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323154769
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Bi-Partisan Accord, Washington, DC 4/18/89 [OA 8130]
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323154769
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Bi-Partisan Accord, Washington, DC 4/18/89 [OA 8130]
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13888-008
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Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Curt Smith Chronological Files
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection: George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Smith, Curt, Files
Subseries:
Chron File, 1989-1992
OA/ID Number:
13888
Folder ID Number:
13888-008
Folder Title:
Bi-Partisan Accord, Washington D.C., 4/18/89
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
18
29
1
4
(Smith/Simon)
April 14, 1989
Draft One
CENT
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: BI-PARTISAN ACCORD
WASHINGTON, D.C.
APRIL 18, 1989
Three weeks ago, for the first time in many years, the
President and Congress, the Democratic and Republican leadership
in the House and Senate, spoke with one voice about Central
America.
By signing a Bi-Partisan Accord on Central America, we
joined hands for the good of that troubled region. And by
placing principle above party, we reaffirmed the cornerstone of
America's foreign policy.
Last week, the Congress passed legislation to implement this
Bi-Partisan Accord. And, today, flanked by Americans of decency
and good will, I am proud to sign this legislation.
Thomas Jefferson said, "We are all Republicans -- we are all
Federalists." Well, last week the Congress said that we are all
Republicans -- we are all Democrats. My friends, you have shown
that bi-partisanship works. And I want to thank you for acting
quickly, honorably, and in the national interest.
-2-
Our Bi-Partisan Accord outlines U.S. policy toward Central
America. And it supports the same goals as the people of Central
America: Democracy, security, and peace. These goals are
embodied in the Esquipulas Accord. And to reach them, we must
work together with Latin American democratic leaders, with the
support of our European friends.
The Esquipulas Accord, and our Bi-Partisan Accord, insist
that insurgent forces have the right to reintegrate into their
homeland under safe, democratic conditions with full civil and
political rights. That is the desire of the Nicaraguan
resistance. And we will support it through concerted diplomatic
effort to reinforce this regional agreement.
Here, in particular, let me thank the Congress. For by
supporting my request for continued assistance at current levels
through the elections in Nicaragua scheduled for February 28,
1990, you have said "Yes" to democracy.
The Esquipulas Accord requires open and honest elections.
We will be watching the Sandinista government to make sure that
it complies. If it does, Nicaraguans will decide their own
future -- freely, democratically. If not -- if its government
mocks the promises it first made in 1979 -- its hypocrisy will
outrage the world.
-3-
Forty-five years ago, Franklin Roosevelt observed that,
"Peace, like war, can succeed only where there is a will to
enforce it, and where there is available power to enforce it."
My friends, to Cuba, to the Soviet Union, and to all the
nations of the world, the Bi-Partisan Accord on Central America
proclaims: You already know of America's power. But let no one
doubt our will.
Our accord envisions a democratic central America, and a
more just and tranquil hemisphere. It says: Let us build homes
and hospitals, not tools of terror. Above all, it points us
toward the future -- for America, and for the people of Central
America.
The legacy of peacemaker is a noble calling. So, let us
seize the moment. Thank you, and God bless you. And now, it is
my pleasure to sign legislation implementing the Bi-Partisan
Accord on Central America.
# # # #
REMARKS: BIPARTISAN ACCORD
ROSE GARDEN
TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1989
2:15 P.M.
FOUR WEEKS AGO, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS,
THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS, THE DEMOCRATIC AND
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, SPOKE
WITH ONE VOICE ABOUT CENTRAL AMERICA.
- 2 -
BY SIGNING A BIPARTISAN ACCORD ON CENTRAL AMERICA,
WE JOINED HANDS FOR THE GOOD OF THAT TROUBLED REGION.
AND BY PLACING PRINCIPLE ABOVE PARTY, WE REAFFIRMED THE
CORNERSTONE OF AMERICA'S FOREIGN POLICY.
LAST WEEK, THE CONGRESS PASSED LEGISLATION TO
IMPLEMENT THIS BIPARTISAN ACCORD. AND, TODAY, I AM
PROUD TO SIGN THIS LEGISLATION.
