Borincano
13th September 2002, 02:02
Government could relax public policy on Vieques
SAN JUAN (AP) – In view of the possibility that the United States declares war on Iraq, the Puerto Rico government left the door open Thursday for a relaxation of its public policy that requests the immediate cessation of U.S. Navy military exercises in Vieques.
That was confirmed by Secretary of State Ferdinand Mercado, who insisted that the government could not close its mind to any request that the U.S. government makes regarding national security when Puerto Rico has a responsibility in the common defense.
"If the United States takes the decision to go to war, then we need to reevaluate all situations, not only in Puerto Rico, but in the United States and all allied countries, in terms of what actions to take," he told The Associated Press.
Mercado’s statements confirm the complaints of anti-Navy protestors who have accused the government during the past few months of revoking the public policy on Vieques.
Gov. Sila Calderon denied the allegations in several occasions.
"We want the Navy to leave Vieques, and we want the bombings to stop, but I can’t anticipate if this, in any way, will define whether the Navy leaves in 2003 as we want and as the president has promised," the official said.
He asserted that the government has absolute trust in the word of the president, who endorsed the Navy’s exit date agreed by former Gov. Pedro Rossello and former President Bill Clinton.
"However, I can’t determine whether the president will vary his position at any point depending on the circumstances of national security that he is going through," he admitted.
SAN JUAN (AP) – In view of the possibility that the United States declares war on Iraq, the Puerto Rico government left the door open Thursday for a relaxation of its public policy that requests the immediate cessation of U.S. Navy military exercises in Vieques.
That was confirmed by Secretary of State Ferdinand Mercado, who insisted that the government could not close its mind to any request that the U.S. government makes regarding national security when Puerto Rico has a responsibility in the common defense.
"If the United States takes the decision to go to war, then we need to reevaluate all situations, not only in Puerto Rico, but in the United States and all allied countries, in terms of what actions to take," he told The Associated Press.
Mercado’s statements confirm the complaints of anti-Navy protestors who have accused the government during the past few months of revoking the public policy on Vieques.
Gov. Sila Calderon denied the allegations in several occasions.
"We want the Navy to leave Vieques, and we want the bombings to stop, but I can’t anticipate if this, in any way, will define whether the Navy leaves in 2003 as we want and as the president has promised," the official said.
He asserted that the government has absolute trust in the word of the president, who endorsed the Navy’s exit date agreed by former Gov. Pedro Rossello and former President Bill Clinton.
"However, I can’t determine whether the president will vary his position at any point depending on the circumstances of national security that he is going through," he admitted.