Nonaligned Movement Condemns U.S. for ‘Aggression’ in Nicaragua

The Nonaligned Movement on Friday condemned what it called U.S. aggression against Nicaragua and said both South Africa and Israel are supporting U.S. military policy in Central America.

“Nicaragua has been the victim of a cruel, unfair and unequal war imposed upon it by the most powerful country in the world,” said a statement issued at the end of a three-day conference here of nations that describe themselves as not aligned with either the United States and its allies or the Soviet Union and its friends.

The statement, titled the “Georgetown Peace Appeal,” urged Washington to “contribute to the creation of conditions needed for a peaceful settlement” in Central America.

In a separate final communique, the conference “called upon the government of the United States of America to immediately cease all pressures and acts of aggression against Nicaragua.”

Drawn-Out Discussions

Both documents were issued after drawn-out discussions in which moderate member states argued against a stridently anti-American tone, conference sources said.

In the 100-point communique, the conference accused the United States and its “strategic ally Israel” of “joint interventionist policies and practices” in Central America.

It said Israel is responsible for arming unnamed Central American countries and training mercenaries and contras to fight in the region.

The communique also condemned Pretoria for “providing logistical support and the arming of the contras fighting against the people of Nicaragua”.

Peace Plan Backed

Foreign ministers and senior officials from 75 of the Nonaligned Movement’s 101 members in attendance at the conference expressed support for a peace plan put forth by the Contadora Group--Mexico, Panama, Venezuela and Colombia.

The ministers said they will form a nine-member standing committee to monitor events in Central America, consisting of Zimbabwe, Guyana, Yugoslavia, Algeria, India, Congo, Ghana, Panama and Peru.