PRESIDENT BETANCUR ON CENTRAL AMERICA, CHILE, PERU AND ARGENTINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01370R000801030052-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 19, 2010
• Sequence Number: 52
• Publication Date: January 26, 1984
• Content Type: CABLE

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PAGE 001
TOR: 262141Z JAN 84
00 RUEAIIB
ZNY CCCCC ZOC STATE ZZH
STU9939
00 RUEHC RUEHLL
DE RUESBG #0939/01 0261908
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
0 261904Z JAN 84
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1579
INFO RUEHLL/CONTADORA COLLECTIVE
RUEOEHA/USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 2879
RUESLM/AMEMBASSY LIMA 1789
RUESNA/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 2178
BT
BOGOTA 00939
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL, XK, CI, PE, AR, CO
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT BETANCUR ON CENTRAL AMERICA,
CHILE, PERU AND ARGENTINA
REF: (A) BOGOTA 00744
(B) BOGOTA 00663
(C) BOGOTA 00719
2. FOLLOWING ARE PRESIDENT BETANCUR'S REMARKS TO
CODEL SOLARZ IN THE COURSE OF AN HOUR-AND-A-HALF
MEETING ON JANUARY 18. BETANCUR'S VIEWS WITH RESPECT
TO FORTHCOMING CONTADORA NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE
SANDINISTAS ARE CONTAINED REF A. HIS OBSERVATIONS
ON RELATIONS WITH CUBA ARE REPORTED IN REF B,
WHILE HIS COMMENTS ON THE U.S.-COLOMBIAN EXTRADITION
TREATY ARE IN REF C.
3. BETANCUR STATED THAT THE CONTADORA COUNTRIES
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE BASIS OF MANY FICTIONS,
ONE OF WHICH I5 THAT THE TROUBLE IN CENTRAL AMERICA
IS NOT REPEAT NOT A PART OF THE EAST-WEST CONFLICT.
WHY DO WE DENY THIS? BECAUSE IF WE DO, IT MAKES
IT EASIER FOR US TO DIVORCE OUR CONSIDERATION OF
CENTRAL AMERICA FROM THAT CONFLICT. BUT THE CONTADORA
COUNTRIES IN FACT OPERATE ON THE BASIS THAT THE
IMPORTANT NICARAGUAN DECISIONS ARE CLEARED WITH MOSCOW
AND THOSE OF THE CORE FOUR WITH WASHINGTON.
THE FICTION AMONG THE CONTADORA MEMBERS IS THAT
DECISIONS ARE NOT CLEARED IN WASHINGTON AND MOSCOW,
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BUT THE CONTADORA COUNTRIES KNOW BETTER.
EVERY TIME A CONTADORA COUNTRY MAKES A PROPOSAL IT
WONDERS WHAT MOSCOW OR WASHINGTON WILL THINK.
4. BETANCUR SAID THAT, DURING THE PAST YEAR, HE HAS
COME TO HAVE AN INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CENTRAL
AMERICAN COUNTRIES. BOGOTA IS THE HEADQUARTERS OF
THE LATIN AMERICAN BISHOPS' CONFERENCE. THE CENTRAL
AMERICAN BISHOPS CONSTANTLY PASS THROUGH BOGOTA, AND
THE SECRETARY GENERAL IS A FRIEND OF HIS. BETANCUR
RECEIVES THE BISHOPS' EVALUATIONS OF THE CENTRAL
AMERICAN SITUATION WHICH ARE MORE OBJECTIVE THAN
THOSE OF THE POLITICIANS. A GREAT DEAL OF WORK WENT
INTO OBTAINING THE JANUARY 8, 1984 CONTADORA AGREEMENT
ON THE SPECIFIC PROCEDURES TO GUIDE THE NEGOTIATIONS
TO IMPLEMENT THE SEPTEMBER DOCUMENT OF OBJECTIVES.
