REMARKS FOR USIA REPORTERS BY SENATOR LUGAR AT RESIDENCE OF AMBASSADOR PIEDRA ON 1/14/86

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01390R000700900070-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 14, 2010
• Sequence Number: 70
• Publication Date: January 14, 1986
• Content Type: CABLE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/14: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700900070-7
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
IMMEDIATE
OLL/LD
INCOMING
PAGE 001 NC 9576815
TOR: 142303Z JAN 86 GUATEM 00428
00 RUEAIIB
ZNR UUUUU ZOC STATE ZZH
UTS2332
00 RUEHC
DE RUEHGT #0428 0142229
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
0 142226Z JAN 86
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHFO/USINFO WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3828
RUEADWW/WHITEHOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
BT
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 00428
USINFO FOR P/RM, AR, P/PFL, VOA/BRL, P/G
STATE FOR ARA/CEN
WHITE HOUSE FOR VICE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE
ATTN: PRESS SECRETARY FITZWATER
E.O. 12356: N/A
SUBJECT: REMARKS FOR USIA REPORTERS BY SENATOR LUGAR
AT RESIDENCE OF AMBASSADOR PIEDRA ON 1/14/85
1. SENATOR RICHARD LUGAR, MEMBER OF THE OFFICIAL U.S.
DELEGATION TO THE INAUGURATION OF VINICIO CEREZO AS
PRESIDENT OF GUATEMALA, MET WITH USIA REPORTERS 1/14/85
AT THE HOME OF U.S. AMBASSADOR ALBERTO PIEDRA. PRESENT
AT THE INTERVIEW WERE TOM MULLINS OF TV/NN, ANDREW
LLUBERES OF P/PFL, AND MIKE DRUDGE OF VOA/BRL. TOM
MULLINS' TV CREW INCLUDED LUCY CONGER, WHO POSED THE
QUESTIONS PREVIOUSLY AGREED UPON BY THE GROUP.
2. TEXT OF INTERVIEW AS FOLLOWS. (BEGIN TEXT):
Q (LUCY CONGER FOR USIA/TV): SENATOR LUGAR, IN LIGHT
OF GRAMM-RUDMAN. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF THE UNITED
STATES LOANING GUATEMALA THE MONEY IT NEEDS?
A. VICE PRESIDENT BUSH, IN HIS CONFERENCE WITH
INCOMING PRESIDENT CEREZO THIS MORNING, HAS SAID THAT
WE ARE GOING TO FIND ADDITIONAL MONIES FOR GUATEMALA IF
THE PLANNING THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY OFFICIALS FROM
GUATEMALA AND THE UNITED STATES CAN BE FOLLOWED
THROUGH. THERE ARE SOME COMMITMENTS THAT GUATEMALA HAS
MADE, THERE ARE SOME COMMITMENTS THAT WE HAVE MADE--AND
I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE FULFILLED ON
BOTH SIDES.
Q (LUCY CONGER): CAN YOU PLEASE TELL US WHAT IS YOUR
PERSONAL IMPRESSION OF GUATEMALA'S NEW PRESIDENT, AND
HOW WAS HE RECEIVED DURING HIS RECENT VISIT TO
WASHINGTON?
A. VINICIO CEREZO IS A VERY CHARMING INDIVIDUAL. HE
COMPLETELY CAPTIJATED THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS
COMMITTEE, AND 11 OF OUR 17 MEMBERS WERE THERE FOR AN
EXTENDED COFFEE AND QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH
HIM. I THINK THAT WAS THE GENERAL IMPRESSION OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AS WELL AS OF THE EXECUTIVE
OFFICIALS OF OUR GOVERNMENT. I MET HIM AT THE NOVEMBER
UNCLASSIFIED
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/14: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700900070-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/14: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700900070-7
UNCLASSIFIED
86 9576815 SUO PAGE 002 NC 9576815
TOR: 142303Z JAN 86 GUATEM 00428
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3RD ELECTION SITUATION, AND I WAS DELIGHTED TO RENEW
THAT ACQUAINTANCE THIS MORNING. I THINK HE IS
IMPRESSIVE. HIS LEADERSHIP OF THIS COUNTRY IS SO
IMPORTANT AND THE LEADERSHIP HE MAY GIVE TO THE GENERAL
CENTRAL AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC PICTURE IS EQUALLY
IMPORTANT.
Q (LUCY CONGER): SENATOR, LAST WEEKEND THE CONTADORA
GROUP ISSUED A NEW CALL FOR RENEWED BILATERAL TALKS
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND NICARAGUA. DO YOU THINK
THAT SUCH TALKS SHOULD TAKE PLACE AND WHAT ACTION MIGHT
THE COMMITTEE TAKE TO ENCOURAGE SUCH TALKS?
A. WELL, FOR THE MOMENT, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT THE CONTADORA PROCESS, BUT IT HAS RUN OUT OF
STEAM IN OUR JUDGEMENT, THAT IS IN THE COMMITTEE'S
JUDGEMENT. I WAS ENCOURAGED WITH PRESIDENT CEREZO'S
THOUGHTS TODAY THAT HE IS PREPARED TO TRY TO AFFIRM
WITH NICARAGUA AS WELL AS OTHER CENTRAL AMERICAN
COUNTRIES THAT DEMOCRACY IS THE WAY. DEMOCRACY HAS TO
BE THE WAY IN WHICH CIVILIZED COUNTRIES DEAL WITH EACH
OTHER, WITH TRUST. IF CEREZO IS GOING TO COME DOWN
HARD ON THE SIDE OF DEMOCRACY, NOW THAT'S WHAT WE
WANT. I SUPPOSE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL BE: ARE THERE
NEW CHANNELS THROUGH A CENTRAL AMERICAN PARLIAMENT,
THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PRESIDENTS, OR ANY WAY IN
WHICH THIS NEW VITAL PRESIDENT OF GUATEMALA CAN GET THE
POINT ACROSS TO THE NICARAGUANS THAT IF WE CAN TALK
ABOUT DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS, THEN WE HAVE SOMETHING
TO TALK ABOUT AND CONCEIVABLY THEN BILATERAL
NEGOTIATIONS MIGHT BE USEFUL.
(END TEXT) WATERS
END OF MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/14: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700900070-7