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U.S. Department of State 93/07/15 Statement on the Report of the El Salvador Panel Office of the Spokesman STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER ON THE REPORT OF THE EL SALVADOR PANEL July 15, 1993 This morning I received the Report of the Panel on El Salvador which I appointed on March 24. I want to express my gratitude for the thorough and conscientious efforts of the Panel composed of two of our most distinguished retired career Ambassadors -- George S. Vest and Richard W. Murphy; and Professor I.M. (Mac) Destler of the University of Maryland, who served as the Panel's Academic Advisor. The Report, issued today, is the result of a three-month comprehensive assessment of how the Department of State and the Foreign Service handled human rights issues involving El Salvador from 1980 to 1991. As I directed, the Panel examined the State Department's professional performance and makes recommendations on how the Department can better handle human rights issues in a manner consistent with our nation's values and the Department's highest professional standards. As directed, the Report is not a review of the wisdom of previous Administrations' Central American policy, and it is limited to the activities of the State Department and the Foreign Service. I am carefully reviewing the Report and its recommendations. One of the Report's key recommendations is that the vast bulk of the record on human rights in El Salvador be declassified to the maximum degree possible as soon as possible. I have ordered that this process, already begun at my previous instruction, be accelerated and completed on an expedited basis. I will be acting on the Panel's other recommendations promptly. (###)