‘Democracies Are the Best Defense’ INTERVIEW: DANTE CAPUTO Argentina’s new foreign minister, Dante Caputo, was a surprise choice for that key ‘position. A former graduate student at Har- ‘Vard andthe Sorbonne, his at 40 the cabi- net's youngest member. Recently he spoke in Buenos Aires with Newsweex’s Martin ‘Andersen about Argentina’s plans for new directions in its foreign policy. Excerpts: ANDERSEN: What changes are you planning in Argentina’s foreign policy? CAPUTO: In recent years we have de- fined our foreign policy in terms of two areas: trying to win territorial disputes on the one hand, and trying to hide our domes. tic situation on the other. This corralled-in approachii going to change, not because we are abandoning our territorial claims, but because we're putting together a foreign policy more in keeping with the special Status a democratic country has in its rela- tions to other countries. Q How are you going to sellthe image of a “new Argentina” to the foreign Bankers who hold nearly $40 billion in Argentine debt? ‘R:Our best argument is very simply 2 politcal one. The payment ofthe debt can- ot mean the strangulation of our economic possiblities. If that should happen, democ- acy here will suffer andthe country self wll become prisoner to strong atempts at Aestabilzaton and adventures of al types [Not only would Argentina lose, but the ther countries of the region wotld 100, a wrell as the economic interets thal have Invested here Q. Are you pleased that Washington is lifting the ban on U.S. arms sales to Argentina? ‘A Its a good-will gesture by the United ‘States, which we understand, but arms pur- chases are not a priority of our government, Q What about military cooperation with the United States, which was suspended as a result of last year's Falklands war? ‘ALIt's not one of our priorities to cooper- ate militarily on that level. We'll see what ‘happens in the future, but for now, no. Q In what form do you hope to see US.-Argentine relations 'A. We want the United States toapply the spirit ofits domestic policies to its interna tional relations. The United States is a country that has tremendous respect for individual rights, laws, the rights of minor- ities. These values are the same values we ‘want tosee the United States show its West- ern friends, 2 (Caputo: ‘We stand for nonintervention’ Q Turning to the problems of Cen- tral America, which have much to do with US.-Argentine relations, it ap- pears the efforts of the Contadora Group are at a dead end. What do Ar gentines hope to see happen? ‘A. Without being presumptuous, we hope to be involved actively and efficiently in a negotiated settlement tothe Central Ameri- can problem. We stand for the principle of nonintervention in those countries as well as the rest of Latin America. We believe it ‘would bea grave error for the United States tointervene militarily in Nicaragua. I think that would produce the gravest conse- quences for relations between Latin Amer- ica and the United States. Insaying this I mustadd wearenot naive. ‘Weknow there are other powers, hidden, in theregion. Webelieve that thedemocratiza- tion of Nicaragua, a serious, profound democratization, is probably the best way to head off serious problems in that region. Q Do you view the fundamental problem differently than the Reagan ‘administration, with its concern ‘about “continental security”? ‘A. The challenge of security is one of strengthening democracy and. promoting ‘economic development. By interrupting autonomous national solutions to problems in Latin America, you strike a very hard blow at continental security. Communist parties don’t win elections; stable democra~ Cies are the best defense against communist penetration in Latin America, Q Speaking of democracy, the demo- ‘cratic opposition to the military dicta- torships of Uruguay and Chile have drawn a lot of hope from what hap- pened here. What, if anything, do you ‘plan to do to help them? ‘A. Here you have to make a distinction, ‘We cannot and will not interject ourselves into the internal affairs of other Latin ‘American nations. However, the ties be- tween political parties, expressed as demo- ‘atic solidarity, seem to be the right focus for efforts to democratize the continent. In the final analysis, Argentina won't be ex porting democracy, it will be exuding de- ‘mocracy. This will help our neighbors. Q. What strategy do you ‘sue in recovering the Falklands? ‘A. We plan a diplomatic, not a hostile, straiegy—an energeticone which willallow us to renew negotiations, principally at the United Nations. Argentina will not negoti ate the islands' sovereignty. We will look for, ina spirit of peace, the best diplomatic ‘method to discuss time periods, forms and. ways to effectively re-establish our sover- ‘ignty over the islands. Q What do you hope to get from the United States in this regard? ‘A.We want understanding and help in achieving the legitimate rights of Argenti- nna, which are now being sought in the name of democracy. It is no longer a just cause being advocated by an illegitimate regime, Dut a legitimate government asking for justice Q What about Argentina's long- standing boundary dispute with Chile on the Beagle Channel? 'A.Thisisasubject on which Ican bemore ‘optimistic. I think that within a reasonable time period we are going to reacha solution to the conflict. I believe the Beagle Channel. question will be solved, I hope within the next year. there was a distancing from Israel while at the same time Argentina strengthened itsties with South Africa. What is thenewgovernment’sposition? ‘A.The Jewish community in Argentinas very important and Israelis viewed with very special affection. We are confident about strengthening our ties with Israel and the Jewish people. ‘Concerning South Africa, we will main- tain diplomatic relations, but obviously the problem of the violation of human rights there will bea matter of particular concern for our government. NEWSWEEK/DECEMBER 19, 1983