US Department of State Dispatch,
Vol 2, No 43, October 28, 1991
Title: Cambodia Conference Intervention
Baker
Source: Secretary Baker
Description: Remarks at the Paris Conference on Cambodia, Paris,
France
Date: Oct 23, 199110/23/91
Category: Speeches, Testimony, Statements
Region: Southeast Asia
Country: Cambodia, Vietnam
Subject: Democratization, United Nations, Refugees
[TEXT]
It gives me particular satisfaction to return here where so many of
us gathered in the summer of 1989 in search of a settlement
process that could bring peace to Cambodia. Our 2 years of
unremitting effort--initiated by the UN Permanent Five [members of
the Security Council] with the active collaboration of the Paris
Conference co-chairmen and others including Japan, Australia, and
Thailand--have finally led to successful completion of a
comprehensive political settlement agreement. In our work, we
have also witnessed a new spirit of cooperation among the
Cambodian parties made possible by the leader-ship of His Royal
Highness Prince Sihanouk. His steadfast determination to restore
sovereignty, peace, and prosperity to his people has, in great part,
made this agreement possible.
..........[The year] 1991 has truly been a momentous year for the
United Nations as a new and global force in peacemaking,
peacekeeping, and conflict resolution. With the signing of the
Cambodian Settlement Agreement, the United Nations will take on
another great challenge. This, of course, was envisaged in the Perm
Five effort, which we began after the suspension of the first
session of this conference, in order to design a settlement based on
an enhanced role for the United Nations.
..........No one doubts that a sizeable UN presence and substantial
resources will be required to put into effect the military
arrangements of the agreement, to resettle nearly half a million
displaced persons in safety and dignity, to carry out the
administrative responsibilities of the plan, and to prepare Cambodia
for free and fair elections. And we all know that the generous
support and constant attention of the international community will
be required if this agreement is to be implemented successfully.
..........More than 2 decades of violence and aggression have taken a
terrible toll on the people of Cambodia. The world is still shocked
at the horrors of Khmer Rouge annihilation that left more than 1
million Cambodians dead. This internal violence was compounded by
the Vietnamese invasion and occupation. Today, the infrastructure
of Cambodia is in ruins. The countryside is strewn with millions of
land mines. And over 350,000 displaced persons in camps along the
Thai-Cambodian border await repatriation. There is no way that
Cambodia will be able to recover from these multiple disasters
without sustained international involvement and relief.
..........What makes the case of Cambodia so extraordinary--and its
claim for international support so compelling--is the magnitude of
the suffering its people have endured. The Khmer Rouge were no
ordinary oppressors. In the name of revolution, they used violence
against their own people in a way that has few parallels in history.
We condemn these policies and practices of the Khmer Rouge as an
abomination to humanity that must never be allowed to recur.
..........To prevent such a recurrence, we have encouraged the
incorporation of strong human rights guarantees into this
settlement agreement. And I can assure you--and the Cambodian
people--that we will steadfastly sustain our efforts to ensure that
the human rights of the Cambodian people are supported by the
international community. Cambodia and the United States are both
signatories to the Genocide Convention, and we will support efforts
to bring to justice those responsible for the mass murders of the
1970s if the new Cambodian Government chooses to pursue this
path.
..........The United States signs this agreement today precisely
because we believe it offers the most realistic way to bring peace
to Cambodia, give the Khmer people the chance to choose their own
government, and build safeguards against a return to the violence of
the past. It requires all the warring parties to lay down their arms
and demobilize their forces. And it is designed to create the
neutral political environment necessary for the voters to make
their decision freely without fear of intimidation.
..........We welcome the Supreme National Council's acceptance of a
multiparty liberal democratic political order, and we look to the
United Nations to ensure that the elections it is charged to organize
will be free and fair. We will support that effort. We also expect
the international community to join us in supporting the
reconstruction of Cambodia, to help cultivate economic development
and democratic values and institutions, and to take actions as
necessary to ensure that the terrible human rights abuses of the
past do not recur.
..........For our part, we are prepared to normalize US economic
relations with Cambodia. As soon as UNAMIC [UN Advance Mission in
Cambodia] has arrived and begun to implement the settlement, we
will lift our trade embargo toward Cambodia and begin supporting
projects in the country by international lending institutions such as
the World Bank. We will establish a liaison office in Phnom Penh
shortly and maintain--along with the other Perm Five--an active
presence throughout the transition to elections to ensure that the
settlement is effectively implemented. And after a new and
legitimate government is formed through the electoral process, we
look forward to normalized relations with Cambodia.
..........The United States also hopes that this agreement will open
the way to reconciliation among all the nations involved in
Indochina during the turbulent decades of the 20th century. The
prospect of a new era in Southeast Asia lies before us.
..........In that spirit, I want to say that the United States intends to
develop normal relations with all the states of Indochina. We have
communicated these intentions to the Governments of Vietnam,
Laos, and Cambodia. With regard to Vietnam, having taken into
account not only Vietnam's support for this Cambodia settlement
but also its recently expanded efforts to resolve our POW/MIA
concerns, we will lift the 25-mile travel ban on Vietnamese
diplomats accredited to the United Nations in New York. We will
also be taking steps to change our trade embargo rules to permit
US-organized travel to Vietnam by individuals and groups such as
veterans, journalists, businessmen, and tour groups. And, finally,
we are proposing to the Vietnamese that we now begin talks in New
York concerning the issues and modalities associated with
normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States
and Vietnam. We intend to proceed step-by-step as the UN
settlement process unfolds. Of course, the pace and scope of the
normalization process will be directly influenced by the degree of
cooperation on the POW/MIA and other humanitarian issues.
..........In closing, on behalf of President Bush and the American
people, I want to express our deep appreciation to [French]
President Mitterrand for hosting this historic peace conference. I
also want to thank [Indonesian] Minister [of Foreign Affairs] Alatas,
[French] Minister [of Foreign Affairs] Dumas, and the members of the
Paris Conference for their tireless work in bringing this agreement
to completion. And I want to express our deepest appreciation to UN
Secretary General Perez de Cuellar and to the other Permanent
Members of the Security Council, whose vision, leadership, and
persistence have brought us to this settlement table.
..........The agreement is a good one and deserves the support of the
international community throughout its implementation. It is my
fervent hope that this agreement will lead the way to true
reconciliation among the Cambodian people, between Cambodia and
its neighbors, and between the countries of Indochina and the rest
of the world community. (###)
US Department of State Dispatch,
Vol 2, No 43, October 28, 1991
Title: US-Vietnamese Relations
Baker
Source: Secretary Baker
Description: Remarks by Secretary Baker prior to meeting Vietnamese
Foreign Minister Nguyen Mahn Cam, Paris, France
Date: Oct 23, 199110/23/91
Category: Speeches, Testimony, Statements
Region: Southeast Asia
Country: Vietnam
Subject: State Department, Democratization
[TEXT]
Q. Mr. Secretary, is the United States prepared now to normalize
relations with Vietnam?
