Honduran Foreign Min. Optimistic About Peace

Honduran Foreign Minister Carlos Lopez Contreras expressed guarded optimism about the recent peace intiatives in Central America in a speech at the Law School last night.

Despite the United States government's reservations about the plan, Contreras told the audience of about 40 people, "I am very hopeful that the Esquipulas II agreement signed in Guatemala this summer will help. At the very minimum, a cease-fire will allow more harmonious negotiations between rebel groups and the national governments."

The Central American Foreign Minister defended his nation's role in the Nicaraguan civil war as members of the audience questioned him about his country's allowing the contras to use Honduran land as a base for attack against the Sandinista government of Nicaragua.

"Honduras has never given any support to the contras, but we do not have the financial resources to ensure that the use of Honduran soil by foreign insurgents is always prevented," Contreras said.

The agreement reached in Guatemala this August grew out of the peace plan first proposed by Costa Rican president Oscar Arias in February. According to Contreras, Arias's plan was incomplete as it aimed to solve the Central American problems on a domestic level and ignored the global importance of the region.

"Central America and the Persian Gulf are the two hottest spots in the world right now," said Contreras. "We have to develop an international perspective about our problems, since they have been partially fueled by foreign funds."

Although the Guatemalan accord is not perfect, Honduras is fully committed to the initiative, Contreras said. "We are participating in good faith, and I see reason for cautious optimism in the negotiations already underwayin El Salvador and the announcement by PresidentOrtega of a unilateral cease-fire," he said.

The U.S. has supported the new initiativereluctantly, but is concerned about the Sandinistagovernment's strong ties to the Soviet Union.

Contreras said that one of Hondouras's mostsignificant problems is its large number ofrefugees. More than 200,000 citizens of otherCentral American nations are living in Hondourastoday, Contreras said, and peace will not beobtained unless these refugees are ultimately ableto return to their homelands.

The 45-year-old foreign minister said that thepeace initiative is only a beginning, and theredevelopment of Central America is still adistant goal.

"The perfection of a democratic system israrely achieved. It takes a great deal of effortand a great deal of time, so we must continue tobe patient in Central America," he said