[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 141 (Monday, October 3, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1650
 
  RECOGNIZING CONTRIBUTION OF PRESIDENT ALFREDO CRISTIANI TO ACHIEVE 
                          PEACE IN EL SALVADOR

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 286) recognizing the 
contribution of President Alfredo Cristiani of El Salvador to achieve 
peace and national reconciliation in El Salvador.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 286

       Whereas President Alfredo Cristiani decisively led the 
     Government of El Salvador in successful negotiations which 
     ended that country's 12-year civil war;
       Whereas President Cristiani initiated and oversaw the 
     implementation of the important initial stages of the 1992 
     Peace Agreement, overcoming numerous obstacles in the 
     process;
       Whereas the people of the United States and El Salvador 
     recognize President Cristiani's historic achievement and the 
     central role he has played in promoting genuine national 
     reconciliation in El Salvador;
       Whereas President Cristiani ended his term of office on 
     June 1, 1994, transferring the powers of the presidency to 
     his democratically elected successor; and
       Whereas this smooth and unprecedented democratic transition 
     could not have taken place had it not been for the efforts of 
     President Cristiani to achieve peace in El Salvador: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) expresses its admiration for President Cristiani for 
     his unflagging service to the cause of peace and democracy in 
     El Salvador;
       (2) applauds the statesmanlike manner in which President 
     Cristiani worked closely with the Friends of the Peace 
     Process, the United States, the United Nations, and the rest 
     of the international community to achieve peace in El 
     Salvador;
       (3) applauds the efforts of President Cristiani to lay a 
     foundation of dignity and hope for the future of the 
     Salvadoran people; and
       (4) expresses its hope that President Cristiani will enjoy 
     success in his future endeavors and remain engaged in public 
     service on behalf of his country and on behalf of efforts to 
     advance peace, justice, and democracy throughout the Western 
     Hemisphere.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. de la Garza). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Menendez] will be recognized for 20 
minutes, and the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Smith] will be 
recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Menendez].
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. MENENDEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution 
commending former president Cristiani for his leadership in bringing 
peace to El Salvador. The 1992 peace accords would not have been 
possible without the courage and commitment of this man.
  I first met President Cristiani when I was the mayor of Union City, 
NJ. I was struck not only by his character as a statesman but by the 
respect he commanded among the Salvadorian community in my own city.
  Today we are commemorating a man who graduated from the American 
School in El Salvador and went on to study business administration here 
in Washington, DC. He personifies the close relations between our two 
countries.
  It is sometimes difficult for us to remember the bloodshed and 
turmoil that characterized El Salvador during its 12-year civil war. 
Killings, kidnappings, torture and arbitrary arrest were rampant. I 
personally heard of the atrocities from many Salvadorians who came to 
this country with tragic stories of families torn apart by war. Over 
75,000 people died.
  President Cristiani's inauguration on June 1, 1989, marked the first 
time in decades power passed peacefully from one elected president to 
another. President Cristiani used his political momentum to call for 
direct negotiations between the guerrillas and the government. This was 
the first step to real peace.
  In July 1990, the Cristiani government and the FMLN agreed to respect 
human rights and to end kidnapping, wrongful detention and unlawful 
arrests. Both sides promised to honor free speech and to permit free 
association. They agreed to bring the United Nations in to monitor the 
implementation of the peace accords once a successful cease-fire was in 
place.
  The United States was a partner in this process with technical 
assistance, moral support and funding. Our support for the process and 
commitment--together with the Salvadorian leadership--to peace, is 
bearing fruit.
  There is still much to be done. President Cristiani's successor, 
Armando Calderon Sol, is faced with demands to live up to the peace 
agreements and to complete the reconstruction process. However, he can 
build on initiatives begun by the statesman we are commending today.
  President Cristiani played an essential role in setting up important 
institutions such as the National Academy of Public Safety, the 
Civilian National Police Force, the Office of the Ombudsman for Human 
Rights, and the National Juridicial Council.
  Through his actions, President Cristiani proved to the people of El 
Salvador, the United States and to the world that he is not only a 
peacemaker but a builder of democracy in his nation.
  I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution and to welcome 
President Cristiani into the ranks of former presidents who did--and 
will continue--to fight for peace.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Ballenger], the prime 
sponsor of this resolution and a tremendous friend of Central America.
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for 
yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor El Salvador's 
former president, Alfredo Cristiani and urge the passage of my bill, H. 
Con. Res. 286.
  As a strong proponent of the democratic efforts of many Latin 
American nations, I had the unique opportunity to meet and forge a 
friendship with Mr. Alfredo Cristiani.
  As witnessed, El Salvador's 12-year civil war left the country in 
shambles. However, it was the strong leadership and guidance coupled 
with the courage demonstrated by Mr. Cristiani that rescued the 
country. Breaking from the ARENA party's original inflexible right-wing 
philosophy, Cristiani created a direct dialogue with the FMLN during 
his campaign and presidency, bringing opposing military and political 
rivals to the negotiating table. It was here that Mr. Cristiani began 
to lay the first cornerstones for peace in a war torn country. He 
promised to end the civil war, improve the country's human rights 
record, and rejuvenate the economy. These promises are on their way to 
becoming realities.
  One of Mr. Cristiani's first steps was the negotiation of electoral 
reforms and the successful implementation of voter registration efforts 
and a limit of campaign expenditures. However, further progress was 
reached with the signing of the Mexico Accords which created a cease-
fire. It was under these Accords that the Salvadoran army was reduced 
by 50 percent, a National Civilian Police force organized from all the 
warring factions and all guerrilla forces were demobilized. Peace had 
been achieved.
  After turning the military over to civilian control and reforming the 
judicial system, Mr. Cristiani turned his focus to the economy. With 
the country in shambles, Mr. Cristiani instituted policies for 
fostering free market enterprises and privatization of certain 
industries to improve the economic situation.
  Mr. Cristiani ended his term of office on June 1, 1994, with a 
peaceful transition of power. Although he will be missed, he will not 
be forgotten. His achievements are a part of history. We can not let 
this man's endeavors to restore democracy to El Salvador go unnoticed. 
Please join me in commemorating the role of Alfredo Cristiani in 
rebuilding El Salvador.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important 
resolution offered by my friend and colleague, a member of the 
Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs, the gentleman from North 
Carolina [Mr. Ballenger]. This resolution recognizes the pivotal role 
of El Salvador's President Alfredo Cristiani who completed his 5-year 
term on June 1. Mr. Cristiani, a businessman turned president, served 
his country with honor and dignity.
  It is clear to all, Mr. Speaker, that the tireless efforts of 
President Cristiani, often known as the peacemaker, helped to bring 
about the new era of hope and reconciliation that is now very much in 
evidence in El Salvador. As he had committed in his inaugural speech, 
Mr. Cristiani's preeminent goal was to end the bloody, 12-year-old 
civil war through negotiations and dialogue. He won the confidence of 
both sides of the conflict, and, having mediated a fragile peace 
accord, he was the first to extend a hand of reconciliation to his 
bitter enemies. Before the nation Mr. Cristiani acknowledged that the 
war was one rooted in repression and past injustice.
  As part of the negotiated peace process, Mr. Speaker, President 
Cristiani accomplished the unthinkable. He committed the Salvadoran 
military to a United Nations civilian Truth Commission, and he set his 
country on a course of reform--reform of the judiciary, the electoral 
process, land ownership and the economy. The Salvadoran government's 
record on compliance with the Accords is remarkable, and the FMLN's 
participation in governance is undeniable.
  Let this be clear, Mr. Speaker, that Mr. Cristiani set in motion a 
series of reforms which have allowed the Salvadoran economy to not only 
stabilize, but to boom. Significantly, Mr. Speaker, the political 
stability and the economic trends have encouraged foreign investments 
to put money into El Salvador, and the Salvadorans themselves have been 
very much a part of that renaissance. Mr. Cristiani handed over the 
reins of government with a multi-year growing economy whose GDP had 
grown about 5 percent for 2 years in a row, marked by an inflation 
which had plummeted.
  Mr. Speaker, the course of history in El Salvador and Central America 
itself was very positively transformed by this great statesman. It is 
fitting that the House of Representatives will stand today in honor of 
this remarkable man whose legacy is enormous, and I urge strong support 
for this resolution.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I commend our friend and colleague, the 
gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Ballenger], for his initiative in 
recognizing the historic contributions made by former President Alfredo 
Cristiani to the cause of peace in his native El Salvador.
  President Cristiani did what every politician aims to do: confound 
the skeptics. But, President Cristiani is more than a politician: The 
diplomatic skills and courageous leadership he displayed in bridging 
the chasm between extreme right and extreme left in El Salvador earns 
him great credit.
  His friends in this Congress--including the one-time skeptics--are 
justified in acknowledging his singular contribution to peace and 
reconciliation.
  Mr. Speaker, the greatest tribute we can pay to President Cristiani 
is to provide the maximum possible support for El Salvador. It is my 
hope that the Administration will continue to give special priority to 
private sector development and resettlement programs in El Salvador, 
which are critical to securing economic growth and a lasting peace.
  The greatest tribute that President Cristiani's compatriots can pay 
is to redouble their efforts to complete the work for national 
reconciliation and recovery begun by him and other courageous 
democrats.
  Again, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Ballenger], for 
this initiative and for his tireless work in advancing U.S. interests 
by supporting the democratic aspirations of the people of Central 
America.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I, too, yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Menendez] that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House Concurrent 
Resolution 286.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5, rule I, and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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