Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book begins with official government declarations, includes, in addition to speeches by high government officials, the exchange of notes between the Nicaraguan and US governments that took place in August/September 1981 and April/May 1982. It explains joint declarations, such as the Franco-Mexican declaration, recognizing the Frente Democratico Revolu-cionario-Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional as a representative political force. The book deals with resolutions and other official documents of the United Nations and the Organization of American States, while the fifth part concerns statements and resolutions adopted by the Congress of the United States. Despite repeated negotiating efforts, the toll in human lives and suffering continues unabated, while armed conflicts wreak havoc on the Central American economies. The conflicts raging in Central America have escalated at an alarming pace.