reason for the contras
they're not victims of subversion, to be representing those who continue
particularly from outside of their own to strive for the democracy, which
countries. they fought a revolution to get.
-1 But with regard to Nicaragua, I Q. Are you talking about a ftmda-
think that we should continue to offer mental change in the Nicaraguan
support to the people of Nicaragua Government? Or can they do thingrt,,,
w ve been-betrayed in the revolu- incrementally? Can they, for emm-
ton that they themselves supported. pie, ease up on press freedom, -or can
That revolution was supposed to be - they provide more press freedom, or
result in democracy. And with the - can they provide certain'steps that
the assurances were given by the pep- you might think would be acceptable
ple fighting the revolution - leading without making a fundamental.
it. Then the Sandinistas did what Cas- change in their government?
tro before them had done in Cuba. A. Well, Gerry, I don't know what,
Once the revolution was successful, when we talk about this, are we talk-
they ousted from the Government - ing about the people that are in the
or any participation in the Govern- Government? Who form the Govern-
ment - all ' the other factions that meat? If it's the people, obviously
were dedicated to democracy - and those who have grabbed power are
have instituted a totalitarian regime. not going to want to give it up. That's
And what the Nicaraguan people- typical of totalitarians. As for the
want is the revolution they fought for. other part - all the Sandinistas would
And I think they are entitled to have have to do is go back to what they
it themselves participated in - promis-
ing to the Organization of American
States that they wanted democracy;
they wanted free voting, they wanted
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.
Ygrk.Times:
Q. Sir, let me ask you, on the con-
tras question, what form of aid should
this take in terms of helping the con-
tras . mean ow o weorooose to
help the contras?
A. Well, I think what we - I still be-
lieve in covert programs where
th 're necessary and where they're
desires le. An so once you sa
y
then there are some limits as tow t
you can specr .
Q.,Right. I understand.
ZXCER.&ED,
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/12 : CIA-RDP90-00965R000807260027-3