TEXT OF KENNEDY PRESS CONFERENCE AT SANTIAGO AIRPORT JANUARY 16

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP90B01390R000700900054-5
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
6
Document Creation Date: 
December 27, 2016
Document Release Date: 
December 14, 2010
Sequence Number: 
54
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
January 17, 1986
Content Type: 
CABLE
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP90B01390R000700900054-5.pdf309.86 KB
Body: 
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/14: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700900054-5 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED IMMEDIATE PAGE 001 NC 9600055 TOR: 170118Z JAN 86 SANTIA 00336 00 RUEAIIB ZNR UUUUU ZOC STATE ZZH STU4744 00 RUEHC DE RUEHSG #0336/01 0162128 ZNR UUUUU ZZH 0 162122Z JAN 86 FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO TO RUEHIA/USIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4271 INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4739 BT UNCLAS SANTIAGO 00336 FOR AR-RICCIO, OGLESBY, LEROY ARA/SC-DURKEE, SWIGERT E.O. 12356: N/A SUBJ: TEXT OF KENNEDY PRESS CONFERENCE AT SANTIAGO AIRPORT JANUARY 16. 1. FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF BRIEF STATEMENT AND PRESS CONFERENCE OFFERED BY SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY JANUARY 16 UPON DEPARTURE FROM SANTIAGO FOR LIMA. PRESS PLAY OF SENATOR'S REMARKS WILL FOLLOW SEPTEL. BEGIN TEXT, BEGIN QUOTE: YESTERDAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND TALK WITH THE PEOPLE OF CHILE. I MET WITH LABOR LEADERS, PROFESSIONALS, BUSINESSMEN AND -WOMEN, STUDENT LEADERS AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS, INCLUDING FOUR BISHOPS AND HIS EMMINENCE RAUL SILVA HENRIQUEZ. AND I TALKED WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH THE FULL RANGE OF OPPOSITION POLITICAL LEADERS. THEY CAME FROM ALL PARTS OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM OF THOSE COMMITTED TO PEACEFUL CHANGE. AND I WAS PARTICULARLY MOVED BY MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE. THEY RELATED THEIR EXPERIENCES TO ME OF TORTURE, MURDER, EXILE, AND IMPRISONMENT. THESE WERE NOT RUMORS OR OFFICIAL REPORTS. THESE EXPERIENCES WERE REAL, FIRST HAND, AIM THEY TOLD THE STORY OF INDEFENSIBLE HUMAN SUFFERING. AND I COME AWAY FROM MY ALL TOO SHORT VISIT TO CHILE WITH ONE VERY STRONG IMPRESSION. THE PEOPLE OF CHILE WANT AN END TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE AND A BEGINNING OF AUTHENTIC DEMOCRACY. THERE MAY BE DIFFERENCES bF OPINIONS ABOUT MANY MATTERS, BUT ON THESE TWO GOALS THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT. I CAME TO CHILE TO LEARN WHETHER THERE HAD BEEN ANY PROGRESS IN THE EFFORT TO ACHIEVE A PEACEFUL TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY. I ALSO CAME TO STATE MY SUPPORT FOR NONVIOLENCE, AND FOR NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THOSE COMMITTED TO PEACEFUL CHANGE. I MET WITH MANY COURAGEOUS PEOPLE COMMITTED TO THOSE VALUES, AND I BELIEVE THAT THEIR EXISTENCE HERE IN CHILE IS A POSITIVE AND HOPEFUL SIGN AND THEY DESERVE OUR SUPPORT. I ALSO COME AWAY FROM THIS VISIT VERY HOPEFUL ABOUT THE UNCLASSIFIED OLL/LD INCOMING Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/14: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700900054-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/14: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700900054-5 UNCLASSIFIED 86 9600055 SUO PAGE 002 NC 9600055 TOR: 170118Z JAN 86 SANTIA 00336 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FUTURE OF THE NATIONAL ACCORD. YES, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES AMONG THE VARIOUS PARTIES, BUT THOSE DIFFERENCES PALE TO INSIGNIFICANCE WHEN COMPARED WITH THEIR POINTS OF AGREEMENT. I WAS IMPRESSED AND INSPIRED BY THEIR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE AND I LEAVE CHILE WITH GREAT HOPE THAT THIS EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF