Haig rules out Russian role in Caribbean talks

Press, 17 March 1982, Page 8

Haig rules out Russian role in Caribbean talks

NZPA-Reuter New York The American Secretary of State (Mr Alexander Haig) has ruled out Soviet participation in any talks seeking peace in the Caribbean region. saying that the Soviet Union had no business in the Western hemisphere. He renewed American charges that the Soviet Union and Cuba controlled Leftist guerrillas in El Salvador and provided them with . arms. Neither country would be invited to negotiations for a peaceful settlement there, he said. Speaking to reporters after holding talks with the United Nations Secretary-General (Mr Javier Perez de Cueller), Mr Haig also said that he saw' no role for the United Nations in trying to resolve the conflict. In an attempt to clarify American policy in Central

America, he said earlier that the. United States would negotiate on its own behalf, not through Mexico. . President Reagan, on a three-state speaking tour, also sought to put into context talks last week-end between Mr Haig and the Mexican Foreign Minister (Mr Jorge Castaneda) in New York. "They (the Mexicans) are not negotiating for us but hoping to open the doors." he said. t ' Mr Haig said he and Mr Castaneda had narrowed differences over Mexico’s plan for a negotiated solution to the war in El Salvador. Mr Haig appeared to play down interpretations of his remark last Saturday that El, Salvador was a global problem as meaning that Washington had embarked on a new policy to -include Mos-

cow in specfic talks on the region. He said Mexico could facilitate diplomatic contacts with countries like Cuba and Nicaragua, which the Reagan administration has also accused of aiding the guerrillas fighting the United States-backed Government in El Salvador.

“Of course such-meetings will have to be strictly bilateral. The United States will present and receive proposals on its own behalf," he said.

Mr Haig also detailed American "proposals aimed at improving relations with Nicaragua. The plan; first presented to Nicaragua last August, included a call for a mutual commitment to the . principles of non-interven-tion.

But Mr Haig said it was dependent on the Leftist San-

dinista Government ending aid to the Salvadorean guerrillas. “The Sandinistas have to get out of El Salvador,” he said.

E 1 Salvador, trucks carrying scores of Left-wing guerrillas drove into three suburban towns north of San Salvador;- the capital, and yesterday the guerrillas launched co-ordinated attacks on Army posts; residents reported. Some said that as many as 200 guerrillas were involved in the battles that surged through Mejicanos, Villa Delgado, and Cuscatancingo. The guerrillas’ clandestine Radio Venceremos announced the assaults at about the--same. time they began, and said the leader was Anna Sonia Medina, a commanded,, of the People’s Revolutionary Army (E.R.P.), In Mejicanos, guerrillas

took refuge in a Rom'an Catholic church when troops counter-attacked, and fighting swirled' around the church, residents said.

They reported that guerrillas fired at least four rocket grenades at.the local Army post.’’

Army reinforcements arrived and swept towards the north-east, attacking guerrilla positions with mortar shells and grenades, according to reporters accompanying the troops.

They saw several wounded soldiers and civilians and two men taken captive by troopswho said the prisoners were'suspected. guerrillas. .’’.A military spokesman said the- guerrillas.' .began' withdrawing two hours after the three-prdijged assault was launched. He said he had-no fepbrt';ori casualties... "...