Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP88-01070R000200970005-7
Body:
Approved For Release 2008/07/25: CIA-RDP88-010708000200970005-7
CBS EVENING NEWS
25 November 1983
NICARAGUA/U.S.~AWYER: The leftist government of Nicaragua made another
significant gesture of conciliation toward the United States
today. At the State Department, Bill McLaughlin tells us it's
still more evidence that the U.S. strategy is beginning to. show
results.
MCLAUGHLIN: The Reagan administration's hopes for finding a
peaceful solution to its feud with-Nicaragua appear higher than
they have been is months. EDWIN PSEESE (Presidential Counselor):
We have always been interested, ah, in having a political
solution on a regional basis to the problems in Central America.
?SCLAUGHLIN; Nicaragua's Sandinist regime is suggesting that
it's willing to make significant concessions to end U.S.
hostility. One major U.S. demand is for the withdrawal of the
estimated 2,000 foreign military advisers in Nicaragua, mostly
Cuban, with a sprinkling of Soviets and East Europeans: Today,'
Nicaragua's interior minister, "Thomas Borhay, said his regime
would be willing to get rid of all the advisers. Borhay, who
hopes to make a conciliatory visit to Washington next week, said
Nicaragua was prepared to get rid of all the foreign advisers,
if the U.S. withdrew its advisers from E1 Salvador and Honduras.
The State Department sounded a cautionary note. ALAN ROMBERG
(State Dept. Spokesman); We don't have any information, ah, to
suggest that the Cuban presence, military or civilian, ah, has
been reduced permanently.
MCLAUGHLII~':, There were also reports from Nicaragua that the
Sandinistas have started to put .distance between themselves and
the rebels in E1 Salvador. What the Sandinistas hope to get in
return is an end to border attacks by the U.S.-backed contra
rebels. There were press reports today that the CIA now ~
believes that the contras, our 10-12,000-man Nicaraguan exile
force cannot overthrow the Sandinistas. But reliable sources
tell CBS News that the CIA has never believed that the rebels
would ever be more than a tool to extract concessions from
A'icaragua--a policy that may now be working. Bill McLaughlin,
CBS News, the State Department.
Approved For Release 2008/07/25: CIA-RDP88-010708000200970005-7