'Agreement’ likely on Nicaragua

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 11

'Agreement’ likely on Nicaragua

NZPA-AP | i • Sapoa, Nicaragua i Nicaragua’s Defence Minister, General Humberto Ortega, said | at the end of a second day of peace talks between Sandinista and Coijtra rebel negotiators that he expected a “concrete agreement” today. I, II- L; ! ; -k

[ ' He declined to elabor- ( ate, telling a news confer- ( pnce, “Obviously we ■ aren’t ' able to' I go unto . details.” ' I ■ i i Earlier yesterday both sides said they; had ex- \ changed proposals, which agree on important points, i for an extended;cease-fire accompanied by an am-’ j nesty and the release of political prisoners. ) The: Contra leader, Adolfo ■ Calero, told reporters: “We worked hard during the day.!We clarified (points that coincide) ) and we are working on ! differences.” I ■..' [)| “It was a fruitful day and tomorrow could be ((even better.” i[ , Hl Calero described the Second round of talks as ([‘direct and frank.” |j The two' sides began three days of meetings on Tuesday to try Ito end a (civil war that'President Daniel Ortega isays has I cost 26,500 lives ’’since 1981.' Both sides sus- [ pended battlefield action during’ the talks.;

'(; : The’ Sandinista, delegh(tiori proposed ri I trued;, that could b e ex ‘ (tended to three; months, during- which time ’ the United! States-siipported Contras would lay down their weapons and; join “national reconciliation dialogue.” , ( .. Victor Hugo Tinoco, the Deputy Foreign ’Minister, announced the proposal a(t a hews conference. For every rebel’ who! stopped lighting, he said, the Leftist Government! i would free one of the 32100 pqlitip cal prisoners it considered eligible for release. [ ! [ j'i Hplosf prisoners are former members (of the (National-, Guard,! as the Army was called under the late President Anastaj (siq Somoza. whom the ISajidinista revolution overthrew in July, 1979’ [ Contrary to (previous (Sandinista demands, (Tinoco said rebels wliq (put down their arms (would be free from prose-j ■ cution without (applying (for amnesty and coulc

fake part in, Nicaraguan political life. ( ■ ,| |( They wduld be permitted ito rim ur censored newspapers, magazines and; radio stations,' But television (would Remain 1 a ; Government mor dpoly.! ( Contra ( proposals, (as outlined to reporters by a ppokesmari, Bosco Matamoros, call for a| 45-day truce beginning on Good Friday,( I April |.I (Ret?el fighters (would move (to cease-fire ) zones ■ and ( a permanent truce would be negotiated) by Sandinista and Contra leaders. | ( | Matamobos s^ld; the Contras demand | “total i and unconditional amnesty" when the! ceasefire begins, so | anyone who had ’left Nicaragua for political reasons) coiild ; “rejoin ( ithe political, economic land Serial process without any; conditions.” | ■ (I | ■ Contra | leaders also want to join a national dialogue between the Sandinistas arid theii internal i political opponents.