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Para ver este documento en español, oprima aquí. Clinton: Vieques Directives `Fairest’Fas Alzamora, Vizcarrondo ElectedNavy Could Resume Live BombingsAll Parties Want Navy OutCalderon And Rossello Kick Off TransitionMcClintock Chosen NPP Minority LeaderCalderon Sees Room For Vieques ConsensusRenegotiating Vieques 'Difficult'Navy Trusts Directives On Vieques Will Be Followed***** Clinton: Directives Still `Fairest Solution Possible' By PuertoRicoWOW News Service November 15, 2000 In a two-paragraph letter to Gov.-elect Sila Calderon, President Bill Clinton reiterated that his January directives "remain the fairest solution possible, letting the residents [of Vieques] determine the ultimate fate of their island." Clinton told Calderon, "I will continue to work to ensure the federal government fulfills the agreement that the directives represent. Based on the progress we have made in implementing the agreement so far, and the support it has received from both presidential candidates, I think the federal government will fulfill the important provisions of the agreement." ***** Fas Alzamora, Vizcarrondo Elected As New Legislative Presidents November 14, 2000 SAN JUAN (AP) - As expected, Popular Democratic Party (PDP) Sen. Antonio Fas Alzamora was elected to preside the new Senate that takes office in January. His counterpart in the House will be Rep. Carlos Vizcarrondo, who prevailed in his bid to become the next speaker. While Fas Alzamora, who has been a legislator for 24 years, received a unanimous vote in a caucus held at PDP headquarters presided over by Gov.-elect Sila Calderon, the results on Vizcarrondo were kept secret, as agreed by the caucus. ***** Rossello: Navy Can Resume Live Bombings If Accord Not Followed By Proviana Colon Diaz November 13, 2000 Gov. Pedro Rossello said Monday that the U.S. Navy can decide not to comply with the presidential agreement, if it believes that the Puerto Rico government is failing to do so. "The Navy could understand that it is relieved from complying with what is established in the presidential agreement if it establishes that the government of Puerto Rico is not complying with its part," Rossello said. The governor was referring to the law already promised by Gov.-elect Sila Calderon to reduce the noise levels allowed to the Navy in Vieques. He also said removing the Police Department's Riot Squad from Vieques, as also proposed by Calderon, would violate the presidential agreement. ***** All Three Parties Ask Clinton To Order Navy Out Of Vieques November 13, 2000 SAN JUAN (AP) - What did not occur before the election happened Monday, when the three former gubernatorial candidates, religious and civic leaders joined to send a letter to President Bill Clinton asking for the immediate cease of bombings in Vieques and for the U.S. Navy's exit. The letter began circulating Monday among Puerto Rican political leaders, and Gov.-elect Sila Calderon said "it will be sent to the president as soon as it's signed by all." "We appeal to your commitment to justice and the defense of human rights and we ask that before you leave your office in January, you order the immediate and permanent cease of military practices and training operations in Vieques," said the letter. Also signing the petition Monday were New Progressive Party (NPP) President Carlos Pesquera and Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) President Ruben Berrios. ***** Calderon And Rossello Kick Off Transition November 13, 2000 In their first meeting at La Fortaleza since Tuesday's elections, Gov.-elect Sila Calderon and outgoing Gov. Pedro Rossello on Monday agreed that no more bids would be awarded or assets sold, nor would any current government contracts be changed before she takes office Jan. 2. Rossello also announced that he would hold an extraordinary session of the Legislature on Nov. 27 to consider pending legislation and appointments before his term ends. ***** McClintock Chosen NPP Minority Leader In Senate November 13, 2000 SAN JUAN (AP) - At a meeting Monday between former New Progressive Party (NPP) President Carlos Pesquera and elected senators from his party, Sen. Kenneth McClintock was confirmed as minority leader of that delegation in the Senate as of January. The meeting was held at NPP headquarters in Santurce between elected senators Sergio Peña Clos, Norma Burgos, Kenneth McClintock, Orlando Parga, Miriam Ramirez de Ferrer, Miriam Padilla and Lucy Arce. (Arce did not achieve re-election but was given a seat because of a constitutional provision protecting minorities when the winning party achieves a super majority.) ***** Puerto Rico Governor Sees Room For Consensus On Vieques Leoncio Pineda November 11, 2000 San Juan - Sila Calderon, governor-elect of Puerto Rico, said Saturday that U.S. President Bill Clinton's remarks about Vieques "open a very special and unique avenue" for consensus on a halt to war games on the small island. "Republicans in Congress broke the accord and instead of giving Puerto Rico the western part of the island, they gave it to the U.S. Department of the Interior to administer it. If I can't find a way to return the western side of the island to the people of Puerto Rico, and honor the accord that the Puerto Rico government made with the support of local leaders, including the Vieques mayor, then I believe the Puerto Rican people have the right to say that the federal government failed to keep its word and military training should stop right now," Clinton said during a radio interview. "It is time for the PPD, the PNP (ruling New Progressive Party) and the PIP (Puerto Rican Independent Party) to join the religious, civic and labor leadership as well as Puerto Rican leaders in the United States to ask Clinton before he leaves office to give Puerto Rico a present." Clinton's aide for Puerto Rican affairs at the White House, Jeffrey Farrow, confirmed that Clinton thinks that if the directive for the Navy in Vieques is not carried out, the bombing practices must stop immediately. ***** Calderon: Renegotiating Vieques Directives "Difficult" By Proviana Colon Diaz November 10, 2000 SAN JUAN — Newly elected Gov. Sila Calderon acknowledged Thursday that renegotiating the presidential agreement on Vieques will be "difficult," but said it can be accomplished. "It will be difficult, but when one has the will and the conviction and one believes in something, anything can be accomplished," said Calderon, adding that she has already expressed her position to President Bill Clinton. As for the plebiscite called for in the presidential agreement in which the people of Vieques must decide whether they want the Navy to stay or not, Calderon said she has the authority as governor to order it before the Navy decides to hold it. However, she will personally meet with the next U.S. president and ask for his support. She will also demand that the plebiscite include all the options, including the "no more bombing" option. ***** Navy Trusts Presidential Directives On Vieques Will Be Followed November 10, 2000 SAN JUAN (AP) - The U.S. Navy will continue with the implementation of the presidential directives on Vieques, assuming that Gov.-elect Sila Calderon will honor the accord that was approved into law. "We count on the fact that all parties will honor the accord established by the president. [The Navy] is very clear that we're going to implement the presidential directives because we still believe they're the best way of allowing the Navy to stay in Vieques," said a Navy spokesman in published reports. On the other hand, the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) has pledged to renegotiate the directives. The triumph of the PDP in Vieques is a clear indication of what will happen when the people are asked about the future of the U.S. Navy there, said San Juan Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez Nieves. "The first referendum in Vieques happened Nov. 7 with the elections, and we already have a pretty clear idea of what Vieques voters want," the archbishop said in published reports.
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