[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 67 (Wednesday, May 25, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: May 25, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO ALFREDO CRISTIANI, PRESIDENT OF EL SALVADOR
Mr. DURENBERGER. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate an event
that will take place in San Salvador, El Salvador on June 1, 1994. That
event is the second peaceful transfer of power from a freely elected
civilian to another as President of El Salvador. The first time that
this occurred was 5 years ago, on June 1, 1989. The President of El
Salvador inaugurated on that date was Alfredo Cristiani.
The political, economic, and social progress that has taken place in
El Salvador during the last 5 years, while Mr. Cristiani has been
President, is a triumph of the human spirit over extreme adversity. It
is in many respects the direct result of the foresight and courage of
one man--Alfredo Cristiani. To fashion the present peace required the
patience, trust and fortitude of all factions, especially the FMLN,
ARENA, and the Christian Democrats. However, without the leadership and
guidance provided by President Cristiani, this nation might still be
embroiled in destructive guerrilla warfare.
Alfredo Cristiani was born in San Salvador on November 22, 1947. His
family had prospered in the coffee trade and in pharmaceuticals and
cotton. He graduated from the American School in San Salvador, and in
1968 he received a degree in Business Administration from Georgetown
University in Washington, DC.
In early years, he was known more for his athletic skills than for
his ability as a statesman. He was a motorcycle enthusiast who
demonstrated his abilities by winning a national motorcross
championship. He was a member of the El Salvador National Basketball
Team and at one time held a national squash title. He is a licensed
pilot, and even today flies his own helicopter.
A man with deep family values, he has been married to Margarita Llach
de Cristiani since 1970. They have three children--Alejandro, Javier,
and Claudia Margarite.
Following in the family tradition, in 1979 Alfredo Cristiani became
the head of the coffee exporters association of El Salvador--an
industry that even today accounts for approximately 45 percent of that
country's exports. However, 2 years later, an event occurred that
changed President Cristiani's life and helped to shape the history of
El Salvador.
In that year, he was taken hostage by antigovernment forces and held
for two weeks, along with other businessmen, in the Salvadoran Ministry
of Economics. The ordeal ended when Cristiani helped to negotiate his
own release and that of his fellow hostages. At least one of his
captors was so impressed with the man that he later sought employment
with Mr. Cristiani.
In the same year, 1981, Roberto D'Aubuisson, an ultraconservative and
former army officer, founded the Nationalist Republican Alliance,
better known as ARENA. In its early years, the party was dominated by
extremist elements that were accused of a number of crimes.
Alfredo Cristiani joined ARENA in 1984, and from the beginning it was
his objective to reshape the party and to broaden its base. He has,
over the years, made important progress toward this objective. ARENA
now numbers among its members anticommunist farmers, professionals, and
young middle-class businessmen.
In 1988, the ARENA party won a upset victory over the Christian
Democrats. In the same year, Mr. Cristiani was elected to the
Legislative Assembly which, as a result of the election, came under the
control of the ARENA party.
In the presidential election of 1989, the ARENA party nominated
Cristiani, who had gained the reputation of being a moderate, as their
party's candidate to run against the Christian Democratic candidate,
Fidel Chavez Mena.
Mr. Cristiani's campaign was a departure from the predictable,
extreme right-wing philosophy of the ARENA party's founder. As a
candidate, Mr. Cristiani advocated conciliation and dialog with the
FMLN. He conceded that the political system did cause injustices that
needed to be corrected. He did not advocate abolition of the land
reform program, but instead suggested how it could be improved.
Mr. Cristiani received 53.8 percent of the vote in the first round--a
clear majority, and a decisive victory over his nearest rival, Chavez
Mena. Though the FMLN, the coalition of five leftist guerrilla groups,
boycotted the election, President Cristiani based his administration on
resolving the issues that divided El Salvador. He promised to end the
civil war, improve the country's human rights record, and rejuvenate
the economy.
The road to a negotiated peace was not easy and was set back by the
guerrillas's military offensive of late 1989 and the killing of six
Jesuit priests by elements of the military. In July 1990 in San Jose,
Costa Rica, the Cristiani government and the FMLN agreed to respect
human rights and to end kidnapping, wrongful detention and unlawful
arrests. Both sides pledged to honor the freedoms of speech and press,
and to permit the right of association, including the recognition of
labor rights. The two sides also agreed to the formation of a United
Nations mission to monitor conditions in El Salvador once a cease-fire
was effected.
In September of the same year, again in San Jose, an agreement was
reached on electoral reform. The reforms were implemented generally in
the March 1991 legislative and municipal elections, and included
greater registration and voting, enlargement of the Legislative
Assembly and a limit on campaign expenditures.
Still further progress was made with the signing of the Mexico
Accords of April 1991. This landmark agreement, signed in Mexico City,
called for amendments to the Constitution of El Salvador subordinating
the military to civilian control, reform of the judicial system, and
further improvement of the electoral process. The Accords also called
for the establishment of a Truth Commission to investigate and report
on human rights violations since 1980.
