Office of the Historian

164. Memorandum From Robert Pastor of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) and the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Aaron)1

Washington, December 8, 1978

SUBJECT

  • Nicaragua Update

Following Somoza’s acceptance of the three FAO conditions (lift state of siege, amnesty, lift censorship), the FAO agreed to direct negotiations which are going on at this moment. Even if the objective to set up a plebiscite fails, the achievement of getting the two sides to sit down together is nothing short of remarkable. The NG, again led by Bowdler, employed extraordinary skill and imagination to bring about this event, 64 days after the mediation effort began. (C)

The first session is apparently being dominated by a debate over the amnesty which Somoza stated could not be instituted for 20 to 30 days because of the need for Congressional action. The NG has provided both sides with the schedule and agenda in order to target the completion of the talks for December 20. (C)

President Carazo of Costa Rica has agreed, at our request, to urge his colleagues—Perez and Torrijos—to issue a joint declaration reconfirming their support for the mediation effort and to rein in the Sandinistas. (C)

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 35, Nicaragua, 10/78–12/78. Confidential.↩