Diplomats Discuss Central America

The future of democracy in Central America looks promising, said three top Central American diplomats in a panel discussion Saturday afternoon at the Kennedy School of Government.

The speakers said Central America has finally moved beyond its previous period of bloodshed and into a new era of human rights and economic development.

An audience of about 80 turned out to hear the diplomats discuss current political issues and movements toward democracy in their own countries.

Jorge Salaverry, chief adviser to the Nicaraguan Embassy, said the election of President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro in February 1990 signalled popular support for democratic reforms.

"The Nicaraguan people decided that it was time to have a change in the government of Nicaragua, and President Chamorro came to office in the most supervised elections in Central America," Salaverry said.

Salaverry predicted that with Chamorro's leadership, the bloodshed and the hyper-inflation of the '80s will end.

"Our policy of national reconciliation and support of the different groups in Nicaraguan society will allow us to bring Nicaragua out of the hole we fell into in the decade of the '80s," Salaverry said.

Jorge Ramon Hernandez Alcerro, Honduran ambassador to the U.S., said movements in Latin America foreshadowed the worldwide shift to wards democracy.

According to Hernandez, "Latin America anticipated changes in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union where authoritarian governments are being replaced by more democratic forms."

Hernandez said democratic shifts in Honduras are occurring in concert with economic development and a more supervised role of the military.

"Success of the modernization process depends on spreading the benefits to the entire population in the short and the long term," he said.

Juan Jose Caso Fanjul, Guatelmalan ambassador to the U.S., said equality is a political goal in Guatemala as well.

"Total peace can have permanence only if the government strengthens the legal system so that it applies to all citizens equally," Caso said.

The foreign ministers also expressed their desire for continued U.S. support in their drive for political change.

"Our commitment to democracy is what is bringing us together," said Hernandez.

Jorge I. Dominguez, moderator and professor of government, ended the forum on a positive note, saying that the present political situation indicates "a moment of hope in Central America."

Seven student organizations co-sponsored the event, including the Harvard Forum on Hispanic Affairs, the Institute of Politics' Student Advisory Committee, and the Harvard Foundation.