Shultz Rejects Mexican Plan for Nicaragua : Says ‘Totalitarian’ Government Prevents More Talks With U.S.

Secretary of State George P. Shultz today publicly rejected Mexico’s call for renewed U.S. negotiations with Nicaragua and condemned that nation’s government as “totalitarian.”

Shultz, completing a two-day visit to Mexico City, said Mexico and the United States disagree on the best way to bring peace to Central America.

“There are differences of opinion about a variety of tactical issues, you might say, about how to handle the situation,” Shultz told a news conference before his departure.

Contadora Group

He said the United States is not ready to accept a call issued this week by Mexico and the other three members of the Contadora group--Venezuela, Colombia and Panama--asking Washington to renew talks with Nicaragua. Most of the previous negotiations were held in Mexico’s Pacific resort of Manzanillo.

Shultz said he also disagreed with Mexico over the value of U.S. funding for the Contra rebels fighting in Nicaragua. Shultz defended aid to the guerrillas, which has been criticized by Mexico as counterproductive.

“The problem in Central America is Nicaragua,” Shultz said. “It is Nicaragua that has armed itself to the teeth. It is Nicaragua that has imposed a totalitarian government, mistreated elements of its population.

Fighting for Freedom

“The people of Nicaragua do not accept that. They are trying to fight for the freedom of their country, and I think that’s a cause that deserves being supported.”

Despite differences of opinion, Shultz expressed support for the Contadora plan, which calls for the removal of all foreign military aid and advisers from Central America.

“We do not seek a military solution. Rather, the United States strongly supports the efforts of the Contadora nations to bring about a peaceful settlement,” he said.

Contadora foreign ministers who met last weekend in Panama acknowledged for the first time that the United States must play a role in solving the regional crisis and asked Washington to resume its talks with Nicaragua.

The United States, which finances the Contra rebels, indefinitely suspended the talks, charging Nicaragua with intransigence.

On Thursday, Shultz, President Miguel de la Madrid and other officials gathered at the fifth annual meeting of the U.S.-Mexico Binational Commission. The panel was created in 1981 as a forum for regular discussions of bilateral issues between high-level officials from both countries. (Story, Page 33.)