Managua Urged to Negotiate Truce With Contras

The author of a Central American peace agreement on Thursday urged Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega to negotiate a cease-fire with U.S.-backed contras through mediation by the country’s Roman Catholic cardinal.

President Oscar Arias Sanchez of Costa Rica sent his proposal in a letter to the Sandinista leader as the five Central American foreign ministers opened two days of talks on how to carry out the accord.

The letter, coupled with a similar proposal outlined at the meeting by El Salvador, put pressure on Managua to stop insisting on setting its cease-fire terms unilaterally.

“It is essential that there be communication as soon as possible between the parties in conflict to reach an understanding on how to stop the fighting,” Costa Rican Foreign Minister Rodrigo Madrigal told reporters after delivering the letter.

The foreign ministers are trying to resolve uncertainties over the agreement signed Aug. 7 by Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

The accord, due to take effect Nov. 7, calls for cease-fires in the region’s civil wars, particularly in Nicaragua and El Salvador, amnesties for combatants who lay down their weapons, an end to outside aid for insurgents and a guarantee of full political pluralism and civic freedoms.

But the agreement says only that governments must “undertake all necessary steps” to achieve cease-fires and does not specify whether they must talk with their armed opponents.

In brief remarks to the foreign ministers, Ortega repeated his government’s refusal to negotiate directly or indirectly with the rebels. He said they must simply lay down their arms and accept an amnesty.

And in a speech opening the two-day meeting, Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Miguel d’Escoto said, “It is not (the ministers’) function to dictate to each state what internal measures must be taken” to assure compliance with the accord.

However, Salvadoran Foreign Minister Ricardo Acevedo offered a resolution calling for cease-fire negotiations in Nicaragua and El Salvador. It also urges rebels in each country to publicly endorse the peace plan.

The contras have endorsed the agreement while insisting on at least an indirect role in negotiating terms that will ensure their troops’ protection and resupply inside Nicaragua until democratic reforms take hold. They have set up a commission to take part in any cease-fire talks that are held.

Arias told a news conference in Costa Rica on Thursday that he is trying personally to push negotiations.

Arias said he recommended Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo as a mediator in Nicaragua because the cardinal heads the National Reconciliation Commission. That body was set up under the peace accord to monitor compliance in Nicaragua.

In a recent interview, Obando said he was willing to serve as a mediator.

President Reagan strongly criticized the peace plan last week, and the Administration plans to ask Congress for $270 million in new aid to the contras.

“The fact that the foreign ministers are here meeting and ratifying their desire for peace means they are saying to President Reagan they are against aid to the contras,” Ortega said.

But Costa Rican and Guatemalan diplomats said it was important to show progress at the meeting in order to discourage new contra aid.