PEOPLE, WITH THE OTHER FORCES FOR PEACEFUL CHANGE AND RECONCILIATION, WILL ULTIMATELY BE SUCCESSFUL. I WISH THEM WELL, ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE ACCORD, AND I CONGRATULATE THEM ON THEIR COURAGE AND THEIR COMMITMENT. WHETHER THE NATIONAL ACCORD IS ULTIMATELY SUCCESSFUL WILL~DEPEND UPON THE PATIENCE, PERSEVERANCE AND DETERMINATION OF THESE PEOPLE. THEY SHOULD KNOW THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD SUPPORT THEIR CAUSE AND SHARE THEIR CONCERN. I REGRET THAT THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED THAT IT WOULD NOT EXCHANGE IDEAS WITH ME. WE ARE BOTH THE LOSERS FOR THAT DECISION. AFTER ALL, CHILE AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE MANY MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST, INCLUDING NOT ONLY HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT ALSO QUESTIONS OF TRADE AND DEBT. ANY TIME IT IS POSSIBLE TO TALK AND DISCUSS DIFFERENCES, THAT POSSIBILITY SHOULD'BE PURSUED. THE PEOPLE OF CHILE HAVE MANY FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THIS HEMISPHERE AND THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE SUPPORT THE EFFORTS IN THIS COUNTRY TO END HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE AND TO ACHIEVE A PROMPT AND PEACEFUL TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY. WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL THOSE DREAMS BECOME REALITY. I HAVE NO DOUBTS THAT THE WAVE OF DEMOCRACY THAT IS NOW SWEEPING THROUGH SOUTH AMERICA WILL SOON TOUCH THE SHORES OF CHILE AND RETURN THIS PROUD AND BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY TO ITS DEMOCRATIC TRADITIONS. (END STATEMENT) Q: MR. SENATOR, THERE SEEMS TO BE A CERTAIN DEGREE OF AMBIGUITY IN U.S. POLICY TOWARDS CHILE THESE DAYS. ON THE ONE HAND, THERE IS THE KENNEDY AMENDMENT. THERE HAS BEEN YOUR VISIT, THERE HAS BEEN THE NEW ACTIVISM OF AMBASSADOR BARNES. ON THE OTHER HAND, LOANS TO CHILE CONTINUE AND THERE WERE THOSE TWO RECENT U.S. VOTES AT THE UNITED NATIONS AND AT THE OAS. HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS APPARENT AMBIGUITY AND WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THE U.S. POLICY TOWARDS CHILE? A: FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THE UNITED STATES WAS WRONG IN ITS VOTES AT THE OAS. I THOUGHT THE EVIDENCE THAT WAS FOR AR-RICCIO, OGLESBY, LEROY ARA/SC-DURKEE, SWIGERT E.O. 12356: N/A SUBJ: TEXT OF KENNEDY PRESS CONFERENCE AT SANTIAGO PRESENTED IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS WAS CLEAR AND CONVINCING. AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE TRADITION THAT WAS FOLLOWED WITH REGARD TO INTERNATIONAL LOANS, AND THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY PRESIDENT CARTER AND FOLLOWED BY PRESIDENT FORD, WERE THE CORRECT INTERPRETATIONS OF THE LAW, AS IT RELATES TO MULTINATIONAL LOANS. AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES THINK LIKEWISE. AND WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OF REVISING THAT ISSUE IN THIS SESSION OF THE CONGRESS. NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, I AM VERY MINDFUL OF THE EFFORTS BEING MADE BY THE NATIONAL ACCORD, THE RESPONSABILITY WHICH THEY ARE SHOWING, THE SERIOUSNESS OF PURPOSE, THE WIDE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT INTERESTS AND I WOULD CERTAINLY, AS ONE MEMBER OF THE SENATE, BE VERY MUCH INFLUENCED AND GUIDED BY ABOUT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE BEST WAY THAT THE UNITED STATES, IN THIS CASE THE CONGRESS, CAN USE ITS FRIENDSHIP FOR THE CHILEAN PEOPLE AND ITS DESIRE TO SEE UNCLASSIFIED Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/14: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700900054-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/14: CIA-RDP90B01390R000700900054-5 UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 003 NC 9600055 TOR: 170118Z JAN 86 SANTIA 00336 THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY THAT WE FOLLOW THEIR