BETANCUR MENTIONED AS SPECIFIC, DIFFICULT PROBLEMS
THE SUPERVISION OF THE SAN JUAN RIVER BETWEEN NICARAGUA
AND COSTA RICA AND THE GULF OF FONSECA. HE SAID THAT
THE CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES HAD ACCEPTED A RIGID
TIMETABLE FOR THE INSPECTION OF ARMAMENTS AND PHASE-
DOWN OF MILITARY ADVISERS. HE ADMITTED THAT THE
UPCOMING NEGOTIATIONS WILL BE DIFFICULT. HE SAID
THAT AT TIMES THE CONTADORA GROUP IS NOT SURE IF THE
U.S. AND THE USSR REALLY WANT PEACE IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
5. IN RESPONSE TO CONGRESSMAN SOLARZ' QUESTIONS,
BETANCUR STATED THAT IT IS THE EXPECTATION OF THE
CONTADORA GROUP THAT IT WILL MONITOR THE EVENTUAL PEACE
TREATY; THAT THE CENTRAL AMERICAN STATES WILL ACCEPT
THE ENTRY INTO THEIR TERRITORY OF PERSONS TO VERIFY
COMPLIANCE WITH THE PEACE TREATY: AND THAT THE INTENT
OF THE TREATY IS GRADUAL REDUCTION OF FOREIGN MILITARY
ADVISERS WHILE MAINTAINING A CERTAIN SYMMETRY OR
EQUILIBRIUM. BUT IT HAS NOT YET BEEN WORKED OUT IF
THIS WOULD MEAN A PARITY BETWEEN U.S. AND CUBAN ADVISERS.
BETANCUR NOTED THAT THERE ARE MORE CUBAN ADVISERS IN
NICARAGUA THAN U.S. ADVISERS IN EL SALVADOR.
6. IN RESPONSE TO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY CONGRESSMAN
SOLARZ, BETANCUR EXPLAINED THAT THE RECENT PANAMA
AGREEMENT ON SPECIFIC PROCEDURES CONTEMPLATED THE
EVENTUAL ELIMINATION OF FOREIGN MILITARY ADVISERS
IN PHASES. HE SAID THAT THE AGREEMENT ENVISIONS
THAT NO CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRY WILL ACQUIRE ANY MORE
ARMAMENTS OTHER THAN SPARE PARTS; THAT EACH CENTRAL
AMERICAN COUNTRY WILL PROVIDE TO THE CONTADORA GROUP
AN INVENTORY OF ITS ARMAMENTS; AND THAT A FUND WOULD
BE CREATED WITH THE MONEY THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE
BEEN SPENT ON ARMS TO BE USED FOR DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES
THE IDEA, SAID BETANCUR, IS NOT TO ELIMINATE EACH
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO SENATTR STONE
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO CONGRESSMAN SOLARZ
COUNTRY'S ARMS, BUT RATHER FREEZE THEM.
7. ASKED ABOUT SPARE PARTS, BETANCUR SAID THAT
GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, EL SALVADOR AND NICARAGUA WILL
ALL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO IMPORT SPARE PARTS, BUT THEY
WILL BE INSPECTED. ASKED IF THE CENTRAL AMERICAN
COUNTRIES ARE SATISFIED THAT A FREEZE IN THE ARMAMENTS
THAT EACH CAN POSSESS WOULD TRANSLATE TO AN EQUILIBRIUM
IN THOSE ARMAMENTS, BETANCUR SAID NO, THAT U.S.-
SUPPORTED COUNTRIES HAVE MORE MILITARY EQUIPMENT
PUT TOGETHER THAN DOES NICARAGUA, ALTHOUGH NICARAGUA
IS VERY WELL ARMED. BETANCUR SAID THE CTNTADORA FOUR
PRIVATELY REFERRED TO THE CORE FOUR COUNTRIES AS
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8. ASKED WHY NICARAGUA WOULD ACCEPT A FREEZE IN THE
ACQUISITION OF ARMAMENTS, BETANCUR REPLIED THAT HE
HAD SPOKEN ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS WITH A NUMBER OF THE
SANDINISTA LEADERS, INCLUDING DANIEL ORTEGA, AND TOLD
THEM NOT TO HAVE ANY ILLUSIONS THAT CUBA OR THE USSR
WOULD COME TO THEIR RESCUE IN CASE OF AN ATTACK BY
THE U.S. THE USSR RATHER WOULD APPLY PRESSURE I
BERLIN OR PAKISTAN OR SOME SUCH PLACE IF THE UWMS.
WERE TO INVADE NICARAGUA. NOR WOULD CASTRO INTERVENE
TO HELP THE SANDINISTASWN AS SHOWN BY GRENADA.
BETANCUR SAID HE HAD URGED THE SANDINISTA LEADERS
TO CREATE A POLITICAL OPENINL TO DEHONSTRATE THAT
THEY COULD HAVE A FREE PRESS, FREEDOM OF RELIGION
AND FREE ELECTITNS. HE SAID HE HAS TOLD THE SANDINISTAS
THAT IF THEY PREPARED FOR FREE ELECTIONS, PRESIDENT
REAGAN WOULD NEVER DARE TO INVADE NICARAGUA.
