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SV & CU Honduran peace envoy, Cesar Elbir, arrives by plane in San Salvador and is greeted by El Salvadorean Foreign Minister, Dr Fidel Chevas Mena. They warmly embrace and walk away (4 shots)
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SV PAN The two delegates surrounded by newsmen as they enter building
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CU INTERIOR El Salvador delegate makes welcoming speech in Spanish and shakes hand of Honduran candidate
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SV & CU (MUTE) Library film taken in 1969 of Honduran forces preparing for war at Pan American Highway, Honduras, Nueva Ocotepeque, Honduras
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Background: A Honduran Government representative landed in El Salvador on Thursday (23 October) to help finalise a peace agreement between the two countries. Long standing animosity between Honduras and El Salvador developed into armed conflict in 1969 and there has been hostility ever since.

SYNOPSIS: Peace envoy, Cesar Elbir, represented Honduran interests in the discussions in San Salvador. He was met at the airport by El Salvador's Foreign Minister, Dr. Fidel Cesar Chevas Mena. Their warm embrace was indicative of new-found goodwill between the two countries.

The meeting was preparatory to an official peace agreement which the South American neighbours hope to sign later in the month. In Lima, the former Peruvian President, Jose Luis Bustamante y Rivero, who is mediating in the dispute, is believed to be in the final stages of drawing up the peace agreement. Dr. Chevas Mena made an emotional speech of welcome to the Honduran delegation and the El Saladorean officials and journalists present. He said that the people of his country interpreted Mr. Elbir's visit as representing a firm decision of the Honduran people and government to attain a true peace. He said such a peace ought to exist between two friendly, fraternal and neighbouring countries.

The 1969 war, which was never officially declared, erupted after riots over the results of a series of World Cup elimination football matches between the two countries. But the fighting was the culmination of a long-standing border dispute. El Salvador felt she was being cramped by her much larger neighbour. On the other hand Honduras was angry at the influx of Salvadoreans into her thinly populated territory. At first, El Salvador found herself winning the war but Honduras fought back and claimed victory on all fronts. Honduras is now due to play El Salvador in a qualifying match for the 1982 World Cup. The two countries hope to settle their differences before then.