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• * Daily Pase\ToT*rc T lio-ncf ttwr- . Nebraskan 2 L Dl ww D V Edited by Brandon Loomis Wednesdayj February 28,1990 Bush administration to lift Nicaraguan sanctions WASHINGTON - The Bush ad ministration, savoring the defeat of leftist President Daniel Ortega, prom ised Tuesday to lift sanctions soon against Nicaragua and assemble “significant and meaningful” aid to rebuild its shattered economy. President Bush met at the White House with congressional leaders including Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., who said posl-Ortcga assistance probably would cost hundreds of millions of dollars over five years. Nunn suggested creating an “emerging democracy account” of foreign aid for countries such as Nica ragua, Panama and the fledgling democracies in Eastern Europe. The White House said it liked the idea if it meant the administration would have more flexibility in the way the United States dispenses for eign aid. To the surprise of the administra tion, Ortega was defeated in Sun day’s presidential election by opposi tion newspaper publisher Violcta Chamorro, who was backed by the United States. The vote sets the stage for the first democratic transfer of power ever in Nicaragua, with Chamorro taking office April 25 from Ortega’s revolu tionary government. Bush summoned congressional leaders to the White House to chart a new strategy for dealing with a coun try viewed for a decade as a U.S. adversary. “The president indicated that there would be a dramatic and swift change in policy,” said Sen. Alan Cranston, D-Calif., the assistant Democratic leader, after meeting with Bush. “What we can do in terms of aid depends upon what Congress can find, along with the administration, in a very tight budget situation.” Without providing a figure, White House press secretary Marlin Fitzwa ter promised that U.S. assistance would be substantial. “The United States’ commitment is strong and enduring,” Filzwater said. ‘‘We will develop an aid pack age for Nicaragua that will be signifi cantand meaningful. Thedemocratic aspirations of the Nicaraguan people deserve our support and they will have it.” Filzwater said the United States was examining ‘‘the full range of economic options aimed at reinte grating Nicaragua into the interna tional economy.’' He said Bush would discuss Nica ragua’s needs this weekend at a meet ing with Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu, whose country has become the world’s largest donor of foreign aid. Nunn also said U.S. aid foremerg ing democracies should be sizable. ‘‘After all, we spent trillions and trillions of dollars, hundreds of bil lions of dollars, defending the free world waiting for this day, and now that we’ve arrived at this day, I think we should not be shortsighted in our approach,” Nunn said. In a message that seemed primar ily aimed at the Contra rebels long supported by the Reagan and Bush administrations, Filzwater urged re straint in the post-election period. He reiterated a U.S. call that there be an immediate cease-fire ‘‘under U.N. supervision and that it be striedy re spected by all sides.” ‘‘We have always anticipated that the resistance would demobilize and repatriate under conditions of politi cal freedom and personal security,” Fit/ water said. In contrast to the skepticism the White House has applied to state ments by Ortega, the administration appeared eager to accept his promise of a smooth transition of power. “We have the words of President Ortega about wanting a peaceful and effective transition, and we fully expect that to occur,” Fit/water said. At the State Department, spokes woman Margaret Tulwiler said that prior suggestions of Sandinista un willingness to turn over power were made in the heat of the campaign and that, so far as the administration knows, no such statements have been made since the elections. Fit/water said the administration would respond to the changes in Nicaragua's government with a se ries of steps designed to normalize relations. "We intend to lift economic sane lions soon,” he said, referring to a series of economic and trade sanc tions in place since 1985. Filzwatcr also said that “we would expect to return an ambassador there” and that “we arc looking at U.S. economic assistance.” Bush also invited Chamorro to send economic aides to Washington to i discuss the aid package and economic restructuring, Fil/walcr said. Ortega demands Contra disbanding before peaceful transfer of power MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Presi dent Daniel Ortega demanded the immediate disbanding of U.S. backed Contra rebels and set tough conditions Tuesday for a peaceful transfer of power to the coalition that won the elections. *1A change of government does not mean the end of the revolu tion,” he told thousands of cheer ing supporters after a meeting of Sandinista party