..........Secretary Baker: The United States is prepared to begin
discussions with Vietnam concerning the issues and modalities that
would be involved in normalizing relations with Vietnam. The scope
and pace of those discussions, of course, will be governed by the
degree to which Vietnam continues to cooperate with the United
States on the very, very important issue of our prisoners of war and
our missing in action.
..........Q. Mr. Secretary, will you be discussing the concrete steps
the United States might take to begin to move this process
forward?
..........Secretary Baker: As you know, there have been prior
discussions with representatives of the Government of Vietnam
about the specific steps that should be taken and would be taken
under certain circumstances--a pathway approach, if you will--and
it is our intention to remain true to our word with respect to the
pursuit of that pathway approach.
..........Q: When would you expect the talks to start? Can you say?
..........Secretary Baker: I would expect that they would--the talks
are, of course, talks to begin the discussion of the issues and
modalities involved, but it would seem to me to be appropriate that
they start within the next month or so. But then that's something
that I expect to be discussing with the Minister. (###)
US Department of State Dispatch,
Vol 2, No 43, October 28, 1991
Title: Middle East Peace Conference Invitations Accepted
Fitzwater
Description: Statement released by the White House Office of the
Press Secretary
Date: Oct 23, 199110/23/91
Category: Speeches, Testimony, Statements
Region: MidEast/North Africa
Country: Israel
Subject: Mideast Peace Process
[TEXT]
We are extremely pleased that we now have in hand the acceptances
of all those invited to participate in the Middle East peace
conference. We believe this positive response constitutes another
significant milestone on the path of resolving the Arab-Israeli
conflict. As the President said at the time the invitations were
issued, we view this conference as having the potential to bring
true peace and security to the region. We very much hope that all
those attending will come to Madrid with an open mind, ready to
begin on October 30 to set aside the hatreds and suspicions of the
past and work toward building a new, more peaceful Middle East.
(###)
US Department of State Dispatch,
Vol 2, No 43, October 28, 1991
Title: Burma: Democracy and Human Rights
Quinn
Source: Kenneth M. Quinn, Deputy Assistant Secretary for
East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Description: Statement before the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific
Affairs of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC
Date: Oct 18, 199110/18/91
Category: Speeches, Testimony, Statements
Region: Southeast Asia
Country: Burma
Subject: Human Rights, Democratization
[TEXT]
Mr. Chairman, the decision of the Nobel Prize Committee to award
this year's Nobel Peace Prize to Burmese political leader Aung San
Suu Kyi focuses attention not only on her inspiring devotion to
democratic ideals but also on the struggle of the Burmese people to
free themselves from military rule and determine their own future.
..........You are familiar with the events of 1988, when the Burmese
military violently suppressed massive demonstrations in favor of
democracy. In national elections in 1990, the people of Burma
demonstrated an overwhelming preference for a return to
parliamentary democracy after 28 years of military rule. The
Opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) won over 80% of
the seats for the National Assembly, even though its leaders, Aung
San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo, were under house arrest or in jail.
..........As the world now knows, the ruling State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC) did not implement the results of the
election despite promises to do so promptly. In particular, it has
failed to convene the National Assembly elected in 1990. No
timetable for a return to the promised civilian rule has been
announced. The SLORC is clearly negating the election, and, I regret
to say, there is little prospect for a return to genuine democracy in
Burma.
..........Meanwhile, the military regime has continued its suppression
of domestic opposition. Several political parties have been de-
registered, while the NLD has experienced widespread arrests and
interrogations. The party, while still in existence, has been
crippled by these arrests and other intimidations. Aung San Suu Kyi
and Tin Oo remain under house arrest and in jail, respectively.
Acting party leader Kyi Maung was sentenced on political charges
last year to 25 years imprisonment. In October 1990, the military
moved against Buddhist monks as well, after several monastic
organizations, particularly in Mandalay, had attempted to institute
a boycott of religious observances for military personnel and their
families. The military raided monasteries, outlawed several
monastic organizations, and arrested senior monks, both in Rangoon
and Mandalay.
..........Despite the fact no organized opposition still exists within
Burma, the military continues to intimidate by arrest for the
slightest degree of political activity. This summer, for example,
we understand that 40 people were arrested for requesting Buddhist
monks in Rangoon to pray for Aung San Suu Kyi.
..........There is no freedom of speech or press in Burma. The
country's only newspaper is a government mouthpiece. Several
individuals were recently arrested for publishing an "unauthorized"
report of a public press conference. Students and civil servants are
strictly forbidden to have any dealings whatsoever with political
parties.
..........Burmese authorities rarely respond to requests for
information concerning political prisoners, even questions about
their welfare and whereabouts. The Burmese have not granted
access by the International Red Cross or others to Burmese prisons.
At least three political prisoners have died in Burmese prisons this
year. We estimate that 2,000 political prisoners remain in jail,
many held without charges. Large numbers of refugees have fled to
Thailand and Bangladesh.
..........In the last few weeks, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of civil
servants and university professors were dismissed from their
positions for political reasons. The military has indicated more
may be dismissed in the weeks to come.
..........Last February's human rights report on Burma noted that--
according to numerous credible reports--torture, disappearances,
arbitrary arrests and detentions, unfair trails, and compulsory
labor, such as forced portering for the military, persisted. The
report likewise noted that Burma remains under martial law and
that court practices and procedures can be arbitrary and
inconsistent. We do not expect that next year's report will find any
improvement in this situation.
..........We continue to believe that a peaceful change to popular rule
is the best course in Burma. We believe the prospects for a unified,
democratic Burma are best served by the convening of the National
Assembly elected in 1990, followed by a transfer of power from the
military to a civilian government. We are concerned that Burma
will otherwise miss a historic opportunity to choose the path of
democratic and economic reform.
..........The United States has taken several unilateral measures
against Burma in an effort to improve the situation in that country.
..........-- We have long since terminated all forms of non-
humanitarian assistance to Burma and actively urge others to do the
same.
..........-- We have suspended Burma's generalized system of
preferences (GSP) privileges.
..........-- We have not certified Burma as cooperating in the fight
against narcotics. This requires us to oppose loans to Burma by the
World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and other international
organizations.
..........-- We have blocked the sale of US military equipment to
Burma, and we work to limit the flow of arms to Burma from other
countries.