GUIDELINES IN ANY CONSIDERATION OF THE VARIOUS LEGISLATION THAT WE CONSIDER IN CONGRESS, WHETHER IT'S ON THE QUESTIONS OF MILITARY ASSISTANCE OR WHETHER IT'S ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE. THESE ARE THE REAL DEMOCRATS. THEY'VE, IN MANY INSTANCES, EXPERIENCED EXTRAORDINARY PERSONAL TRAGEDY AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE IN THE CONGRESS SHOULD SECOND-GUESS THEIR POSITIONS ON THESE ISSUES AND I WOULD HOPE AS ONE OF THE RESULTS OF THIS BRIEF STAY THE REESTABLISHMENT OF CONTACT WITH MANY OF THESE LEADERS, A NUMBER OF WHOM HAVE ALREADY VISITED THE UNITED STATES AND THAT THEY WOULD GUIDE THE FRIENDS OF CHILEAN DEMOCRACY AS WE ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM IN A CONSTRUCTIVE AND POSITIVE WAY AND BE GUIDED HEAVILY BY THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS. Q: SENATOR, IN CHILE IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT YOU, IN ENCOURAGING THE KENNEDY AMENDMENT, HAVE DEFINITELY HARMED KEY SOCIAL BENEFITS TO THE CHILEAN PEOPLE, AND THAT THIS, AS A CONSEQUENCE, WOULD BE CONTRARY TO YOUR DEMOCRATIC SPIRIT, AND HAS NOT HARMED THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT WHICH YOU CONDEMN. WHAT COMMENT DO YOU HAVE ABOUT THIS IDEA IN CHILE? A: I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE CHILEAN MILITARY SUPPORT THE KENNEDY AMENDMENT. ON THE SECOND ...AND AS I STATED ON MY ARRIVAL, I HAVE INICIATED IN THE SENATE SIMILAR AMENDMENTS IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE MILITARY JUNTAS HAVE RUN ROUGHSHOD, HAVE ABUSED BOTH HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS. ON THE SECOND ISSUE, WITH REGARDS TO HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR AS ANY FAIR EXAMINATION OF THE DEBATE IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES WOULD MAKE CLEAR, THAT THERE WAS_A STRONG DESIRE BY THOSE OF US WHO SUPPORTED THIS AMENDMENT, THAT THERE BE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CONTINUED HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THERE WAS NOT A CLEAR PROHIBITION FOR ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE THROUGH MULTINATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. QUITE FRANKLY, WE HAD THE VOTES AT THAT TIME, AND I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT HUMANITARIAN HELP AND ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE CONTINUED. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST REQUEST... IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST LOANS, YOU'LL FIND THAT IT ISN'T JUST HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE; IT'S PROPPING UP THE WHOLE ECONOMIC SPECTRUM HERE IN CHILE. I'LL JUST REVIEW THEM WHEN I GET A COPY... AND THAT IS WHAT I OBJECT TO IS SUBSTITUTING THE MULTINATIONAL PROCESS FOR THE BILATERAL PROHIBITION. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGES FOR EXAMPLE, OF THE INCREASE IN THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF ALL THE COUNTRIES IN THE HEMISPHERE, CHILE'S PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE HAS CLEARLY INCREASED MORE THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY. AND THIS CIRCUMVENTS THE CLEAR DECLARATION OF CONGRESS AND IT RUNS CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT AND THE LETTER OF THE LAW. Q: MR. KENNEDY, THE LEADERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE YESTERDAY EXPRESSED TO YOU THE NEED TO REOPEN THE LETELIER CASE, IN WHICH THREE CHILEAN MILITARY OFFICERS APPEAR TO BE INVOLVED. UPON YOUR RETURN TO WASHINGTON, WILL YOU UNDERTAKE ANY ACTION IN THIS REGARD? A: FIRST OF ALL, THERE HAS BEEN GREAT ATTENTION BY OUR CURRENT ADMINISTRATION ABOUT TERRORISM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. RECENTLY THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS ANNOUNCED AN EMBARGO AGAINST LYBIA BECAUSE LYBIA WAS THE SOURCE OF THE TERRORIST ACTIVITY THAT RESULTED IN THE KILLING OF UNCLASSIFIED Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/14: CIA-RDP90B01390R000700900054-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/14: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700900054-5 UNCLASSIFIED 86 9600055 SUO PAGE 004 NC 9600055 TOR: 1701182 JAN 86 SANTIA 00336 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ARA/SC-DURKEE, SWIGERT E.O. 12356: N/A SUBJ: TEXT OF KENNEDY PRESS CONFERENCE AT SANTIAGO AMERICANS IN TWO AIRPORTS IN EUROPE. WE HAVE SEEN CHILEAN TERRORISM ON THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON WITH THE ASSASINATION OF MR. LETELIER AND MRS. MOFFIT, AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. I FIND THAT JUST AS REPUGNANT AND I HAVE FOLLOWED THIS CASE CLOSELY OVER THE PERIOD OF YEARS, AS BOTH, A MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE .UDICIAL PROCESS, SINCE THE UNITED STATES HAS ASKED FOR THE EXTRADITION OF THREE MEMBERS OF THE SECRET POLICE HERE OF CHILE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPLICATED IN THAT CASE. CHILE STILL REFUSES TO HELP AND ASSIST IN THAT PROCESS. AND THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FIND THAT DEPLORABLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SOME PROCEDURES THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN MARCH AND CERTAIN MATERIALS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO ME. I'LL STUDY THEM AND MAKE WHAT DECISION I THINK IS APPROPRIATE WHEN I RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE TIME DOES NOT DIM THE MEMORY, NOT MINE, ANYWAY. 0: SENATOR, DO YOU PROPOSE TO INTRODUCE ANY NEW LEGISLATION WITH REFERENCE TO CHILE WHEN YOU RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES AS A RESULT OF YOUR VISIT? A: I WILL BE HEAVILY INFLUENCED AND GUIDED BY WHAT RECOMMENDATION THE NATIONAL ACCORD WOULD THINK WOULD BE MOST USEFUL. AND THAT IS REALLY ALL I WOULD SAY AT THIS TIME. (IN REF TO MORE QUESTIONS:) ...THESE TWO AND WE PROBABLY HAVE TO...WE'VE KEPT EVERYBODY ON THE PLANE MAYBE JUST TOO...WE'LL DO ONE HERE AND THOSE TWO, OK? Q: SENATOR, YOU LAST NIGHT DEPLORED THE CONSEQUENCES THAT THE FOREIGN DEBT HAS FOR LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES AND CRITICIZED THE THESIS OF NATIONAL SECURITY THAT SUPPORTS THE MAJORITY OF THE AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES THAT EXISTED AND STILL EXIST IN THE HEMISPHERE. THAT NATIONAL DEBT, TO A GREAT EXTENT, ORIGINATES IN THE EXPENDITURE, IN THE NATIONAL BUDGETS OF NATIONS, ON ARMS, ARMS THAT WOULD BE OF NO USE IN CASE OF HEMISPHERIC DEFENSE, AND THAT WOULD ALSO BE OF NO USE IN CONFLAGRATIONS AMONG NATIONS BECAUSE OF THE INTERAMERICAN TREATY OF RIO DE JANEIRO. HOWEVER, THE UNITED STATES IS THE GREAT SUPPLIER OF THOSE WEAPONS. WOULD YOU PROPOSE CONDITIONS THAT WOULD CHANGE THIS SITUATION? A: WELL, I THINK YOU HEARD THE STATEMENT AND I THINK YOU MAKE A VERY GOOD AND VALUABLE POINT. THERE IS A FOCUS AND ATTENTION ABOUT THE NUCLEAR ARMS RACE. THAT'S AN ISSUE I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT. BUT WE DO NOT FOCUS ON THE CONVENTIONAL ARMS RACE AND , QUITE FRANKLY, THAT SHOULD BE AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE DISCUSSED, NOT JUST BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE SOVIET UNION, BUT TO OTHER PRINCIPAL SUPPLIERS IN WESTERN EUROPE, AND EVEN SOME IN THIS HEMISPHERE. I'VE ADMIRED THE RECENT LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE THAT IS BEING OFFERED BY PRESIDENT ALFONSIN AND THAT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY PRESIDENT GARCIA, TRYING TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE DONE, IN TERMS OF THE COUNTRIES IN THE HEMISPHERE, IN LIMITING CONVENTIONAL ARMS. AND I, QUITE FRANKLY, WISH THAT WE, AS A COUNTRY, WOULD USE ITS GOOD INTEREST AND GOOD INFLUENCE TO SUPPORT THOSE EFFORTS. UNCLASSIFIED Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/14: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700900054-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/14: CIA-RDP90B01390R000700900054-5 UNCLASSIFIED 86 9600055 SUO PAGE 005 NC 9600055 