"IF YOU DON'T DO IT FOR CONVICTION'S SAKE, DO IT FOR
CONVENIENCE'S SAKE." BETANCUR SAID THAT MAYBE THESE
ARGUMENTS HAD HAD SOME EFFECT ON THE SANDINISTAS,
ALTHOUGH HE EXPECTED THAT THEY WERE "NOT VERY CONVINCED."
9. CONGRESSMAN SOLARZ ASKED IF UNDER THE JANUARY 8
CONTADORA AGREEMENT IN PANAMA EL SALVADOR IN PRINCIPLE
WOULD BE UNABLE TO OBTAIN ANY NEW WEAPONS FROM THE U.S.
AND NICARAGUA WOULD BE UNABLE TO ACQUIRE NEW WEAPONS
FROM THE USSR. IN PRINCIPLE, YES, BETANCUR REPLIED,
BUT SO LONG AS THE CONTRAS OPERATE IN NICARAGUA AND
THE GUERRILLAS IN EL SALVADOR, THIS AGREEMENT SUFFERS
"PERTURBATIONS." NO COUNTRY SHOULD BE INTERFERING
IN THE AFFAIRS OF ANOTHER, HE SAID-,
10. ASKED IF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SECURITY
ARRANGEMENTS FORESEEN BY THE JANUARY 8 CONTADORA
AGREEMENT ARE CONTINGENT UPON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
DEMOCRACY AND DEMOCRATIC PLURALISM IN THE CENTRAL
AMERICAN COUNTRIES, BETANCUR SAID THAT IT IS "BASIC"
FOR THIS TO HAPPEN IN ALL COUNTRIES. THUS BOTH
GUATEMALA AND PANAMA SHOULD SPEED UP ITS PROCESS OF
DEMTCRATIZATION. THE PROBLEM IN PANAMA IS THAT
THERE IS ONLY ONE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. NICARAGUA
HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED ELECTIONS, WHICH MIGHT BE HELD
AS EARLY AS LATE 1984.
11. AFTER A DISCUSSION CONCERNING COMING NEGOTIATIONS
WITH THE SANDINISTAS (REPORTED REF A), THE DISCUSSION
TURNED TO EL SALVADOR. BETANCUR STATED THAT THE DEATH
SQUADS THERE ARE NOT THE REAL PROBLEM, WHICH RUNS
DEEPER. THE GOES AND THE SALVADORAN ARMY ARE CORRUPT,
HE ARGUED. NEITHER THE U.S. NOR THE CONTADORA GROUP
HAS A HEALTHY INTERLOCUTOR IN THAT COUNTRY.
THE ARMY HAS LOST ITS MYSTIQUE. IT IS FIGHTING A
9 TO 5 WAR. THE ARMY SELLS ARMS TO THE GUERRILLAS.
GOES LEADERS RECOGNIZE THIS IN THEIR TALKS WITH THE
CONTADORA FOUR. AS A RESULT OF ALL THIS CORRUPTION,
D'AUBUISSON COULD WIN THE MARCH ELECTIONS.
HE WAS HELPED POLITICALLY BY THE U.S. REFUSAL TO
GIVE HIM A VISA. ASKED WHAT THE U.S. SHOULD DO ABOUT
EL SALVADOR, BETANCUR REPLIED THAT THE U.S. SHOULD
STIMULATE THE FORMATION OF A PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT
WITH GUERRILLA PARTICIPATION. THERE COULD BE,
FOR EXAMPLE, A FIVE-MAN JUNTA WITH ONE MAN FROM THE
GUERRILLAS. THEN A FREE ELECTION WITH, SAY,
SUPERVISION BY THE UNITED NATIONS COULD FOLLOW.
BETANCUR THOUGHT THAT ALTHOUGH THE GUERRILLAS MIGHT
PICK UP A FEW MINOR OFFICES, THEY WOULD NOT WIN THE
"POWER OF DECISION." ASKED AGAIN WHAT SHOULD THE U.S.
DO IN EL SALVADOR, BETANCUR COMMENTED THAT THE U.S.
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IS DISCREDITING ITSELF BY SUPPORTING A CORRUPT REGIME,
WHICH, HE SAID. WOULD COLLAPSE IF THE U.S. STOPPED
ITS ASSISTANCE TO IT. THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH A
COLLAPSE WOULD BE "VERY GRAVE." THE SALVADORAN
GUERRILLAS ARE NOT PREPARED TO GOVERN. THEIR TRIUMPH
NOW WOULD USHER IN AN ERA OF HATRED IN EL SALVADOR.
