[CPEO-MEF] Puerto Rico Gov. Releases Letter

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Puerto Rico Gov. Releases Letter
Puerto Rico Governor Releases Letter From U.S. Navy Confirming Plan to
Halt Vieques Training
The Associated Press

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Oct. 24 ? The governor of this U.S. territory
released a letter in which the Navy assured her the military plans to
halt training on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques by May.

Gov. Sila Calderon released the letter on Wednesday, days after she
announced the U.S. government had confirmed the Navy would halt bombing
exercises on the outlying island, as President Bush has promised.

The letter from Navy Secretary Gordon England mentioned no explicit
guarantee or specific date.

"The Department of the Navy is in the process of implementing alternate
training as part of the plan to cease military exercises on Vieques by
May 2003," England said in the letter, dated Friday. "Until that occurs,
however, the training obtained by our naval forces on Vieques is
necessary for our military readiness."

Calderon's administration has been pressing for the Navy to end six
decades of exercises on Vieques, which opponents say harm the
environment and the health of the island's 9,100 residents. The Navy
denies the accusations.

This article can be viewed at:
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20021024_353.html

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