Press Guidance: February 28

F-1988-00163

Following guidance has been prepared for the Department spokesman:

Q. Can you give us an update on Suriname?

A. The situation appears to have stabilized. Suriname is calm and normal business and day-to-day activities have been resumed. The international airport has reopened and international flight services are being restored. President Ferrier, the respected chief of state (an important but basically non-political position), has reportedly agreed to remain in office.

However, most ministers of the previous cabinet are under detention. The National Military Council (NMC) has asked all government officials and employees below cabinet rank to stay on. The NMC also announced it will honor all previous international commitments of the former government.

While we are encouraged by the initial statements of the NMC regarding its respect for human rights and honoring of international commitments, we continue to be concerned that a friendly democratic government has been removed by force. We are looking for additional indications concerning the intentions of the NMC to return the country to constitutional norms.

Q. Is there anything further on the question of U.S. recognition of the new government?

A. There have been no developments in this regard. My answer of yesterday to this question stands.

Vance

Source:

C09000012

Link:

Internal Link:

https://surinamepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Press-Guidance-February-1980-C09000012.pdf

Date:
February 28, 1980
Categories:
Desi Bouterse
Tags:
Boxes:
F-1988-00163
Years:
1983
Persons:
Vance
Download PDF
META DATA

UNCLASSIFIED
Department of State

UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 01 STATE 054680
ORIGIN ARA-15
TELEGRAM
AN: 0800118-0465
INFO OCT-00 EUR-12 AOS-00 PA-02 INR-10
DRAFTED BY: ARA/CAR: JFCOOPER
APPROVED BY: ARA/CAR: WRWARNE
ARA/CAR: RAMCCOY
ARA/CAR: BUSHNELL
028821 010404Z /65/40

0 291641Z FEB 80
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO IMMEDIATE
INFO AMEMBASSY BRASILIA IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY CARACAS IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS STATE 054680

DEPARTMENT OF STATE A/CDC/MR
OCT 17 1981
REVIEWED BY:
( ) RELEASE ( ) DECLASSIFY
( ) EXCISE ( ) DECLASSIFY IN PART
( ) DENY ( ) Non-responsive info.
FOIA, EO or PA exemptions
( ) DOWNGRADE TS to ( )

CORRECTED COPY (FIRST “A” LINE 16 OMITTED)

E.O. 12065: N/A
TAGS: SOPN, PINT, SN
SUBJECT: PRESS GUIDANCE: FEBRUARY 28

    Scroll to Top