- 3 -
MY FRIENDS, YOU HAVE SHOWN THAT BIPARTISANSHIP
WORKS. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ACTING QUICKLY,
HONORABLY, AND IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST.
OUR OBJECTIVE IN CENTRAL AMERICA IS A DEMOCRATIC
NICARAGUA WHICH DOES NOT SUBVERT OR THREATEN ITS
NEIGHBORS AND WHOSE PEOPLE ENJOY THE SOCIAL AND
ECONOMIC FRUITS OF A FREE SOCIETY.
2.2.
- 4 -
OUR CONTINUED ASSISTANCE TO THE NICARAGUAN RESISTANCE
REPRESENTS THE COMMITMENT OF THE UNITED STATES BOTH TO
SUPPORT THE ESQUIPULAS ((EH-SKI-POO-LAS)) PEACE PROCESS
AND TO SUSTAIN THOSE WHO STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM AND
DEMOCRACY.
- 5 -
UNDER THE ESQUIPULAS ACCORD, INSURGENT FORCES HAVE
THE RIGHT TO REINTEGRATE INTO THEIR HOMELAND UNDER
SAFE, DEMOCRATIC CONDITIONS WITH FULL CIVIL AND
POLITICAL RIGHTS. THAT IS THE DESIRE OF THE NICARAGUAN
RESISTANCE. AND WE WILL SUPPORT IT THROUGH CONCERTED
DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO REINFORCE THIS REGIONAL
AGREEMENT.
- 6 -
HERE, IN PARTICULAR, LET ME THANK THE CONGRESS.
FOR BY SUPPORTING MY REQUEST FOR CONTINUED ASSISTANCE
AT CURRENT LEVELS THROUGH THE ELECTIONS IN NICARAGUA,
SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 28, 1990, YOU HAVE REAFFIRMED
THE WILL OF THIS GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE PEACE AND FREEDOM
IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
- 7 -
THE SUCCESS OF THE CENTRAL AMERICAN PEACE PROCESS
AND THE PROSPECTS OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION IN
NICARAGUA DEPEND ON FULL AND HONEST SANDINISTA
COMPLIANCE WITH THEIR REPEATED PLEDGES OF DEMOCRACY AND
FREEDOM. WE HAVE YET TO SEE GENUINE SANDINISTA
COMPLIANCE; THUS FAR, THEY HAVE REFUSED TO NEGOTIATE
WITH THE OPPOSITION REGARDING THE NECESSARY CONDITIONS
FOR FAIR ELECTIONS.
- 8 -
IT IS CLEAR THAT CLOSE INTERNATIONAL SCRUTINY AND
SUSTAINED PRESSURE WILL BE CRITICAL TO INDUCE
SANDINISTA COMPLIANCE.
IT IS ALSO CLEAR THAT THE
SOVIET UNION MUST MATCH ITS RHETORICAL SUPPORT FOR THE
PEACE PROCESS WITH CONCRETE ACTION TO HALT MILITARY
AID, TO END SUBVERSION IN THE REGION, AND TO PROMOTE
GENUINE DEMOCRACY IN NICARAGUA.
- 9 -
IT IS FITTING TO RECALL WHAT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT
SAID WHEN HE ADDRESSED THE NATION IN 1940: "TODAY WE
SEEK A MORAL BASIS FOR PEACE
IT CANNOT BE A
LASTING PEACE IF THE FRUIT OF IT IS OPPRESSION, OR
STARVATION, OR CRUELTY, OR HUMAN LIFE DOMINATED BY
ARMED CAMPS."
OUR ACCORD ENVISIONS A DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL AMERICA,
AND A MORE JUST AND TRANQUIL HEMISPHERE.
- 10 -
ABOVE ALL, IT POINTS US TOWARD THE FUTURE -- FOR
AMERICA, AND FOR THE PEOPLE OF CENTRAL AMERICA.
So, LET US SEIZE THE MOMENT. THANK YOU, AND
GOD BLESS YOU. AND NOW, IT IS MY PLEASURE To SIGN
LEGISLATION IMPLEMENTING THE BIPARTISAN ACCORD ON
CENTRAL AMERICA.
# # #