..........In addition, under Section 138 of the Customs and Trade Act
of 1990, we recently chose not to renew the bilateral textile
agreement between Burma and the United States. The textile
agreement was the foundation for Burma's largest single category
of exports to the United States.
..........Section 138 also calls for the Administration to consult with
other industrial democracies on the possibility of multilateral
economic sanctions. We have done so. But while we found serious
concern with the situation in Burma, there was no significant
support for multilateral economic sanctions, generally, because of
the paucity of economic relations of any country with Burma. We
are gratified, however, that the EC [European Community] in July
announced a total arms embargo on Burma similar to ours.
..........In addition, we recently reached an informal consensus with
other industrial democracies that we would provide no new
bilateral aid, that we would vote against new international
financial institution loans to Burma, that we would provide no
military supplies to Burma, and that we would work for an
appropriate resolution on Burma at this year's UN General Assembly.
..........Secretary Baker recently raised Burma with the ASEAN
[Association of South East Asian Nations] states at the annual
ASEAN post-ministerial conference. He urged that as neighbors of
Burma, these states use their influence in Rangoon to bring about
democratic reform. The ASEAN states agreed that the situation in
Burma required attention and said they would seek in their own way
to bring about improvements. During their annual dialogue with the
ASEAN states, EC members also discussed Burma.
..........We expect that, once again, a resolution on Burma will be
introduced in the UN Third Committee. We have discussed this with
other governments concerned and will assist in this effort in
whatever way seems most productive. Meanwhile, the UN Human
Rights Commission process of a confidential investigation of human
rights practices in Burma continues. We understand that the new
confidential expert will be visiting Burma later this month. We
support and endorse this investigatory process.
..........The narcotics situation in Burma remains of great concern to
us as well. Burma is now the world's largest producer of opium and
heroin. Opium production has nearly doubled, from approximately
1,280 metric tons (mt) in 1988 to 2,250 mt in 1990. The military
has shown little interest in the suppression of narcotics trafficking
and production and has ceased efforts made before 1988 to
eradicate the opium crops. We have not been able to certify Burma
as cooperating in narcotics control. Despite the poor prospects,
this is a problem which we cannot afford to ignore. We are
continuing modest narcotics law enforcement activities with Burma
to test its expressed interest in narcotics suppression activities.
We do not intend to undertake any significant expansion of our anti-
narcotics effort in Burma. While we would like to be able to
respond to opportunities which could arise to reduce the flow of
heroin from Burma, we will do nothing which might undercut our
strong stance against human rights abuses.
..........The military regime recently showed some concern about its
international image of doing little or nothing to impede the flow of
narcotics from Burma by ratifying the 1988 UN convention on
narcotics trafficking. It has also, with considerable domestic
fanfare, introduced a border development plan for some of the most
important opium producing territories. The border development plan
reportedly seeks to introduce new crops in opium producing areas,
along with infrastructural development such as roads, schools,
clinics, and mini-hydroelectric stations. Unfortunately, the plan
does not include significant law enforcement or crop eradication
activities nor has the government shown that it will allocate many
of its resources to the plan.
..........We plan to monitor this program carefully; we are concerned
by the prominent role of known narcotics traffickers in the
program. We are also concerned by reports that the military regime
has reached accommodations with some ethnic groups to ignore
narcotics activities in exchange for
an end to attacks on the central government.
..........In sum, Mr. Chairman, I am sorry to say that we see no
improvement in the human rights practices of the military regime
in Burma or in the prospects for democratic and economic reform.
Despite this bleak assessment, it is important once again to note
that the world has shown it has not forgotten the plight of the
Burmese people by the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Aung San
Suu Kyi. We join in congratulating her. We will also continue, of
course, to stand with her in urging the regime to free political
prisoners and to begin the transfer of power to the elected, civilian
government.(###)
US Department of State Dispatch,
Vol 2, No 43, October 28, 1991
Title: US Welcomes Nobel Prize for Burmese Opposition Leader
Fitzwater
Source: White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater
Description: Washington, DC
Date: Oct 14, 199110/14/91
Category: Speeches, Testimony, Statements
Region: Southeast Asia
Country: Burma
Subject: Human Rights
[TEXT]
We applaud the Nobel Prize Committee's decision to award the 1991
Nobel Peace Prize to Aung San Suu Kyi. Her leadership of the Non-
Violent Movement for Democratic Reform in Burma is in the best
tradition of previous winners of the Nobel Peace Prize. She is the
leader of the Opposition National League for Democracy Party which
swept to victory in the 1990 national elections.
..........Arrested because of her political activities, she has been held
incommunicado under house arrest for over 2 years. Even her
husband and her children have not been allowed to visit her.
..........Her courage and her sacrifice are an inspiration to all who
believe in democratic principles and government. Her continued
detention without trial is the most obvious sign of the repressive
manner in which the Burmese military maintains its rule.
..........The United States once again urges the Burmese military
regime to transfer power to the duly elected civilian government
and release all political prisoners, including this year's Nobel Peace
Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi. (###)
US Department of State Dispatch,
Vol 2, No 43, October 28, 1991
Title: Democratization in Africa
Cohen
Source: Herman J. Cohen, Assistant Secretary for African
Affairs
Description: Address before the Voice of America Symposium,
Washington, DC
Date: Sep 17, 19919/17/91
Category: Speeches, Testimony, Statements
Region: Subsaharan Africa
Subject: Democratization
[TEXT]
The word that best characterizes Africa at the present time is
change. Profound, revolutionary change is sweeping through the
continent. Despite the temporary dislocations, hardships, and
instability created by that change, we view current trends as being
positive. We are pleased to see that after 30 years of post-colonial
experience:
..........-- One-party regimes are giving way to pluralistic
democracies;
..........-- Command, Marxist-oriented economic controls are being
replaced by free market systems which allow the private sector to
flourish; and
..........-- The horrible apartheid system in South Africa is being
dismantled irreversibly.
..........The driving force behind this change has been the African
people themselves. The first 3 decades of independence have
registered some important gains for Africa. Education has expanded
tremendously. Modern public health benefits have been extended to
growing numbers of people. Increasing percentages of Africans
have entered the modern economy; expectations are high. During the
last 10 years, however, alarms have sounded in every country. Many
of the gains of the 1960s and 1970s have eroded. Post-
independence African political and economic systems have been
shown to be inadequate for the challenges of modernization.
Africans have examined their circumstances and have decided what
kind of change they want. Africans want accountability and
transparency in their governments. Africans want meaningful
participation in the decision-making process. Africans want
economic opportunity; in short, Africans want liberty--freedom
from both economic and political authoritarianism.
