§ Mr. PageTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the United States bipartisan accord on central America; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarThe accord announced on 24 March explicitly offers United States support for the peace and democratisation process in central America, and for the goals embodied in the Esquipulas II agreement. It puts emphasis on the need for democratisation in Nicaragua, and calls for progress towards strengthening civilian leadership, the defence of human rights and the consolidation of free, open, safe political processes elsewhere in the region. It calls for credible standards of compliance, strict timetables and effective means of verification. It supports the use of "incentives and disincentives" to achieve these United States policy objectives.
United States policy is of course a matter for the United States. But we have consistently supported the peace process and we welcome the United States Government's new diplomatic strategy. For our part, we shall continue to urge on all parties the need for early and full compliance with the commitments which the central American presidents freely undertook in the Esquipulas, Alajuela and El Tesoro summits.