Word: madrid
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During his 2½-day visit to Washington, De la Madrid, 49, disguised his criticism in diplomatic jargon. But as he addressed a joint session of Congress, his message was clear and the response overwhelming. He received a standing ovation when he entered the packed chamber. Four times during his 30-minute speech, he was interrupted by applause. In an open-armed bow, the Mexican President thanked Congress for its support of diplomatic efforts in the region. Said he: "Latin America demands a new understanding between its countries and the industrialized countries of the hemisphere...
...crisp wind whipped the flags on the South Lawn of the White House, President Reagan welcomed De la Madrid with the U.S. prescription for regional peace. "Responsible governments of this hemisphere cannot afford to close their eyes to what is happening or be lulled by unrealistic optimism," Reagan said, implying that Mexico was naively ignoring the Communist threat in Central America. De la Madrid responded by warning of "the risk of a generalized war." He called on all parties to "apply the principles and rules of international law established by the countries of the American continent: self-determination, nonintervention, equality...
Cautious as the phrasing was, De la Madrid's American hosts had little trouble getting his meaning. The reference to "rules of international law" was implicit criticism of the CIA-organized mining of Nicaraguan harbors. "Nonintervention" and "self-determination" referred to U.S. support for the contra guerrillas who are trying to overthrow the Sandinista government of Nicaragua. "Peaceful solutions" was a slap at the U.S. military buildup in Central America. "Equality of states before the law" and "international cooperation" were allusions to the U.S. economic squeeze on Nicaragua...
...private 45-minute session with Reagan in the Oval Office, De la Madrid reiterated his belief that the problems of Central America should be dealt with not by military means but through diplomacy. He tried to enlist greater U.S. support for the diplomatic Contadora process, in which Mexico is a leading player (see box). "They agreed that the search for peace was the primary objective," a senior official explained after the meeting. In others words, there was little agreement on substance...
Support for Contadora came from another quarter last week. Echoing De la Madrid's assessment, the Inter-American Dialogue, a privately funded group of U.S. and Latin American diplomats, businessmen and academics, concluded in an 87-page report that "the roots of insecurity in the hemisphere and particularly in Central America are primarily economic, social and political." The solutions, it added, "lie in economic and social development and political dialogue, not in more weapons and military advisers." The study, prepared under the direction of Sol Linowitz, former U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States, encouraged direct negotiations between...