WWW.USDOJ.GOV

STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO ON

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno today expressed appreciation for Senator Pete Domenici's support for continuing talks toward a negotiated settlement of the Sandia Mountain land claim.

The Attorney General and the Senator met last week to discuss the land claim and spoke again by telephone over the weekend and today.

"I appreciate the Senator's support for encouraging all the interested parties to return to the table. It is clear that there are areas of substantial agreement here and that, with further discussions, the remaining issues can be resolved," the Attorney General said.

"We realize that any proposal to resolve this land claim requires legislation to go into effect. We look forward to working with Senator Domenici and the other members of the New Mexico delegation to accomplish that."

###

00-240