..........In many places, changes have been spectacular. In Benin, Cape
Verde, Namibia, and the Congo--to name only a few--the people
themselves have replaced their antiquated regimes; as I speak, in
Mali, Niger, Zambia, and Ethiopia, Africans themselves are taking
charge of their own agenda.
..........The United States believes that multiparty democracy has
proven to be the most resilient and productive form of democratic
pluralism. We also realize that each nation in Africa has its own
conditions, its own needs, and its own range of viable political
options. We will try not to indulge in cultural arrogance by
claiming that only the American system is appropriate for Africa.
But the right to participate, the right to speak out, and the right to
associate are essential elements in any democratic system,
regardless of culture.
..........Some African leaders reject multiparty democracy on the
grounds that in Africa, pluralism aggravates ethnic differences. We
disagree with this flawed concept which is being used to obstruct
change, to prolong minority rule, and to entrench authoritarian
leaders. Among these recalcitrant governments are ones whose
national history, tradition, and social structures should place them
in the vanguard of a new Africa. Tragically, they are not in that
vanguard, and recent events on the continent have shown that
leaders who fail to facilitate democratic change are at great risk.
..........Today, I'd like to outline briefly the major US goals and
initiatives with respect to democratization in Africa and review
what we have done in these months of dramatic change.
..........Secretary of State Baker recently stated that the promotion
and consolidation of democratic values are "the preeminent
challenges to US foreign policy." We are taking every opportunity to
emphasize our commitment in diplomatic and governmental
exchanges, international and public conferences, and through public
statements.
..........We are supporting a structure of changes which would provide
the foundations of democracy: respect for human rights,
constitutional development and elections, popular participation and
good government, independent judiciaries and the rule of law, open
debate and a free press.
..........Equally important, we are making clear the link between
political and economic liberalization and outside assistance. We
will help countries pursue a democratic course and those already
with democratic systems. In an era of escalating demand for scarce
resources, we cannot waste non-humanitarian assistance on
governments which themselves refuse the path to democracy, and
we will not do so.
..........In the past year, Africa's newest democracies--Benin, Cape
Verde, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe--have all held contested,
multi-party elections. The United States encouraged and strongly
supported the political reforms which led to those elections.
..........In Benin, US assistance was used to help defray the cost of
the national conference and the revision of the electoral code. In
addition, we provided grants to the transitional government to fund
the elections themselves. Under the auspices of the African-
American Institute, the US Government also funded two delegations
of private American citizens--academics, journalists, and an
elections expert--to observe the presidential election.
..........In response to a request from the Government in Sao Tome, we
sent a technical expert to that island nation to assist in their
efforts to develop a new constitution. Once the constitutional
changes were ratified by popular referendum, we helped with
election costs.
..........Other African countries are currently grappling with issues
related to establishing democratic systems. For example, Nigeria is
currently engaged in a transition process which we expect to lead
to the establishment of a democratically elected civilian
government in 1992. We continue to encourage the federal military
government to maintain its resolve to usher in a democratic third
republic.
..........Like Benin, the Congo and Togo have used a national conference
as a springboard to democracy. Late last year, Mozambique adopted
a new constitution recognizing the importance of individual liberty
and multiparty competition. In Zambia, multiparty elections will
take place in 6 weeks. The Governments of Rwanda and the Central
African Republic have announced plans to dismantle their one-party
states. Turning south, Namibia has been established as an
independent, democratic state, and, after years of oppressive
apartheid, South Africa is now approaching the building of a new
constitution through which all its people will rule.
..........We stand ready to assist these countries and those whose
transitions are only beginning, particularly in the technical aspects
of democratic transition: elections, constitutional revisions, and
the like.
..........Yet free and fair elections are only one important variable in
the democratic equation. The democratic governments in Africa
are, for the most part, embryonic and fragile. Africa's emerging
democracies urgently need support in their efforts to build
effective, democratic institutions--both governmental and non-
governmental. This, in my view, is critical if democratic changes
currently underway are to be consolidated into sustainable gains.
..........To address these needs, the US Government expects to
dedicate about $30 million over the next 3 years to the promotion of
this democratic infrastructure. Programs will emphasize civic
education, human rights monitoring, assistance with national
conferences and constitution-making, and technical electoral
assistance. This assistance will continue through the difficult
transition period.
..........The United States will also help support non-governmental
democratic institutions. The development of a "civil society" is
another essential ingredient in the democratic mix. Just as a "loyal
opposition" is important in politics, decentralization is crucial in
the non-governmental sector. We intend to assist African countries
to cultivate this "civil society" with its multiple centers of power
and influence. Democratic labor unions, literary and cultural
groups, bar associations, women's associations, and traditional
human rights "watchdog" groups all have a role to play in civil
society. In Senegal and Mozambique and other countries we have
used assistance funds to underwrite development of civic education
programs; in the Central African Republic, we have provided modest
support to the democratic labor federation. In Kenya and Malawi we
are helping jurists' and lawyers' groups produce human rights/legal
issues newsletters.
..........The regional program I mentioned earlier can also be used to
support the expansion of Africa's civil society. This, I believe, is
where notions such as "empowerment" take on real, practical
meaning. Voluntary civic and professional associations often serve
as the incubators and training ground for future leaders. And if
organized on democratic lines they can, and often do, provide the
cadre of dedicated leaders schooled in the all-important arts of
compromise and consensus-building. These skills will be vital to
the long-term success of democracy in Africa, as elsewhere.
..........The American non-governmental and private voluntary
organizations also play a direct role in assisting African moves
toward pluralism and decentralization. American private voluntary
organizations have developed a wide range of links with
organizations in African countries, providing expertise and
assistance and serving as role models for these nascent
institutions. While the US Government can provide some assistance,
the impetus--and often the funding--for these programs comes
from private Americans who, like an increasing number of Africans,
see a need and step in to fill it.
..........I want to add a special word about one vital non-governmental
institution--a free press. In the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe,
the most concrete challenge to the old order took the form of a
proliferation of newspapers and non-government media. Vigorous
national debates were ignited, and alternate political programs
arose which could never have come from the state-owned press.
..........In many African countries, a similar move has upended the
state monopoly on information. The expanded political dialogue has
not only undermined dictatorial rule but insures that all have an
outlet for their opinions and gives the society as a whole a chance
to explore alternatives. Importantly, it serves as a vital check on
government and, perhaps more than any other single private
institution, can stymie a new authoritarianism.