leaders. Ortega said the party would relinquish power because of the election loss Sunday, but would defend the gains of the revolution. ‘‘The Sandinista National Lib eration Front demands the imme diate demobilization and disarm ing of the Contras so there can be a peaceful transition,” he read from a statement by the party leader ship. It said the Sandinistas would “defend the integrity and profes sionalism of the army and the po lice forces.” President-elect Violeta Barrios de Chamorro and her United Na tional Opposition alliance have promised to eliminate the military draft and reduce the size of the armed forces. Control of the military and po lice is considered the most delicate issue in a power transfer. They are closely identified with the Sandin ista party and the army is known as the Sandinista People’s Army, not the Nicaraguan army. Rafael Solis, a military com mander, said earlier Tuesday the Sandinistas would not give up control of the armed forces and police unless the Contras were disbanded. Rank-and-file Sandinistas held demonstrations and some de nounced the election results, while grudgingly saying they would ac cept the party’s loss. Others urged Ortega not to give up power. Solis said of the Contras: “They have to come back without arms. l ms is a necessity in Nicaragua. We need this in order to continue discussions about our army.” He urged Chamorro’s coalition to press for disbanding the Con tras, who have been fighting, par ticularly with the backing of the former Reagan administration, to overthrow the leftist Sandinistas since 1981. Chamorro took 55 percent of the vote to Onega’s 40, with re turns from 82 percent of the total precincts counted. Solis said during a break in the Sandinista meeting that “if UNO decides to privatize the banking system it could be an irresponsible act that starts a war.” Solis said control of the military and police would have to be nego tiated, but he did not elaborate. One of Chamorro’s closest advisers, former Contra leader Alfredo Cesar, said Monday the question of the armed forces was the most crucial point of the transi tion. Exxon indicted for oil spill, could be fined $700 million WASHINGTON - The Justice Department announced a five-count indictment against Exxon Corp. and its shipping subsidiary Tuesday night in the Exxon Valdez oil spill that fouled Alaska’s coast last year. U.S. Attorney General Dick Thornburgh and deputies said that if Exxon is convicted on all counts, criminal fines could total as much as $1.6 million. However, the government could also seek as much as $700 million more under federal laws that allow recovery of twice the amount of the proven loss caused by the spill, U.S. Attorney Mark Davis of Alaska told a Justice Department news conference. Thornburgh said the indictment was presented to the grand jury after a proposed plea deal fell through. However, he did not rule out the possibility of a deal in the future. Assistant Attorney General Dick Stewart said the federal indictment, brought by a grand jury in Anchor age, accused Exxon Corp. and its shipping subsidiary of two felonies and three misdemeanors. The felonies, each of which carry a maximum fine of $500,(XX), ac cuse the company of violating the Port and Waterways Safety Act r and the Dangerous Cargo Acl. The latlcr charge alleges lhal Exxon “willfully and knowingly violated a regulation prohibiting any per son from being engaged on a crew if such person is known to be physi cally or mentally incapable of” performing his or her duties. Joseph Hazelwood, captain of the Exxon Valdez, faces criminal charges in a separate action in Alaska, accused of being drunk and letting his ship gel away from him. The three misdemeanor counts accuse Exxon of: •Violating the Clean Water Acl by illegally discharging pollutants into Prince William Sound. •Unlawfully discharging refuse, the oil. •Violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a count which stems from the deaths of more than 36,(XX) birds as a result of oil pollution. Each of the misdemeanor counts carries a maximum penalty of $200,0(X), the J usucc officials said. The Exxon Valdez accident resulted in the worst oil spill in U.S. history with 11 million gal lons of crude soiling Prince Wil liam Sound and long stretches of Alaska’s coastal waters and shore line. Netfraskan Editor Amy Edwards Graphics Editor John Bruca 472*1766 Photo Chief Dave Hansen Managing Editor Ryan Steeves Professional Adviser Don Walton 473-7301 The Daily Nebraskan(USPS 144-080) is published by the UNL Publications Board, Ne braska Union 34,1400 R St., Lincoln, NE, Monday through Friday during the academic year, weekly during summer sessions. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by phoning 472-1783 between 9 a m. and 5 p.m Monday througn Friday. The public also has access to the Publications Board. For information, contact Pam Hem, 472-2588 Subscription price is $45 for one year Postmaster Send address changes to the Daily Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34, 1400 R St.,Lincoln, NE 68588-0448 Second class postage paid at Lincoln, NE. