A Study On The Contadora Group And The Central American Peace Process (1983-1986)

The Sandinista Revolution overthrew the 40 years of dictatorship of the Somoza in 1979 in Nicaragua, thus it caused the intense reaction of the whole Central America, especially in El Salvador and Guatemala. Different forms of democratic movements appeared in Central American countries, to reverse this situation, the U.S. government began to adjust the policy of Central America, especially the President Ronald Reagan, he launched the "strong" policy, and this contributed to the tension and instability of the Central American situation, and this situation was called Central American Crisis. Mexico, Colombia, Panama and Venezuela's foreign ministers held a meeting to discuss the problem of Central American Crisis on January 8 to 9, 1983,since then, the four countries undertook diplomatic activities collectively,so the four countries was called "Contadora".The mediation of Contadora was mainly reflected by a series of files: the four countries signed the declaration of cancun of central American peace on July 17, 1983, reiterated and put forward the basic principles and concrete suggestions to solve the problem of Central America. In early September 1983, Contadora held with five central American foreign ministers' meeting, through the "intention to file", "the first stable situation in Central America and Central America five basic measures that should be taken to reach an agreement". In 1987, the central American negotiators passed the "Arias plan", this project also means Central America a peaceful solution to the crisis.At the same time, Contadora mediation also exists some obstacles, from the international environment and Contadora aspects carries on the analysis of the limitation of their own, mainly the United States and the Soviet union to the attitudes of Contadora and to fight for Central America; Conflicts between central American countries, including the pro-american "iron triangle" of el Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, on how to solve the crisis of Central America were at sixes and sevens, and Nicaragua and other exist in such aspects as ideological differences between China and the United States..for some problems solution is different, this is its own limitations.Through the above analysis, we may safely drew the conclusion that, although there were mediation obstacles, the peaceful solution to the central American crisis had positive role.