DATE=3/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246483
TITLE=CLINTON/GUATEMALA (L)
BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS
DATELINE=GUATEMALA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS EXPRESSED REGRET OVER PAST U-S
SUPPORT FOR MILITARY DICTATORS IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND HAS SAID
THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. AS VOA'S GREG FLAKUS REPORTS
FROM GUATEMALA CITY, THE PRESIDENT IS NOW TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO
IMPROVE CURRENT RELATIONS WITH WHAT HE CALLS BROTHER NATIONS.
TEXT: SPEAKING AT A WELCOME CEREMONY AND AT A ROUNDTABLE HERE IN
GUATEMALA CITY ON WEDNESDAY, PRESIDENT CLINTON MADE REFERENCE TO
THE U-S ROLE HERE DURING THE COLD WAR. HE SAID U-S BLIND
SUPPORT FOR REPRESSIVE REGIMES WAS A MISTAKE.
IN REFERENCE TO A RECENT TRUTH COMMISSION REPORT WHICH PUT HEAVY
BLAME ON THE UNITED STATES FOR ATROCITIES COMMITTED IN GUATEMALA,
MR CLINTON SAID THE UNITED STATES IS COMMITTED TO SHEDDING LIGHT
ON SUCH DARK EVENTS OF THE PAST IN ORDER TO ASSURE THAT THEY ARE
NEVER REPEATED.
PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID THE UNITED STATES IS NOW READY TO PLAY A
NEW, CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN GUATEMALA TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF
A MORE PROSPEROUS, JUST AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.
/// CLINTON ACT ///
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT AFTER I LEAVE CENTRAL
AMERICA, THE UNITED STATES DEVELOP WITH EVERY COUNTRY
THE MOST SPECIFIC POSSIBLE PLAN FOR WHAT IT IS THAT YOU
WANT TO ACHIEVE THAT WE CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE. WHETHER
IT IS IN DEALING WITH THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM OF WIDOWS AND
ORPHANS, THE EDUCATION OF THE CHILDREN, THE NEED FOR THE
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN, THE NEED FOR GREATER
EFFORTS WITH INDIGEOUS GROUPS, THE NEED TO GO FURTHER
IN THE SEARCH FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, THE RULE OF LAW, HOW TO
COME TO TERMS WITH THE ISSUES IN THE COMMISSION REPORT.
/// END ACT ///
IN REGARD TO IMMIGRATION, THE PRESIDENT SAID THE U-S GOVERNMENT
IS WORKING TO DEVELOP RULES THAT WILL BE JUST AND FAIR FOR
IMMIGRANTS FROM ALL PARTS OF THE REGION. IN THE PAST, HE
ACKNOWLEDGED, U-S POLICY HAD FAVORED IMMIGRANTS FROM THE LEFTIST
SANDINISTA GOVERNMENT IN NICARAGUA, WHILE EXCLUDING MANY PEOPLE
FROM GUATEMALA AND EL SALVADOR WHO SOUGHT ASYLUM FROM RIGHTWING
REPRESSION.
IN A MEETING WITH REPORTERS LATER IN THE DAY, U-S IMMIGRATION AND
NATURALIZATION SERVICE DIRECTOR DORIS MEISNER, WHO HAS
ACCOMPANIED MR CLINTON ON THIS TRIP, SAID NEW RULES ARE BEING
DEVELOPED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. SHE ALSO SAID THE NUMBER OF
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CENTRAL AMERICA WHO CURRENTLY FACE
DEPORTATION IS ONE THOUSAND.
IN CONTRAST, SHE NOTED, 15 THOUSAND CENTRAL AMERICANS WERE
DEPORTED LAST YEAR. THE REDUCTION, SHE SAID, DEMONSTRATES THE
RESTRAINT BEING SHOWN BY THE UNITED STATES IN ALLOWING MANY
REFUGEES FROM HURRICANE MITCH TO REMAIN IN THE COUNTRY FOR AN
EXTENDED PERIOD. (SIGNED)
N EB/PT
10-Mar-99 9:43 PM EST (0243 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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