..........Successful democratization is a challenge which will take
some time. It is a difficult task. It is complicated by Africa's still
troubling economic situation. Democratization and economic
empowerment are sides of the same coin. While fragile new
democracies will have difficulties in the short term, the necessary
readjustment can only be made in a democratic environment, with
the people's informed consent, and in an environment in which the
private sector has maximum room to grow. Equally important, a
stable, democratic climate is increasingly a precondition for the
necessary foreign and domestic investment for recovery and growth.
..........Africans have taken the initiative in defining their agenda for
the 1990s and into the 21st century. It will be an African agenda,
not a US agenda for Africa nor anyone else's agenda for Africa. The
donor community cannot make the changes for Africans; even if the
road is long and the way sometimes unclear, the Africans
themselves must initiate change. When the voices of the new
Africa speak, we will reply: "We are listening. The United States
stands ready to assist. We have reservoirs of talent, experience,
and financial resources that can have a real and lasting impact. We
can and will remain engaged in Africa's progress toward
democracy--and we will not abandon Africa when democracy is
achieved." (###)
US Department of State Dispatch,
Vol 2, No 43, October 28, 1991
Title: US Position on Zaire
Boucher
Source: State Department Deputy Spokesman Richard
Boucher
Description: Washington, DC
Date: Oct 24, 199110/24/91
Category: Speeches, Testimony, Statements
Region: Subsaharan Africa
Country: Zaire
Subject: Regional/Civil Unrest, Democratization
[TEXT]
The US Government believes that an effective and credible
government in Zaire is an immediate necessity. We further believe
that such a government must be formed and led by a prime minister
having broad popular support and coming from and having the
support of the major opposition parties. The US Government has no
candidate for Zairian prime minister; it supports the process of
true democratization which must, at this stage, involve the
opposition leadership in the decision-making of the government.
..........We deeply regret that President Mobutu and the opposition
have not been able to resolve this impasse by agreement on a
candidate to be designated prime minister. The United States
continues to call upon all concerned parties in Zaire to come
together in a spirit of compromise and together work toward
solving the many problems facing Zaire and its people. (###)
US Department of State Dispatch,
Vol 2, No 43, October 28, 1991
Title: US Commitment to Czechoslovak Success
Bush, Havel
Source: President Bush, Czechoslovak President Havel
Description: Remarks upon arrival, The White House, Washington, DC
Date: Oct 22, 199110/22/91
Category: Speeches, Testimony, Statements
Region: E/C Europe
Country: Czechoslovakia (former)
Subject: Democratization
[TEXT]
The President:
Today we welcome a man whose
moral authority makes him a hero not simply in his own land but
everywhere that people cherish freedom: President Vaclav Havel.
..........I suspect the life of Vaclav Havel, President, would tax even
the imagination of Vaclav Havel, playwright. Yet your life inspires
us precisely because it shows that greatness begins with small
acts of conscience and personal decency--acts that each one of us
can perform.
..........Confronted with a wall of lies, you summoned the courage to
"live in truth:" to shun the silence that allows the lie to live--to
speak out and risk the consequences. That courage sustained you
through 5 long years in prison, as an outcast in your own country--
to the chill autumn night 2 years ago when the people of
Czechoslovakia came to Wenceslas Square. At first, a few candles
flickered in the night sky. In time, the square was ablaze with
light--the Velvet Revolution had begun.
..........Long before that night, you had written about "the power of
the powerless." In the revolution of 1989, the world saw the Czech
and Slovak people break their chains--the world witnessed once
more the awesome power of the democratic idea.
..........Today, the electricity of revolution has given way to the sober
business of democracy building. Your federal republic faces the
challenge of three revolutions: first, an economic revolution, to
replace the failed command system with the free market; second, a
political revolution, to replace the totalitarian travesty with
democratic government and the tyranny of men with the rule of law,
so that Czechs and Slovaks, working together, can build a secure
future; and, third and most important, you face a moral revolution--
the need to build public trust and tolerance, to trade the cynicism
that helped people survive the old regime for the idealism that will
help you build a new one.
..........For 40 years, the ruling regime fed your people nothing but
lies: a steady diet of quotas fulfilled, record harvests, unanimous
votes and unending progress--an elaborate fantasy that fooled no
one. Today, Mr. President, you lead a people who know that being
free means facing the truth--preferring fact to fiction, no matter
how harsh the truth may be.
..........Your struggle is far from over. Everywhere across your
country you feel the strains, the dislocations and depressed
standard of living. And I know the transition has hit particularly
hard in Slovakia.
..........Yet your country has made impressive progress. You've taken
decisive steps to privatize state enterprises, to liberalize trade
and investment, to lift restrictions on private enterprise.
..........Each barrier you sweep away unleashes the energies of free
enterprise--liberates the Czech and Slovak people to pursue their
ideas and ideals.
..........America stands with you in this effort. Our Trade
Enhancement Initiative aims at opening American markets to your
products. We seek through a special review to expand your benefits
under our generalized system of preferences. Our Enterprise Fund
will channel capital to Czech and Slovak entrepreneurs ready to put
it to work. OPIC--the US Government's Overseas Private Investment
Corporation--has just completed a mission to Czechoslovakia, the
largest mission OPIC has ever led to any country.
..........During your visit, our Governments will sign the new Bilateral
Investment Treaty--assuring an attractive investment climate for
American firms that do business in your country.
..........A few days ago, I signed a document exempting the Czech and
Slovak Federal Republic from the requirement of an annual Jackson-
Vanik review. I hope for early congressional action to grant your
country permanent most-favored-nation status. And to aid
Czechoslovakia in its efforts to join the global economy, I call on
the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development to provide assistance to pipeline projects already
under consideration.
..........As your Federal Republic transforms itself within, it also has
claimed its place in the councils of Europe. Mr. President, as a
founder of Charter 77, you lived through the days when the secret
police ransacked homes for papers related to the Helsinki Accords.
You must marvel that Prague now serves as home to the permanent
Secretariat of the CSCE [Conference for Security and Cooperation in
Europe].
..........Nearly 1 year ago, when I addressed your Federal Assembly,
sir, I spoke of America's enduring role in Europe and of our vision of
a new commonwealth of freedom. I know you share that vision, and
I value your strong conviction that the United State should remain
in Europe as a guarantor of security.
..........Together, on both sides of the Atlantic, we can work as
partners in a growing community of free nations to extend the
values of democracy, free enterprise, and the rule of law.
..........Your country knows better than most the harsh lessons of
history--what happens when aggression goes unchecked. When Iraq
invaded Kuwait, the Czech and Slovak people stepped forward to
take their place in the coalition against the aggressor. Even as it
struggled to secure its own fragile independence, your country came
to the defense of a nation in need.
