Shultz Will Try to Revive Latin Peace Process

The State Department announced Saturday that Secretary of State George P. Shultz’s next trip to Central America will be Aug. 1, when he will meet with the foreign ministers of four nations to discuss the moribund peace process in the region.

Shultz will meet in Guatemala City with the foreign ministers of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to “analyze the current situation” in Central America and “measures to promote democracy, economic development, peace and security” there, the department said.

The announcement, which confirms plans for a follow-up trip aired at the conclusion of Shultz’s diplomatic mission to the region earlier this month, comes as the United States is attempting to step up pressure on Nicaragua to implement democratic reforms set out in the Central American peace plan.

Administration officials are also hoping to build support for the resumption of U.S. military aid to Nicaragua’s Contras, a move encouraged by Managua’s recent ouster of the U.S. ambassador and crackdown on the media and opposition leaders.

Since the cut-off of U.S. military aid earlier this year, the Administration has decried its waning ability to effect change in Nicaragua.

Administration officials hope that Shultz’s trip next month, underscoring the appeals he made during his three-day visit to the region two weeks ago, will move leaders there to press joint demands for immediate reforms from the Sandinista government. The State Department has indicated that the secretary of state may travel to Central America at least one more time later in the year.