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1990 DAILY NEBRASKAN Gorbachev convinces legislature to approve more powerful post MOSCOW - A determined and at times angry Mikhail Gorbachev on Tuesday rammed through the Soviet legislature his proposal for a more powerful presidency that progressive lawmakers warned could become a dictatorship. Gorbachev, his voice rising as his temper frayed, accused his critics of engaging in “cheap demagoguery.” The Soviet leader recognized law makers and revoked their right to speak apparently at whim during the often-stormy debate. He hailed the Supreme Soviet’s final and overwhelming approval of his proposal as a “a great political event.” But lawmaker Leonid Sukhov, a Ukrainian taxi driver, warned: "The way the voting went today is the same way presidential power will be.” Alter only two days of discussion, spread over two weeks, the Supreme Soviet voted 347-24 with 43 absten tions to approve creation in principle of a national presidency with a five year term, to replace the government post now held by Gorbachev, whose formal title is Supreme Soviet chair man. The bill was remanded to commit tees to consider the dozens of amend ments offered by deputies during debate. Subject to final approval by the legislature’s parent body, the Con gress of People’s Deputies, the presi dent will be granted powers to veto laws, unilaterally declare states of emergency, and name the prime minister, according to a copy of the bill shown to Western reporters. Gorbachev, who chaired the legis lature’s proceedings, emphasized he has not yet been elected president and said he has even considered refusing the office, but few expect the 58 year-old Communist Party chief not to be chosen. The presidency would give Gor bachcv a new and stable power base at a time when his 20 million-mem ber party’s popularity and prestige arc waning. Progressive lawmakers strongly objected to concentrating so much power in one leader’s hands and what they called Gorbachev’s undue haste in pressing the issue on the Supreme Soviet. But other legislators said mounting economic, social and eth nic woes prove the need for a strong leader. -4 4 We need a person who can have real power . . . the quicker the better. Ubaidullaeva Soviet lawmaker -9 9 “We arc tired of social tension. When arc you going to put die coun try in order?’ ’ lawmaker Rano Ubaid ullacva of Uzbekistan said her con stituents were demanding. “We need a person who can have real power.. the quicker the better.’’ But Anatoly Sobchak rejected the demand lor “a strong hand” voiced by some. We arc deciding the ques tion ol appointing a nationwide gen darme,” the Leningrad jurist said. He told the 542-member legislature: “All our decisions can be crossed out by the president.” Sobchak and another member of the progressive Inter-Regional Group of parliamentarians, Sergei Stankcvich of Moscow, said the new presidency would lilt the balance of power to ward the head of state to the detri ment of the new working legislature, which has functioned for less than a year. “We know all too well from the history of our country how dangerous is the concentration and super con centration of power and authority in one place,” said Slankcvich.whohas studied the U.S. Constitution. Visibly slung by some lawmakers insinuations that the new office was being tailor-made for him, Gorbachev exclaimed: “This is not serious. This is cheap demagoguery! ’ ’ “We’re talking about the presi dent’s power, about constitutional changes,” he said. “What does Gor bachev have to do with this?” He repeated previous assurances that there would be more than one candidate for the office, and added: “Sometimes I have an outrageous thought, in order to prove that this (the political system) is not being adjusted for somebody ... to decline if my name is on the list of candi dates.” ... But he said such an act would nc “cowardice.” The new presidency, he said, was vital for the success ol his economic and social reform drive, known as “perestroika.” According to the draft bill on the presidency shown to reporters, the holder of the office must be a Soviet citizen at least 35 years old. The presi dent will be directly elected by the voters, the bill stipulates, but the ju rist who presented it to the Supreme Soviet said the procedure will be dif ferent the first time. Vladimir Kudryavtsev, a vice presi dent of the Academy of Sciences, said the first president will be elected by the Congress to a four-year term, because it would take too long to prepare a nationwide election. The president’s term would thus expire along with those of the 2,250 mem bers of the Congress, who were elected last year.