Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 13, 1990 TAG: 9003133066
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: The Baltimore Sun
DATELINE: SANTIAGO, CHILE LENGTH: Short
During more than 90 minutes of talks at the presidential palace in Santiago, Chile, Ortega reportedly assured Quayle that he would turn over power as scheduled April 25 to President-elect Violeta Chamorro.
According to U.S. officials, Ortega also said that all ministers in the new government would be appointed by Chamorro.
Comparing the transfer of power in his country with the recent transition in Chile, Ortega said, according to U.S. officials, "Ours will be even more peaceful than Chile's."
For his part, Quayle reiterated the administration's opposition to a unilateral disbanding of the Contra rebels.
Aides said Quayle protested what he said was a continuing pattern of abuses by the Sandinistas, including, he said, helicopter attacks on Contra soldiers observing the cease-fire and intimidation of opposition political supporters.
The two men were in Chile for the inauguration of Chilean President Patricio Aylwin.
The discussions, described as friendly by Quayle aides, were the first between Ortega and an American president or vice president since the Carter administration. U.S. policy for much of the 1980s forbade meetings with Ortega so long as the Nicaraguans refused to talk with the Contras.
by CNB