THE U.S. SHOULD TRY THE OTHER TACK, FREE ELECTIONS
SUPERVISED BY THE UN, WITH PARTICIPATION BY THE
GUERRILLAS. ASKED WHAT THE U.S. SHOULD DO IF THE GOES
CONCLUDED THAT THE GUERRILLAS ARE ABOUT TO WIN AND
WERE TO SEEK U.S. MILITARY INTERVENTION IN EL SALVADOR
TO PREVENT A GUERRILLA VICTORY, BETANCUR RESPONDED
MERELY THAT U.S. MILITARY INTERVENTION IN EL SALVADOR
WOULD BE VERY SERIOUS, AS IT WOULD PIT ALL CENTRAL
AMERICA AGAINST THE U.S.
12. ASKED IF HONDURAS IS A DEMOCRACY, BETANCUR
REPLIED IN THE NEGATIVE. ASKED IF GENERAL ALVAREZ
IS THE REAL POWER THERE, BETANCUR SAID THAT THE
REAL POWER THERE IS THE UNITED STATES, JUST AS IN
EL SALVADOR.
13. TURNING TO CHILE, CONGRESSMAN SOLARZ ASKED WHAT
THE U.S. SHOULD DO TO FACILITATE THE TRANSITION TO
DEMOCRACY THERE. BETANCUR RESPONDED THAT THE U.S.
SHOULD HELP INDUCE PINOCHET TO RESIGN WITH FREE
ELECTIONS TO FOLLOW -- PERHAPS THERE COULD BE A
TRANSITIONAL JUNTA, AS IN COLOMBIA IN 1957-58.
ACCORDING TO BETANCUR, THE ALIANZA DEMOCRATICA HAS
THE SUPPORT OF 80 PERCENT OF CHILEAN POPULAR OPINION.
THE ALIANZA GROUP HAS TAKEN A BIG STEP FORWARD BY
PRESENTING ITSELF AS ONE POLITICAL FORCE WHICH WILL
RESPECT THE RESULTS OF A FREE ELECTION. IF PINOCHET
DOES NOT AGREE TO YIELD POWER, BETANCUR FORESAW
INCREASED TERRORISM AND URBAN GUERRILLA ACTIVITY.
14. WITH RESPECT TO PERU, BETANCUR SAID THAT IT
SUFFERS FROM THE HEMISPHERE-WIDE ECONOMIC RECESSION.
IF PERU ONLY HAD "A LITTLE SPACE" IN WHICH TO SOLVE
ITS DEBT PROBLEM AND TO SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
HE MUSED. THE U.S. COULD HELP BY INDUCING THE
REFINANCING OF PERU'S EXTERNAL DEBT, AS IN THE CASE
OF MEXICO.
15. CONGRESSMAN SOLARZ ASKED PRESIDENT BETANCUR
IF ANY SERIOUS THREATS TO DEMOCRACY EXIST IN COLOMBIA.
THE PRESIDENT REPLIED THAT THERE ARE NONE, ONLY
SERIOUS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS. HE ADDED THAT
EARLIER IN THE DAY THAT HE HAD TAKEN THE MAJOR STEP
OF ACCEPTING THE RESIGNATION OF DEFENSE MINISTER
LANDAZABAL AND APPOINTING THE NEXT MOST SENIOR OFFICER,
GENERAL MATAMOROS, TO REPLACE HIM.
(SEE SEPTELS ON THIS DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT.)
16. CONGRESSMAN SOLARZ SAID HE'D JUST BEEN IN ARGENTINA
THE "DIRTY WAR" THERE WAS CLEARLY IMMORAL AND
UNJUSTIFIED, BUT WHAT DOES A COUNTRY DO TO PROTECT
ITSELF AGAINST MASSIVE GUERRILLA TERRORISM, HE QUERIED.
BETANCUR REPLIED THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO WILL ON THE
PART OF THE ARGENTINE AUTHORITIES TO CORRECT ABUSES.
THEY HAD NO THOUGHT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY. THERE WAS NO
JUSTICE. THE ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN
"AN ABSOLUTIST SYSTEM ENMESHED IN ITS OWN AUTHORITARIAN
IDOLATRY" WHICH WAS UNABLE TO COPE WITH THE COUNTRY'S
SERIOUS PROBLEMS.
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17. AT THE END OF THE CONVERSATION CONGRESSMAN SOLARZ
ASKED AFTER THE PRESIDENT'S BROTHER JAIME BETANCUR,
KIDNAPPED BY TERRORISTS IN BOGOTA IN NOVEMBER 1983.
THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT ALTHOUGH UNHARMED PHYSICALLY,
HIS BROTHER HAD BEEN CHAINED AND A MACHINE GUN HELD
AGAINST HIS HEAD. AS A RESULT, HE SUFFERED
PSYCHOLOGICALLY, AND HAS STILL NOT RECOVERED.
WATSON
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