In December 1991 in New York City, the two sides agreed that a cease-
fire, monitored by the United Nations, would be implemented beginning
February 1, 1992. Prior to the start of the cease-fire, the government
and the FMLN signed a comprehensive Peace Accord in Mexico City that
included many of the elements of prior agreements, including
strengthening of the electoral process, reform of the judiciary, and
subjection of the armed forces to civilian control.
A major step toward peace, the comprehensive Mexico City Peace Accord
completed in December and signed February 1992, required that the
Salvadoran army be reduced by 50 percent, that a National Civilian
Police force be established made up of members from all the warring
factions, that the counterinsurgency Immediate Reaction Infantry
Battalions be disbanded, and that the guerrilla forces be demobilized.
Peace officially came to El Salvador in December 1992, along with the
formal demobilization of the guerilla forces. February 1993 saw the
beginnings of the National Civilian Police Force and the disabanding of
the last of the Salvadoran army's counterinsurgency battalions.
In July of last year, top members of the Salvadoran military were
retired, fulfilling a promise made by President Cristiani to the United
Nations. Included in those leaving were the Minister of Defense and the
Vice Minister of Defense.
Prior to the Presidential election that took place this March, the
once-outlawed FMLN guerrilla organization was recognized as a political
party and fully participated in all levels of the election.
For the presidency, the FMLN joined with the Democratic Convergence,
CD, and the National Revolutionary Movement, MNR, to support the
leftist Coalition candidate, Ruben Zamora. Mr. Zamora received 25.6
percent of the vote in the first round of balloting and 32 percent of
the vote in the April runoff.
What lies ahead for El Salvador is not known. But President Cristiani
has deinitely sown the seeds for national reconciliation. He has also
seen that institutions are in place--such as the National Academy of
Public Safety, the Civilian National Police Force, the Office of
Ombudsman for Human Rights, and the National Judicial Council--that
will continue and reinforce the progress toward a lasting peace.
Bringing peace to El Salvador was the central and dominant theme of
President Cristiani's Administration--an accomplishment without equal.
However, it was not the only problem addressed during this presidency.
During the civil war, the economy of El Savlador was a shambles.
Unemployment was running at a 50 percent rate. Education was neglected
and health care was sadly lacking. President Cristiani instituted
programs aimed at improving the lot of the Salvadoran people in each of
these areas.
To strengthen the economy, Cristiani proposed policies for fostering
free market enterprises and privatization of certain public entities. A
first step in this direction has been privatization of the banking
system. Other ineffective state-owned enterprises are targeted for
privatization.
Joining with other countries in Central America, El Salvador now
belongs to a free trade zone similar to that created by the North
America Free Trade Agreement.
Land reform has continued. Though the pace may not have been to
everyone's satisfaction, the fears that land reform would be abandoned
have been proved baseless.
Grain production has increased and has reached record levels,
providing employment and an additional source of income. The export of
nontraditional agricultural products have steadily increased.
The economic indicators have evidenced the improvement in the economy
of El Salvador. The GNP has been on a steady upward course. In 1990,
the first full year of Cristiani's presidency, the economic growth rate
was 3.3 percent. In 1992 the economic growth rate had risen to 4.5
percent--and the rate for 1994 is projected to be 5 percent.
Educational, social, and health programs are being implemented.
Schools closed during the guerrilla conflict are being opened and new
schools are being built. An immunization program begun at the end of
1992 resulted in approximately 80 percent of the children under 5 years
of age being vaccinated.
New projects are under way to modernize and extend the distribution
of electricity. The drinking water system is being improved and access
to telephone service is being extended.
President Cristiani's wife, Margarita, has made her own contribution
to El Salvador's progress. Aware of the deep needs of her country's
people, especially for the poor, she worked toward the creation of an
office that would guard the rights and unity of the Salvadoran family.
In November 1989, the National Secretariat for the Family was created
and is presently engaged in programs for women and children. Mrs.
Cristiani continues to coordinate this office.
It is my understanding that Mrs. Cristiani now plans to found a
Children's Learning Museum in El Salvador. This museum would provide an
interactive learning experience for children, especially in the areas
of science and technology.
What a fitting addition to President Cristiani's legacy of building a
peaceful and prosperous future for El Salvador. Mrs. Cristiani has
contributed to this legacy--and will continue to contribute--by
investing in El Salvador's most precious resource and greatest hope for
the future--the children.
President Cristiani has not solved all of the problems of El
Salvador. Many remain. But for all the problems that still remain to be
solved, El Salvador is better for having had Alfredo Cristiani as its
President.
The seeds of progress sown during his presidency will only nurture
and grow in peace continues. A return to guerrilla warfare will destroy
all the progress that has been made.
Alfredo Cristiani is a good husband and father, an instrument of
peace, a man for all seasons. He has accomplished what Simon Bolivar
and Bernardo O'Higgins were unable to. He brought peace where there was
war. He sought the end of strife and bloodshed. He was a force for
reconciliation and reason, and he brought lasting honor to himself and
to the people of El Salvador.
Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.
Mr. President, how many minutes do I have remaining if I am to speak
for 10 minutes?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has slightly over 4 minutes.
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