..........You led the way in showing a new Europe that the security of
one state is inseparable from the security of all. I welcome the
opportunity to reaffirm today my country's commitment to your
success--to the promise of democracy and independence.
..........Once again, Mr. President welcome to the White House. And
may God bless the Czech and Slovak people.
President Havel:
Mr. President, ladies and
gentlemen. Let me, on behalf of the whole Czechoslovak delegation,
thank you for your warm welcome. I have a good feeling that we are
coming to friends with whom we share the same attitude toward
the principal values of life and who, therefore, understand our
problems and needs.
..........Our friendship has deep roots and has gone through a difficult
test of time. In the hearts and minds of our people, it survived the
adversity of the long decades of the totalitarian era to be given a
new dimension by the freedom reborn in my country 2 years ago.
The legacy of the fathers of Czechoslovak-American cooperation--
the founder of our state, Tomas Garrigue Mazaryk, and President
Woodrow Wilson--has thus been fulfilled.
..........It makes me happy to feel that I can regard you, Mr. President,
as a friend of Czechoslovakia and as my personal friend. This is not
the first time when I have an opportunity to step on the soil of your
country. I shall never forget the reception accorded to me during
my last year's visit when I came here for the first time in the
capacity of head of state. Today, I am starting my first official
state visit to your country, and I am looking forward to seeing it
unfold no less successfully.
..........It will certainly be a breakthrough in our relations as
significant documents are to be signed on this occasion. A
permanent place among them will be held by the declaration on the
relations between our countries in which we shall express our
resolve to work together for the advancement of our cooperation. In
so doing, we shall make a contribution, even if a limited one, to the
strengthening of the traditional partnership between the United
States and Europe.
..........We do see in this partnership a guarantee of our own stability
and security. It is my conviction that our visit to your country, for
which we prepared with utmost care, will achieve its purpose and
confirm what I have said with much pleasure a number of times
already--namely, that relations between Czechoslovakia and the
United States have never been as good as they are now.
..........Thank you. (###)
US Department of State Dispatch,
Vol 2, No 43, October 28, 1991
Title: Presidents Bush and Havel Meet
Niles
Source: Assistant Secretary for European and Canadian
Affairs Thomas Niles
Description: News briefing at the White House, Washington, DC
Date: Oct 22, 199110/22/91
Category: Speeches, Testimony, Statements
Region: E/C Europe
Country: Czechoslovakia (former)
Subject: Security Assistance and Sales, NATO,
Trade/Economics
[TEXT]
....The President met for about 15 minutes privately with President
Havel in the Oval Office. He then--the two Presidents then joined
the rest of the group in the Cabinet Room for about a 45-minute
session.....
..........Three major areas of discussion during the session in the
Cabinet Office: developments in Europe with particular focus on the
security dimension; the role of NATO; the relationship between
NATO and the Central and Eastern European countries; [and]
economic developments including the economic reform process in
Czechoslovakia, which President Havel described to President Bush,
during which Minister Klaus gave out some copies or examples of
the vouchers that will be used for the privatization of some of the
still-state-owned enterprises in Czechoslovakia.
..........Then there was also--the third subject discussed was the
relationship, economic relationship, between the United States and
Czechoslovakia. The President noted our continuing support for the
reform process, for privatization in Czechoslovakia, for defense
conversion; noted that an important delegation from OPIC, the
Overseas Private Investment Corporation, has visited
Czechoslovakia, . . . . OPIC will continue to be actively engaged in
the process, encouraging US investment in Czechoslovakia.
..........President Havel expressed appreciation for what we've done,
noted that Czechoslovakia is going through what he called a "sales
crisis" due to the collapse of trade between Czechoslovakia and its
former partners in COMECON [Council for Mutual Economic
Assistance], including the Soviet Union. In this context, he
expressed particular appreciation for the steps taken by the United
States under the Trade Enhancement Initiative to open up our
markets more widely to Czech exports, in particular textiles and
steel, and expressed the hope that this process would
continue....(###)
US Department of State Dispatch,
Vol 2, No 43, October 28, 1991
Title: NATO Nuclear Planning Group: Final Communique
Description: Released by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Press Service, Brussels, Belgium
Date: Oct 18, 199110/18/91
Category: Speeches, Testimony, Statements
Region: Europe
Subject: NATO, Arms Control,
Security Assistance and Sales
[TEXT]
Text of the final communique of the NATO Nuclear Planning Group's
October 17-18 meeting in Taormina, Italy, released by the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization Press Service, October 18, 1991,
Brussels, Belgium.
..........1. The Nuclear Planning Group (NPG) of the Atlantic Alliance
met at Taormina, Italy, on 17th and 18th October, 1991. Iceland
attended as an observer.
..........2. Our discussions have taken place against the background of
the much improved security environment in Europe and the
transformation of the Alliance that began in London more than a
year ago. We warmly welcome the recent decisive steps towards
democracy and freedom in the Soviet Union and opportunities for
increased co-operation and contacts between the Alliance and
countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
..........3. We have taken these developments into account as we
reviewed the emerging new Alliance Strategic Concept, including
measures to support these positive developments, in preparation for
the Summit of Heads of State and Government in Rome on 7th and
8th November, 1991. We continued our discussions on guidelines for
future defence, the emerging new force posture and the
streamlining of the military command structure, all of which are
essential elements in the process of adapting our Alliance to the
new security environment.
..........4. The principal objective of our meeting was to agree a new
sub-strategic nuclear force posture and stockpile level which
responds to the changing security environment in Europe. In
adapting our nuclear policy to the needs of the 1990s we were
guided by the conclusions of the London Summit last year that the
Alliance could reduce its reliance on nuclear weapons and in
particular those of the shortest ranges. Events since then have
confirmed the validity of these conclusions, but allow us to go even
further; there is no longer any requirement for nuclear ground-
launched short-range ballistic missiles and artillery. In this
context, we welcomed President Bush's recent decision, and the
reciprocal response by President Gorbachev, to withdraw and
destroy the associated nuclear warheads worldwide. We also
welcomed the decision to withdraw all tactical nuclear weapons
from surface vessels, attack submarines and land-based naval
aircraft, and to destroy many of these weapons.
..........5. In addition to the elimination of ground-launched nuclear
systems, the number of air-delivered weapons in NATO's European
stockpile will be greatly reduced. The total reduction in the current
NATO stockpile of sub-strategic weapons in Europe will be roughly
80 percent.
