[CPEO-MEF] Navy to leave Vieques, Calderón says]

[cpeo <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Navy to leave Vieques, Calderón says
By Matthew Hay Brown | San Juan Bureau
Posted October 19, 2002

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Puerto Rico Gov. Sila M. Calderón said Friday
that she had received a new commitment from the United States government
to end the controversial training exercises on the offshore island of
Vieques but offered few details.

"With profound happiness and satisfaction I want to inform the people of
Puerto Rico that the government of the United States has confirmed to me
officially today the determination to conclude the Navy practice on the
island of Vieques by May 2003 at the latest," a broadly smiling Calderón
told reporters Friday. "The transition process will be reconfirmed in
writing shortly."

Pressed for details, Calderón would say only that the notification had
come from the armed forces with the knowledge of the White House.

Navy spokesmen reached Friday evening said they were unaware of a
specific communication to Calderón, but they affirmed plans to quit the
island as pledged by President Clinton and later supported by President
Bush.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/elsentinel/orl-asecvieques19101902oct19.story

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~