Arias Tells U.N. of Need to Halt Military Aid

President Oscar Arias Sanchez of Costa Rica told the U.N. General Assembly today that halting foreign aid to combatants in Nicaragua would set the stage for negotiations under his Central American peace plan.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega on Tuesday announced preparations to begin a unilateral cease-fire in certain parts of Nicaragua. (Story on Page 9.) Ortega said the move was to bring Nicaragua’s leftist Sandinista government into compliance with the Arias peace plan.

“We want a cease-fire as soon as possible,” Arias said. “We want an immediate beginning to democratization. We appeal for free elections that reflect the true will of the people. We call on any powers intervening in the region to suspend military aid.”

Arias told the General Assembly that Central Americans “are tired of shedding tears.”

“We yearn to share our ideals in order to work together for development. We want to take the fate of our region into our own hands,” he said.

The peace plan was signed Aug. 7 by Arias, Ortega and the presidents of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. It calls for cease-fires, amnesties, democratic reforms and an end to strategic and tactical support of insurgencies by Nov. 7.

In his speech, Arias did not refer directly to Ortega’s announcement, which Nicaraguan contra leaders immediately denounced as a publicity stunt.

“We are aware of the enormous scope of the obstacles we propose to overcome,” Arias said.