Argentine Chief Hailed for Ideals; Calls for Latin ‘Marshall Plan’

Argentine President Raul Alfonsin called upon the United States to implement a bold economic development initiative for Latin America similar to the so-called Marshall Plan that helped revitalize Western Europe after World War II.

“Today, as 40 years ago in Europe,” Alfonsin said in a speech in Coronado, “The destiny of a continent is at stake.”

Alfonsin, in a speech upon receiving an award as “Man of the Americas” for 1987, referred to “the insufferable burden” of the foreign debts of nations such as Argentina.

“The Latin American nations are making a great effort to overcome the situation, but we are convinced that all efforts will not be sufficient if we do not take into account the deep underlying currents of the contemporary organization of the world,” Alfonsin said.

Alfonsin spoke generally of a broad economic rescue plan, but he offered few specifics. He was in San Diego as part of an unofficial four-day trip to the United States.

“This distinction transcends my person, it (underscores) the efforts the people of Argentina are making to consolidate democracy . . . and to strengthen the fraternal and historical links that unite the nations of the region,” said Alfonsin upon receiving the award from the Institute of the Americas.

The award was presented to Alfonsin on Saturday night during a $200-a-plate dinner held in his honor at the Hotel del Coronado. The Institute of the Americas is a La Jolla-based study institution founded by Theodore E. Gildred, the San Diego businessman who is now U.S. ambassador to Argentina and who accompanied Alfonsin during his trip.

Alfonsin received messages of congratulations from Reagan and numerous other U.S. and foreign officials, including the heads of state of Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Canada and Mexico.

Reagan, who telephoned Alfonsin from Camp David and spoke with him for about five minutes, expressed regret that their schedules did not allow them to meet during Alfonsin’s trip, according to Argentine officials.

Rep. Dante B. Fascell (D-Fla.), chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said that Alfonsin represents “an inspiration to proponents of democracy here in the United States and around the world.”

In his addresss, Alfonsin--whose nation has been stymied by a $50-billion foreign debt--linked democracy to economic development. “Democracy is the instrument for and the necessary condition of economic progress,” he said.

Earlier, Alfonsin, arriving for a news conference at the institute’s headquarters, saw four protesters carrying a white banner that proclaimed, “No Amnistia; Si Democracia” -- “Amnesty, No; Democracy, Yes.”

Hails Protesters

The protesters were criticizing an Argentine law backed by Alfonsin that would prohibit prosecution of most military officers charged with human rights abuses during the so-called “dirty war” that convulsed Argentina in the 1970s and early 1980s. Alfonsin, who has been credited with restoring democracy to Argentina since his election in 1983, has come under strong criticism because of the law.

“We told him (Alfonsin) that we support him but that we don’t support amnesty,” said Monica Szurmuk, an Argentine protester who is a student here and who was embraced and kissed by Alfonsin.

Afterward, Alfonsin hailed the protesters.

“I enjoyed conversing with them very much,” said the 60-year-old head of state. During a brief news conference, Alfonsin said that democracy in Argentina was “absolutely” stable.

Others have questioned this stability because of the military’s open discontent with trials against security officials implicated in human rights abuses during the “dirty war,” in which at least 6,000 people were believed to have been murdered.

Supports Peace Efforts

Asked about Central America, Alfonsin expressed general support for peace efforts being pursued by the so-called Contadora group, composed of representatives from Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Panama, and by a separate peace plan submitted by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Sanchez.

However, Alfonsin said his nation backed establishment of a “pluralistic democracy” in Nicaragua, where U.S.-supported forces are battling to topple a leftist government.

After speaking to the press, Alfonsin toured a computer center on the grounds of UC San Diego.

Alfonsin was scheduled to leave San Diego today, and to proceed to Los Angeles and San Francisco before returning to Argentina on Monday.