..........6. These unilateral measures, which are additional to the
substantial reductions already made in recent years, accord with
our long-standing policy of maintaining only the minimum level of
nuclear forces required to preserve peace and stability. Nuclear
weapons will continue for the foreseeable future to fulfill their
essential role in the Alliance's overall strategy, since conventional
forces alone cannot ensure war prevention. We will therefore
continue to base effective and up-to-date sub-strategic nuclear
forces in Europe, but they will consist solely of dual-capable
aircraft, with continued widespread participation in nuclear roles
and peacetime basing by Allies. Sub-strategic nuclear forces
committed to NATO continue to provide the necessary political and
military link to NATO's strategic nuclear forces and an important
demonstration of Alliance solidarity.
..........7. President Bush's initiatives also include far-reaching
proposals aimed at changing the strategic nuclear postures of the
United States and the Soviet Union, to which there has also been a
constructive Soviet response. These initiatives taken as a whole,
together with the recently agreed START Treaty, represent a
historic step towards enhanced security and stability. They will
result in smaller nuclear arsenals and a dramatic change in the
speed of transformation to a more secure and co-operative
relationship. In this regard, we are convinced that a dialogue with
the Soviet Union on nuclear policy would result in improved
understanding and increased co-operation.
..........8. We discussed the growing problem of the proliferation of
nuclear weapons, which remains a matter of great concern. We also
discussed the crucial issue of the control of nuclear weapons in the
Soviet Union and welcomed the statements by the Soviet leadership
about their plans to ensure the safe, responsible and reliable
control of these weapons. This matter clearly affects the security
interests of the entire Alliance. We look forward to further steps
by the Soviet Union to meet our concerns and to continuing timely
consultations within the Alliance.
..........9. This was the 50th Ministerial meeting of the Nuclear
Planning Group, a forum which has made a major contribution to
Alliance consultation on nuclear matters in the pursuit of peace and
security. The meeting has taken place at a time when a safer and
more stable security structure is developing, with openness and co-
operation becoming the norm. Our proposals for a drastically
reduced and restructured NATO nuclear posture reflect this most
welcome prospect. As the security situation evolves, we shall
continue to review the nuclear policy and posture of the Alliance, as
we have done over the past 25 years.
..........10. The Spring 1992 NPG Ministerial meeting will be held at
NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium. (###)
US Department of State Dispatch,
Vol 2, No 43, October 28, 1991
Title: Feature: The Turning Point--Department of State, 1945-60
Date: Oct 18, 199110/18/91
Category: Features
Region: North America
Country: United States
Subject: State Department, History
[TEXT]
Prepared by the Office of Public Communication and the Office of
the Historian.
After World War II, Secretaries of State James F. Byrnes, George
Marshall, Dean Acheson, John Foster Dulles, and Christian Herter
worked closely with Presidents Truman and Eisenhower to fashion a
US foreign policy aimed at dealing with a dramatically changed
international environment. The Secretaries became highly mobile--
James Byrnes was in office for only 3 days before flying to the
Potsdam Conference. Secretary Dulles logged more than 800,000
miles overseas air travel during his tenure.
..........As Secretary Acheson recalled, everyone working in the State
Department was aware ". . . that a major turning point in American
history was taking place." During the late 1940s, the Department
was responsible for the creative thinking behind the Truman
Doctrine which provided emergency aid to Greece and Turkey, the
creation of NATO, and the Marshall Plan for the economic recovery
of Europe, working closely with Congress to implement these
programs. It was said that partisan differences stopped at the
water's edge, and foreign policy effectiveness was due in large part
to a strong bipartisan consensus in Congress led by Senator Arthur
Vandenberg.
The Cold War Begins
A revolution in American foreign policy greatly affected the
position of Secretary of State. Before 1941, domestic political
considerations rather than the need for expertise in foreign affairs,
usually guided the presidential choice of the senior foreign policy
adviser. However, after 1945, most of the Secretaries were
selected because they possessed broad experience and technical
skills deemed essential to effective interaction with foreign
governments.
..........While the reconstruction of Western Europe progressed
successfully, tensions between the United States and the Soviet
Union grew, leading to the Cold War and an emphasis on national
security in diplomacy. Secretary James F. Byrnes was the first to
grapple with post-war issues, and his close congressional ties were
decisive in US acceptance of the UN Charter. Byrnes, who traveled
more than any previous Secretary, symbolized America's emergence
from the "isolationism" of the pre-war period.
..........In 1947, President Truman chose General George C. Marshall to
replace Byrnes. Marshall, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff during World War II, was enormously popular and known as the
"organizer of victory." His arrival at the State Department was a
major boost to morale, and efficiency increased dramatically.
Within 48 hours after the British warned that they would no longer
be able to aid Greece and Turkey, the Department's conclusions were
on Marshall's desk. The United States took action to provide
assistance only 19 days after the crisis began.
..........Marshall's successor, Dean Acheson, worked closely with both
the President and with Marshall himself, when Marshall later
became Secretary of Defense. A strong administrator, Acheson was
widely respected by his employees and is considered one of the
Department's most successful leaders in building institutional
power and effective policies. He also realized the importance of a
bipartisan foreign policy and worked closely with Republican
leaders, especially John Foster Dulles, the leading Republican
foreign policy spokesman, who was Truman's chief US negotiator on
the Japanese peace treaty and named his "ambassador at large" in
1951.
..........As Secretary of State, Dulles' close ties to President
Eisenhower ensured a prominent role for the Department, and his
influence in the Administration was unmatched. Eisenhower said of
Dulles--the grandson and nephew of former Secretaries Harrison
and Lansing--"[He] has been training for this job all his life."
The Department Reorganizes
To administer these new and complex responsibilities and to ensure
efficient and coordinated policy-making, the number of American
State Department personnel increased from 7,000 in 1945 to about
13,000 by 1960. In a major Department reorganization carried out
in response to the Commission on Governmental Organization headed
by former President Herbert Hoover, major policy divisions were
elevated in 1949 to the level of bureaus for Inter-American Affairs,
Far Eastern Affairs, European Affairs, Near Eastern and African
Affairs, International Organization Affairs, and Congressional
Relations.
..........By 1954, reorganization was again necessary. In a process
known as "Wristonization"--after Henry Wriston, who chaired a
group that examined personnel issues--the number of Foreign
Service officers tripled when many Civil Service positions in the
Department were merged into the Foreign Service. This provided for
a more integrated State Department whose personnel were
overwhelmingly Foreign Service.
..........The geographic bureau structure was rounded out in 1958,
with the establishment of a Bureau of African Affairs. Meanwhile,
in response to the increasing diversification of foreign policy
issues, the Department created a Bureau for Consular Affairs
(1952), a Bureau of Intelligence (1957), and a Bureau of Cultural
Affairs (1960).
