DATE=3/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246483
TITLE=CLINTON/GUATEMALA (L)
BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS
DATELINE=GUATEMALA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS EXPRESSED REGRET OVER PAST U-S 
SUPPORT  FOR MILITARY DICTATORS IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND HAS SAID 
THIS SHOULD  NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.  AS VOA'S GREG FLAKUS REPORTS 
FROM GUATEMALA  CITY, THE PRESIDENT IS NOW TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO
IMPROVE CURRENT RELATIONS WITH WHAT HE CALLS BROTHER NATIONS.  



TEXT:  SPEAKING AT A WELCOME CEREMONY AND AT A ROUNDTABLE HERE IN
GUATEMALA CITY ON WEDNESDAY, PRESIDENT CLINTON MADE REFERENCE TO 
THE  U-S ROLE HERE DURING THE COLD WAR.  HE SAID U-S BLIND 
SUPPORT FOR REPRESSIVE REGIMES WAS A MISTAKE.  

IN REFERENCE TO A RECENT TRUTH COMMISSION REPORT WHICH PUT HEAVY 
BLAME ON THE UNITED STATES FOR ATROCITIES COMMITTED IN GUATEMALA,
MR  CLINTON SAID THE UNITED STATES IS COMMITTED TO SHEDDING LIGHT
ON SUCH DARK EVENTS OF THE PAST IN ORDER TO ASSURE THAT THEY ARE 
NEVER REPEATED.

PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID THE UNITED STATES IS NOW READY TO PLAY A 
NEW, CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN GUATEMALA TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF
A MORE PROSPEROUS, JUST AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. 

                 /// CLINTON ACT ///           

         I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT AFTER I LEAVE CENTRAL 
         AMERICA, THE  UNITED STATES DEVELOP WITH EVERY COUNTRY 
         THE MOST SPECIFIC POSSIBLE  PLAN FOR WHAT IT IS THAT YOU
         WANT TO ACHIEVE THAT WE CAN HELP YOU  ACHIEVE.  WHETHER 
         IT IS IN DEALING WITH THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM OF WIDOWS AND
         ORPHANS, THE EDUCATION OF THE CHILDREN, THE NEED FOR THE
         ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN, THE NEED FOR GREATER 
         EFFORTS WITH  INDIGEOUS GROUPS,  THE NEED TO GO FURTHER 
         IN THE SEARCH FOR HUMAN  RIGHTS, THE RULE OF LAW, HOW TO
         COME TO TERMS WITH THE ISSUES IN THE COMMISSION REPORT.

                         /// END ACT ///

IN REGARD TO IMMIGRATION, THE PRESIDENT SAID THE U-S GOVERNMENT 
IS WORKING TO DEVELOP RULES THAT WILL BE JUST AND FAIR FOR 
IMMIGRANTS FROM ALL PARTS OF THE REGION. IN THE PAST, HE 
ACKNOWLEDGED, U-S  POLICY HAD FAVORED IMMIGRANTS FROM THE LEFTIST
SANDINISTA GOVERNMENT  IN NICARAGUA, WHILE EXCLUDING MANY PEOPLE 
FROM GUATEMALA AND EL SALVADOR WHO SOUGHT ASYLUM FROM RIGHTWING 
REPRESSION.  

IN A MEETING WITH REPORTERS LATER IN THE DAY, U-S IMMIGRATION AND
NATURALIZATION SERVICE DIRECTOR DORIS MEISNER, WHO HAS 
ACCOMPANIED MR  CLINTON ON THIS TRIP, SAID NEW RULES ARE BEING 
DEVELOPED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.  SHE ALSO SAID THE NUMBER OF 
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CENTRAL AMERICA WHO CURRENTLY FACE 
DEPORTATION IS ONE THOUSAND.  

IN CONTRAST, SHE NOTED, 15 THOUSAND CENTRAL AMERICANS WERE 
DEPORTED LAST  YEAR.  THE REDUCTION, SHE SAID, DEMONSTRATES THE 
RESTRAINT BEING  SHOWN BY THE UNITED STATES IN ALLOWING MANY 
REFUGEES FROM HURRICANE MITCH TO REMAIN IN THE COUNTRY FOR AN 
EXTENDED PERIOD.  (SIGNED)



N EB/PT

10-Mar-99 9:43 PM EST (0243 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.