FURTHER MEDIA REACTION ON AMBASSADOR REICH'S SENATE HEARINGS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01390R000700920065-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 15, 2010
• Sequence Number: 65
• Publication Date: March 10, 1986
• Content Type: CABLE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/15: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700920065-1
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SUBJECT: FUTHER MEDIA REACTION ON AMBASSADOR REICH'S
SENATE HEARINGS
1. EV BAUMAN, WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT, FOR LEFTIST "EL
NACIONAL" WROTE A HIGHLY POSITIVE REPORT ON AMBASSADOR
REICH'S HEARINGS TITLED "CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS: REICH
PRAISES VENEZUELA". IN IT HE QUOTES EXTENSIVELY FROM
AMBASSADOR REICH'S OPENING STATEMENT TO THE SENATE
FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE. BAUMAN'S PIECE ALSO NOTED
BRIEFLY SENATOR HELMS' ALLEGATION THAT AMBASSADOR REICH
WAS TOO LIBERAL AS REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF AID PROGRAMS AND
HIS EFFORT TO DELAY CONFIRMATION BY REQUIRING AMBASSADOR
REICH TO ANSWER HIS QUESTIONS ON SALVADORAN AGRARIAN
REFORM. .
2. THE SAME "EL NACIONAL" PIECE INCLUDED EXCERPTS FROM
AMBASSADOR REICH'S RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS FROM SENATOR'S
LUGAR AND LUGAR AND DODD: IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION FROM
SENATOR LUGAR ABOUT THE POSITION OF VENEZUELA ON THE
PAYMENT OF ITS DEBTS, AMBASSADOR REICH SAID TO HAVE
"EMPHASIZED THAT THE COUNTRY HAD BEEN RESPONSIBLE AT ALL
TIMES AND THAT, WITH ITS RESERVES OF MORE THAN 13
MILLION DOLLARS, IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO WEATHER THE
DIFFICULT SITUATION CREATED BY THE FALL OF OIL PRICES.
HE IS DIRECTLY QUOTED AS ADDING "VENEZUELA IS A VERY
FRIENDLY DEMOCRACY AND WE SHOULD BE VERY SENSITIVE TO
ITS NEEDS) IF IT REQUIRES SOME ASSISTANCE. WE HAVE MANY
THINGS IN COMMON, AND WE SHOULD BE UNDERSTANDING." IN
RESPONSE TO LUGAR'S QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER VENEZUELA IS
ALLIED WITH OTHER LATIN AMERICAN NATIONS TO REPUDIATE
ITS DEBTS, THE AMBASSADOR IS PARAPHRASED SAYING THAT
VARIOS COUNTRIES ARE CONSULTING AMONG THEMSELVES AND
HAVE THEIR INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS. VENEZUELA ...HAS
RECOGNIZED ITS DEBTS AND HAS ALWAYS PAID INTEREST (ON
THEM). FINALLY, IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ASKED BY
SENATOR DODD, DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE PRINCIPLE
ADVERSARIES OF PRESIDENT REAGAN'S CENTRAL AMERICAN
POLICIES, ABOUT HOW VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT'ROMULO
BETANCOURT WOULD HAVE CONFRONTED THE SITUATION IN
NICARAGUA, AMBASSADOR REICH WAS REPORTED-TO HAVE
DISCLAIMED ANY RIGHT TO SPEAK FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT,
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BUT EMPHASIZED THAT BETANCOURT CONFRONTED MILITARILY AND
DEFEATED AN ARMED INSURGENCY FOMENTED BY OUTSIDERS,
WHICH RESULTED IN 25 YEARS OF DEMOCRATIC SUCCESS IN
VENEZUELA."
4. BAUMAN NOTED THAT DODD SURPRISED THOSE PRESENT BY
DECLARING THAT "THOUGH HE WAS NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH
REICH ON THE SITUATION IN NICARAGUA, HE ADMITTED.. THAT
FORCE MUST BE USED IN THE SITUATION CREATED IN NICARAGUA
BY THE SANDINISTAS." DODD IS REPORTED TO HAVE CONCLUDED
HIS REMARKS BY ANNOUNCING THAT HE WILL VOTE FOR REICH,
WHOM HE CONSIDERS WELL PREPARED FOR THE IMPORTANT
POSITION IN CARACAS. MCAFEE
END OF MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/12/15: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700920065-1