AFTERMATH OF THE TOWER REPORT : Costa Rica Denies North Aid Threat
MEXICO CITY — Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Sanchez denied Friday a Tower Commission allegation that Lt. Col. Oliver L. North threatened to cut off U.S. economic aid to Costa Rica if Arias closed a contra airstrip North and his associates had established in his country.
The airfield was a landing point for disabled contra supply planes and other secret missions, according to the report.
Arias, on a two-day state visit here, insisted at a news conference that no U.S. government official had made keeping the airstrip open a condition for economic aid to Costa Rica, and denied that he had ever spoken to North or received any communication from him.
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