From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Proceso 532: Peace Process
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 21:09:53 GMT

/** reg.elsalvador: 125.0 **/
** Topic: Proceso 532: Peace Process **
** Written 11:43 am  Oct 15, 1992 by cidai@huracan.cr in cdp:reg.elsalvador **
From: cidai@huracan.cr (Centro de Informacion Documentacion y Apoyo a la Invest. - UCAJSC)
Subject: Proceso 532: Peace Process

Center for Information, Documentation and Research Support (CIDAI)
Central American University (UCA)
San Salvador, El Salvador
 
PROCESO 532
September 30, 1992
 
PEACE PROCESS:
President Cristiani's speech before the United Nations
 
     It has already become typical of President Cristiani to make
speeches characterized by prudence and moderation when referring to
Salvadoran problems. From the very start, this type of speech was
seen as unusual when coming from the mouth of an ARENA leader. For
this reason, especially at the international level, Cristiani has
won a certain air of a great statesman more concerned about
resolving the nation's secular problems than about defending the
ideological and recalcitrant postures of his party and the
oligarchy's interests which it objectively represents. The truth
is, however, that usually the content of these cautious speeches is
diametrically opposed to the reality of El Salvador, or at least
reflects positions which are contradicted by the president and his
government in practice.
     This paradoxical situation was once again made evident in the
latest speech given by Cristiani last September 23 before the 47th
General Assembly of the United Nations. Cristiani's speech before
the world's most important forum had the goal of reporting to the
community of nations about progress made in the process of
implementing the Chapultepec peace accords. Thus, the president's
greatest challenge lay in explaining the outrageous delays which
have built up, especially due to government non-compliance with its
promises. The delays are, furthermore, the product of outright
rejection on the part of hard-line military sectors and big capital
of the democratic transformations contained in the accords.
     Cristiani, in contrast, chose to present the measures executed
by the government in formal -and thereby incomplete- compliance
with the accords as if they constituted real compliance. Naturally,
in order to do so, Cristiani resorted to his characteristic method
of argumentation. The speech, therefore, lacked none of the usual
obligatory thanks to all individuals and governments who have
steadfastly supported the peace accords. He also explicitly
acknowledged ONUSAL's role as verifier of the accords. According to
Cristiani, the role of ONUSAL represents "an unprecedented
phenomenon" in contemporary diplomatic history. He also pointed out
that the greatest value of the peace accords lies in the fact that
they do not constitute an attempt to "re-establish the former
situation, but [are] rather a new type of peace accord aimed at
consolidating Salvadoran democracy." In his speech, the president
also expressed recognition toward ARENA and the Armed Forces for
their contribution toward consolidating the process of
democratization. Such a gesture is of course understandable, even
if it obviously constitutes an undeserved distortion of reality.
     All in all, only two authentic points were made in the speech.
First, Cristiani requested support for his government from the
international community in order to ensure that the peace schedule
is respected and that the FMLN dismantles its military structure by
October 31. According to Cristiani, this support is justified
because "the government has been honoring its commitments of a
constitutional and political nature, and will continue to do so in
a serious and responsible fashion." Second, Cristiani requested
decisive economic support from the world's most powerful nations
"so that this costly process will not be hindered by financial
problems." In fact, Cristiani assured his listeners that if there
was a crisis at all, it was of a financial and not any other
nature.
     Cristiani knew that the international community would have a
hard time accepting more promises and more excuses for government
non-compliance. This is why he was staking everything on portraying
the insufficient progress made in the peace process as true
compliance. The effective verification work of ONUSAL will
undoubtedly put the president in an embarrassing situation in the
short run, when it demonstrates that his claims about perfect,
complete and decisive government compliance is not quite accurate.
In fact, it is no accident that the U.N. Secretary General Adjunct
for Peacekeeping Operations, Marrack Goulding, visited El Salvador
for the third time in order to mediate between the two sides and
get the peace process going again, now that there is no time left
for excuses, delays and stalling tactics. So instead of seeking the
demobilization of the FMLN at all costs -something that will
inevitably transpire on the planned date or soon afterwards-
Cristiani should have asked for international support to strengthen
his internal position vis-a-vis those opposed to the accords. He
desperately needs such support now that the Armed Forces is showing
clear signs of resisting a housecleaning and the loss of its
hegemonic control over Salvadoran society.
 

** End of text from cdp:reg.elsalvador **

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