Washington, Managua Should Now Open Talks : Dealing With Security and Economic Issues Can Advance Peace All Over Central America

With the cease-fire agreement of Sapoa we have reached an important point in the implementation of the Esquipulas accord that was signed in Guatemala last August. In spite of all the obstacles that have been encountered, Central America continues to move steadily toward a negotiated solution. It is time for the United States to join Central America in our quest for peace. The United States should open bilateral negotiations with Nicaragua to deal with security issues and to normalize relations between our two nations.

The particular attraction and significance of the Esquipulas accord is that it is a clever combination of agreements designed to satisfy the security concerns of all the Central American states and to develop processes of national reconciliation. Point 7 of the agreement commits the five Central American governments to continue negotiations concerning the security and arms-limitation points of the earlier Contadora Act of Peace and Cooperation. We Central Americans all are committed to pursue these negotiations to achieve a balanced agreement of security issues. Yet, without direct bilateral negotiations and a normalization of relations between the United States and Nicaragua, the achievement of a stable and secure Central America will prove to be a most difficult task.

Official U.S. interventionism always represents a threat to Nicaragua’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The United States has repeatedly implied that an independent Nicaragua threatens U.S. security. We should both take our security concerns to the negotiating table and come to an understanding about ways to meet those concerns. I am convinced that we can achieve a sensible and reasonable agreement. The Central American presidents are committed to rid Central America of all foreign military presence--be it in the form of troops, advisers, maneuvers or bases. Clearly, therefore, the United States and Nicaragua also need to normalize relations.

The United States has kept an economic embargo imposed on Nicaragua for three years now. This embargo was declared illegal and condemned by the International Court of Justice in its ruling of June 27, 1986. Our economy has suffered a great deal, and the embargo has certainly not helped the United States in any way. Lifting the embargo would be an important step in the process of normalization of relations, and would contribute to the economic recovery of Central America.

The Central American economies are closely interlinked, and what affects one of our economies affects all of them. An end to the embargo should help restore investor confidence and attract foreign investments to Central America. It also would help encourage the return of a substantial number of professionals who left Nicaragua because of the war and its negative effect on the economy.

The United States should join the European Economic Community, the Contadora Group (Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and Panama) and its support group of other Latin American governments in a non-discriminatory cooperation package with Central America. For several years now Central America has benefited from a relationship of cooperation with the EEC--an effort that contributed to the success of the Esquipulas accord. Were the United States to join this pioneering multilateral effort, it would be making an effective contribution to the achievement of a secure and stable Central America.

It is clear that the Sapoa agreements provide an opportunity for both of our countries to reshape our relationship. This opportunity should not be missed. When agreements between sovereign nations are the product of good-faith negotiations, both sides win. Let us both win; let us open bilateral talks and win one for both of our nations.