From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: ALERT: BAEZA NOMINATION
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Distribution: usa
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 22:16:09 GMT

/** reg.nicaragua: 57.0 **/
** Topic: ACTION ALERT -- BAEZA NOMINATION **
** Written 10:23 am  Jan 22, 1993 by nicanet in cdp:reg.nicaragua **
The Nicaragua Network received the following fax and is putting 
it on PeaceNet in order to help spread the word.  Please also 
read our analysis following the Interreligious Foundation's 
Action Alert.
 
The Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization, Inc
402 W. 145th St., NY, NY 10031  ph (212) 926-5757
 
ACTION ALERT
 
The Clinton Administration is intending to nominate MARIO BAEZA 
to the position of Assistant Secretary of State for Interamerican 
Affairs (the position Bernard Aronson currently holds).
 
We have learned from Capitol Hill today that the Cuban American 
National Foundation in Miami has mounted a strong attack against 
Baeza in an attempt to stop his nomination.  The CANF is opposing 
Baeza because they don't know him and he's not in their pocket.  
In Miami, the Foundation has launched a redbaiting and 
racebaiting campaign against Baeza (who is Afro-Cuban); they're 
saying they don't want a black dictating their policies, that 
Baeza is communist and soft on Fidel, etc.  The CANF has proposed 
its own candidate for the State Dept. position, a Miami Cuban 
named Simon Ferro.
 
THE DECISION ABOUT WHOSE NAME TO PLACE IN NOMINATION WILL 
PROBABLY GET MADE LATER TODAY.  WE NEED TO FLOOD THE STATE 
DEPARTMENT WITH PHONE CALLS AND FAXES IMMEDIATELY.
 
CALL PETER TARNOFF, third in command at THE STATE DEPARTMENT:
     Phone number 202-647-9117
     fax 202-647-4780
 
CALL WARREN CHRISTOPHER, SECRETARY OF STATE
     Phone number 202-647-5291
     fax 202-647-0122
 
CALL YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES -- 202-224-3121
 
1) STRONGLY URGE THAT THEY SUPPORT THE NOMINATION OF MARIO BAEZA 
FOR INTER-AMERICAN AFFAIRS
     We have good reason to be optimistic that, over time, 
Baeza's positions on Cuba will be far preferable to current 
policies.  We think that, given current political realities, 
Baeza represents the best prospect we could hope for in the 
Inter-American Affairs position.
 
2) WE NEED TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY MUST STOP LETTING THE CUBAN 
AMERICAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION DICTATE U.S. POLICY!!!!
 
The Congressional Black Caucus has already mobilized in support 
of Baeza's nomination.  Peter Tarnoff at the State Department 
favors Baeza as well, and he needs to know that there is 
broadbased attention to this issue and that we support Baeza.


On the other hand, Congressman Robert Torricelli has issued a 
statement opposing Baeza's nomination.  And Baeza lives in 
Torricelli's district.  This is another case of Robert 
Torricelli's support of right-wing Cubans in Miami over his own 
constituents.
 
WE NEED A THOUSAND CALLS AND FAXES TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT--
TODAY!!!
 
IF WE LOSE THE CHANCE TO HAVE BAEZA NOMINATED, WE COULD LOSE THE 
WHOLE BATTLE ON CUBA.
 
#####################################################
 
COMMENTS FROM THE NICARAGUA NETWORK
 
We know very little about Baeza and nothing about his views 
toward Nicaragua, the US democracy intervention network, etc.  We 
can, however, be relatively certain that if the Cuban American 
National Foundation is opposing him that he can't be all bad.  He 
is a lawyer with the Wall Street firm of Debevoise & Plimpton and 
was the fifth African American to rise to the upper ranks of a Wall 
Street law firm.  He has no diplomatic experience and has instead 
been involved with privatization and cross border mergers and 
acquisitions.  He is mentioned as a logical person to oversee the 
North American Free Trade Agreement.  On the positive side, he 
has been praised as having an open mind on Cuba and other issues. 
The Nicaragua Network is not enthusiastic about Baeza's 
nomination, however, we feel strongly that Jorge Mas Canosa's 
Cuban American National Foundation should not have veto power 
over the appointment, and most definitely should not have their 
own person in the position.  Activists who are uncomfortable 
making calls to support someone whose policy positions we do not 
know, and whose business expertise would appear to be somewhat 
antithetical to our efforts to defend and extend the gains of the 
Sandinista Revolution, may want to put their emphasis on opposing 
the influence of the Cuban American National Foundation.  The 
CANF has its own candidate for the position, Simon Ferro, who we 
can without question say we oppose.
** End of text from cdp:reg.nicaragua **
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive