[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 10 (Monday, March 15, 1999)]
[Pages 378-380]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to the Community in Posoltega, Nicaragua

March 8, 1999

    Thank you very much. President Aleman, Mayor Zeledon, Mayor 
Palacios, Bishop

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Vivas. To our school director, Julia Martinez Toruno, and all the 
children who are here; to the members of the Government of Nicaragua and 
the National Assembly; to the--[inaudible]--Boys Choir and to the young 
woman who sang the national anthems of both nations, the granddaughter 
of former President Violeta Chamorro; and to all the people of 
Nicaragua: thank you for making us feel so very welcome today.
    My fellow Americans and I are moved and humbled to be here in 
Posoltega, where the terrible mudslide took so many sons and daughters, 
mothers and fathers, neighbors and friends. I have come to pay my 
respects to those who lost their lives and to reaffirm the support of 
the American people for those who were spared and for your rebuilding. 
In this decade, with courage and strength, you have created a new 
Nicaragua. You have earned the world's admiration, and now you deserve 
the world's support in this moment of need.
    Somos humanos, y nos ayudamos. We are brothers and sisters, 
neighbors and friends. We must help each other.
    I thank President Aleman for recognizing the work of the United 
States to provide food, shelter, and health care; to renew the farms and 
small businesses; to rebuild the roads and bridges and homes. I thank 
our Armed Forces for all they have done, including building a new health 
center in Wiwili, north of here. Now our Agency for International 
Development will provide equipment, training, and immunizations for this 
health center and others in Nicaragua, so that your people can get back 
on their feet and stay healthy as they rebuild their lives.
    Today we have brought 3,000 pounds of school supplies for the 
children of Posoltega, donated by organizations all across America and 
by our own workers at the White House. I know that you need more 
temporary shelters until permanent homes can be built. I know you need 
to speed the discovery and the removal of landmines left from the war, 
because the hurricanes may have moved them and made them more dangerous. 
With these tasks, too, we will help.
    I know that more is needed, and urgently. I have asked our Congress 
for $956 million to support our reconstruction effort here. I am 
grateful that leaders in our Congress from both political parties have 
expressed support, and I thank the Members of the United States Congress 
who have come to Nicaragua with me and are sitting over here--Senator 
Graham and Congressmen Becerra, Deutsch, and Reyes.
    This aid will help to speed the rebuilding of homes, farms, 
businesses, and roads. It will help your Government to deliver aid 
better. It will allow us to send more Peace Corps volunteers. And I 
would like to thank the Peace Corps volunteers who are here today for 
their service in Nicaragua.
    As we see the dust in the wind today, it reminds us that you must 
rebuild in a way that helps you to manage the environment better by 
preserving trees that can help prevent a mudslide or curbing pollution 
that can cause temperatures to rise. We can avoid or lessen future 
catastrophes. We can manage the land and water and grow your economy, 
and I know you want to do that.
    To help you focus on reviving your economy, my aid package would 
also forgive or defer much of Nicaragua's--and Honduras'--debts to our 
Government. And I have asked our Congress to reduce trade barriers 
between the two of us so that all the people of Central America can work 
and grow their way back to prosperity and normal life.
    We have provided temporary immigration protection for Central 
Americans in our country, and I will seek a fair solution to all the 
immigration issues this tragedy has heightened.
    In times past, there was conflict, turbulence, and distrust between 
our two nations, but now we are bound together in our common commitment 
to democracy. And democracy will light the way to a brighter future for 
Nicaragua through government, through voluntary organizations, through 
local officials working with citizens who are participating in decisions 
that affect their lives, through leaders working to see that no one 
exploits this tragedy for personal gain and no one is left behind. And 
we will work with you every step of the way.

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    A hurricane, a mudslide--they can destroy lives; they can destroy 
homes; they can destroy a life's work. But they must not be allowed to 
destroy hope. Not so long ago, your country overcame a terrible war and 
emerged even stronger. You will overcome this adversity as well. And we 
will work with you every day until the task is done.
    Thank you. God bless you. Muchas gracias.

Note: The President spoke at 2 p.m. in the outdoor field at Jose Dolores 
Toruno Lopez High School. In his remarks, he referred to President 
Arnoldo Aleman of Nicaragua; Mayor Felicita Zeledon of Posoltega; Mayor 
Eligio Palacios of Chichigalpa; Monsignor Bosco Vivas, Bishop of Leon; 
and Maria Andres Chamorro, who sang the national anthems.