TOR: 170118Z JAN 86 SANTIA 00336 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Q: SENATOR, YOU RECENTLY STATED IN BUENOS AIRES THAT THE PROBLEM OF THE FOREIGN DEBT IS MAINLY A POLITICAL PROBLEM. WHAT IS THE POLITICAL WILL THAT YOU THINK EXISTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE CREDITOR COUNTRIES TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, AND HOW DO YOU SEE THAT THIS IS TAKEN IN THE DEBTOR COUNTRIES IN LATIN AMERICA? A: I'M NOT REALLY CONVINCED THAT THIS ISSUE WHICH IS OF SUCH ENORMOUS IMPORTANCE TO THE COUNTRIES OF THE HEMISPHERE IS BEING GIVEN THE KIND OF SERIOUS ATTENTION IN MY COUNTRY THAT IT SHOULD. I HAVE STATED THAT I THOUGHT THAT THE BAKER INITIATIVE WAS A USEFUL FIRST STEP. IT'S A BASIC FRAMEWORK. WHETHER THERE WILL BE LIFE THAT WILL BE BREATHED INTO THAT PROGRAM AND MADE IN A MEANINGFUL AND SUBSTANTIVE PROPOSAL WE'LL KNOW IN THESE NEXT VERY FEW WEEKS. THE NEXT FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS FOR AR-RICCIO, OGLESBY, LEROY ARA/SC-DURKEE, SWIGERT E.O. 12356: N/A SUBJ: TEXT OF KENNEDY PRESS CONFERENCE AT SANTIAGO ARE IN APRIL, I BELIEVE, AND I THINK WE'LL HAVE A MUCH CLEARER IDEA OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THAT ISSUE BUT I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN, WHEN I RETURN TO THE COUNTRY, TO GIVE THE SENSE OF URGENCY OF THIS ISSUE THAT I HAVE FELT AMONG THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS OF THE HEMISPHERE... FINAL QUESTION... 0: SENATOR, I MERELY WOULD LIKE A COMMENT FROM YOU ABOUT THE MEETING YOU HELD WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND FOR YOU TO EXPLAIN IF THERE WERE DIFFERENCES OR AGREEMENTS DURING THAT MEETING. WHICH WERE THOSE DIFFERENCES OR AGREEMENTS? A: I HAD A MEETING WITH CARDINAL SILVA WHO I'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME. I VISITED HIM IN 1961 HERE. I'VE MAINTAINED A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS AND, AS ALWAYS, HE IS THE SHEPHERD OF HIS FLOCK AND HE PREACHES THE GOSPELS OF CHRIST IN TERMS OF NONVIOLENCE AND PEACE. AND IT'S ALWAYS AN INSPIRATION TO HAVE A CHANCE TO VISIT THIS COURAGEOUS PERSON. I HAD A POSITIVE COMMUNICATION FROM CARDINAL FRESNO, ALTHOUGH I DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO VISIT WITH HIM. THE OTHER CHURCH MEMBERS REPRESENTED ALL OF THE RELIGIONS AND, QUITE FRANKLY, HAD A SIMILAR KIND OF EXPRESSION IN TEACHING THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN ETHIC WHICH IS VERY POWERFUL AND INCONSISTENT WITH THE ABUSES OF THIS GOVERNMENT. Q: SENATOR, YOU HAVE DECLARED YOURSELF DEFENDER OF HUMAN RIGHTS. ON WHAT DO YOU BASE YOUR PAST POSITION OF SUPPORTING THE REESTABLISHMENT OF LINKS WITH CUBA, AND WHAT IS YOUR SPECIFIC POSITION ON COMMUNISM AND ITS ADVANCE IN LATIN AMERICA? A: I HAVE, FIRST OF ALL, CRITICIZED, ON THE FLOOR OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND SENATE THE HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY IN CUBA. I HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO SEE A RELEASE OF SOME OF THE POLITICAL PRISONERS IN CUBA AND I AM CERTAINLY GOING TO CONTINUE THAT ACTIVITY. I AM OPPOSED TO THE UNITED STATES RESUMPTION OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH CUBA AS LONG AS IT'S INVOLVED IN THE EXPORT OF VIOLENT REVOLUTION IN THE HEMISPHERE. OTHER COUNTRIES CAN MAKE WHAT OTHER JUDGEMENT OR DECISION THEY WANT BUT THAT IS MY POSITION. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH... THE PLANE IS LEAVING. UNCLASS I F.I ED Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/14: CIA-RDP90B01390R000700900054-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/14: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700900054-5 UNCLASSIFIED 86 9600055 SUO PAGE 006 NC 9600055 TOR: 170118Z JAN 86 SANTIA 00336 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. END TEXT, END QUOTE. FRIEDMANN END OF MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/14: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700900054-5