..........The expanding Department gradually gained a new level of
policy makers and coordinators, including an Under Secretary for
Economic Affairs in 1946 and an Under Secretary for Management in
1953. A Deputy Under Secretary was named to oversee the political
bureaus in 1949, but their proliferating numbers lead to creation of
the post of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs in 1959.
..........A major development in the conduct of foreign affairs was the
significant involvement of the public in the formulation of policies.
Since 1945, the Department of State has worked to inform and
educate the American public on the problems and possibilities posed
by the world political scene. Press conferences and press briefings
grew to be the principal means by which the Secretary and his
Department provided the nearly insatiable demand for foreign policy
information and insight from the news media. News conferences,
begun informally during the 1930s, grew more frequent during the
1950s.
The McCarthy Era
Despite the accomplishments of the immediate post-war years, the
Department of State became a prime target of the search for
"subversives" in the US Government. In February 1950, shortly after
the Soviet Union acquired nuclear weapons and Mao Zedong seized
power in China, Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed to have a list of
205 State Department employees who were members of the
Communist Party. Although McCarthy never proved his allegations,
the careers of a number of the Department's most experienced
Foreign Service officers were destroyed.
..........McCarthy's allegations had a lasting effect on those who
remained in the Department. John W. Ford, a security officer at the
time, later noted that "few people who lived through the McCarthy
era in the Department of State can ever forget the fear,
intimidation, and sense of outrage which permeated Foggy Bottom."
As one modern observer notes, "It is most ironic, in view of
McCarthy's charges, that the State Department did more than any
other government agency to warn of the emerging dangers in
Stalin's policy." (###)
Secretaries of State 1945-61
James F. Byrnes 1945-47
George C. Marshall 1947-49
Dean G. Acheson 1949-53
John Foster Dulles 1953-59
Christian A. Herter 1959-61
A Soldier and Statesman:
General George C.
Marshall became Secretary of State on January 21, 1947. A man of
enormous prestige, his nomination was unanimously confirmed on
the day it was received by the Senate. Marshall, the architect of
victory in World War II, played a similar role in the post-war world.
The "Marshall Plan" for the reconstruction of Western Europe was
one of the most significant achievements of US foreign policy.
..........General Marshall continued to serve his country after leaving
the Department, as Secretary of Defense. President Truman said of
him: "The more I see and talk to him, the more certain I am he's the
great one of the age. I am surely lucky to have his friendship and
support."(###)
US Department of State Dispatch,
Vol 2, No 43, October 28, 1991
Title: Country Profile: Belize
Date: Oct 28, 199110/28/91
Category: Country Data
Region: Central America
Country: Belize
Subject: History, Trade/Economics
[TEXT]
Official Name: Belize
Geography
Area: 22,963 sq. km. (8,866 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than New
Hampshire.
Cities: Capital--Belmopan (pop. 5,000). Other cities--Belize City
(pop. 60,000), Orange Walk, Corozal, Dangriga, San Ignacio, Punta
Gorda.
Terrain: Flat swampy coastlands, jungle lowlands, mountains in the
southwest interior.
Climate: Sub-tropical; rainy season extends from June to October.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Belizean(s).
Population (1991 est.): 200,000.
Annual population growth (1990 est.): 3.7%.
Ethnic groups: African 51%, mestizo 20%, Amerindian 19%, other
8%.
Religions: Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Mennonite, other
Protestant, Muslim, and Buddhist.
Languages: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Attendance--60%. Literacy--
more than 80%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--19/1,000. Life expectancy--70 yrs.
Work force (1990 est.): 60,000. Agriculture--30%.
Government
Type: Parliamentary democracy.
Independence: September 21, 1981.
Constitution: September 21, 1981.
Branches: Executive--British Monarch, represented by Governor
General (head of state), Prime Minister (head of government; 5-year
term), Cabinet. Legislative--National Assembly composed of House
of Representatives and Senate. Judicial--Supreme Court, Court of
Appeals, District magistrates.
Subdivisions: 6 Districts--Belize City, Orange Walk, Corozal, Cayo,
Stan Creek, Toledo.
Political parties: Peoples United Party (PUP), United Democratic
Party (UDP).
Suffrage: Universal over 18.
Central government budget (FY 1990-91): Recurrent expenditures--
$78 million. Capital expenditures--$25 million. Revenues--$108
million. Surplus--$5 million.
Defense (1990): 1.4% of GDP.
Flag: Blue field with red stripes at the top and bottom. Centered in
the blue field is the national coat of arms consisting of two
workers and symbols of agriculture, industry, and trade on a white
circular background.
Economy
GDP (1990, current prices): $352 million.
Annual real GDP growth rate (1990): 9%.
Per capita GDP (1990): $1,680.
Avg. inflation rate (1990): 5%.
Natural resources: Arable land, timber, seafood.
Agriculture (18% of GDP): Products--sugar, citrus, bananas,
mangoes, papayas, corn, rice, beans, cacao, cashews, vegetables.
Industry (29% of GDP): Types--fishing, timber, construction,
garments, citrus processing.
Tourism (15% of GDP): 1990 tourist arrivals, 172,000.
Trade (1990): Exports--$105 million: sugar, citrus concentrate,
garments, bananas, seafood, sawn lumber. Major markets--US, UK,
CARICOM. Imports--$190 million: foodstuffs, construction
materials, consumer goods, auto parts, high-tech equipment. Major
suppliers--US, Mexico, UK.
Foreign assistance (FY 1990): Total--$21 million.
US assistance (FY 1990): Economic--$6.4 million. Military--$0.6
million. Counternarcotics--$0.5 million.
Principal Government Officials
Governor General--Dame Dr. Minita E. Gordon
Prime Minister--George C. Price
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Said Musa
Ambassador to the United States and to the OAS--James B. Hyde
Ambassador to the United Nations--Carl Lindbergh Rogers (###)
Belize Celebrates 10th Anniversary of
Independence
On September 21, Belize celebrated the 10th anniversary of it's
independence. Formerly known as British Honduras, it achieved full
independence in 1981 after 110 years as a British colony.
..........In a congratulatory message to Prime Minister George Price,
President Bush said, "Belize's tradition of democracy, its economic
progress and its peaceful relations with its neighbors have served
as examples for the entire hemisphere." Mr. and Mrs. Prescott Bush,
the President's brother and sister-in-law, served as personal
representatives of the President at the celebration.
..........Other dignitaries attending the festivities included Mexican
President Carlos Salinas de Fortari and Honduran President Rafael
Callejas. Noteworthy was the participation of the newly-appointed
Guatemalan Ambassador. Belize and Guatemala established
diplomatic relations just days before the anniversary celebrations,
marking significant progress in the resolution of a territorial
dispute which has lasted more than 100 years. (###)