Nicaragua Network Hotlines for December 26, 2006
News topics covered in this Hotline include:
- Trivelli: we will insist on destruction of SAM-7 missiles
- New Ministers promise government investment in education and agriculture
- Ortega meets with representatives of international financial institutionsn
- Chinese government condemns ratification of Nicaraguan-Taiwanese trade agreement
Topic 1: Trivelli: we will insist on destruction of SAM-7 missiles
An unrepentant US Ambassador Paul Trivelli said that his government would “insist” that the incoming government take steps to ensure the destruction of the SAM-7 missiles owned by Nicaraguan Army. “We still believe that [the destruction of the SAM-7 missiles] is a priority for regional security,” said Trivelli on Dec. 18.
Commander in Chief of the Nicaraguan Army Omar Halleslevens described the SAM-7 missiles as “[necessary] to guarantee the defense of the country.” President-elect Daniel Ortega has said that he would not agree to the destruction of the missiles unless the Central American air forces were also destroyed. Ortega has announced that he will work to promote a policy of disarmament within the region, however.
Perhaps the Nicaraguan government should "insist" that the US destroy its nuclear arsenal or "insist" that the US end its occupation of Iraq. The arrogance of the United States is exacerbated by the arrogance of its ambassador to Nicaragua. Trivelli's role in the presidential election was so far beyond the boundaries of international norms that he was even rebuked by the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, surely a first in that regard.
Trivelli represents a failed US campaign to unite the Nicaraguan right-wing and to prevent a Sandinista return to power through elections. He cannot serve as an effective ambassador after his personal and policy failures of the past year. Please call the Nicaragua Desk of the State Department at 202-647-3559 and demand that Trivelli be replaced as US Ambassador to Nicaragua.
Last week a delegation from the US Embassy led by Trivelli met with the new administration’s transition team to discuss relations between Nicaragua and the US. Trivelli said the meeting had gone “well,” and that all his proposals had been received “very well.” “Everything was fine,” said Trivelli, “basically we explained our projects of assistance from cooperation with the military and National Police to USAID projects and the millennium account… as Ambassador I am going to treat the new administration like any other government.” The fact that he would even make the last comment highlights the whole problem with US relations toward Nicaragua.
When asked whether the US government would continue to give the same amount of financial assistance to the Nicaraguan government, Trivelli said “we don’t have an official budget for 2007 at the moment… but it will be more or less US$50 million” which is the same amount as in 2006. The outgoing Republican Congress did not pass most 2007 appropriations bills and in-coming Democratic Congressional leaders have said they will not pass one either leaving most US agencies funded at 2006 levels
On Dec. 19, Foreign Minister Norman Caldera confirmed that a US government delegation would be attending Ortega’s inauguration on Jan. 10. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas Shannon, will be among the delegation, which will be led by “someone of a higher position,” according to Caldera. Journalists interpreted this to mean that the delegation may be led by Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. The presidents of Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador have all confirmed their plans to attend the inauguration as have the Presidents of Brazil, Venezuela and Bolivia
Return to top.
Topic 2: New Ministers promise government investment in education and agriculture
On Dec. 20 the future Minister of Education, Culture and Sports, Miguel de Castilla, announced that the Sandinista government has plans to eradicate illiteracy in Nicaragua during Ortega's five-year term with support from the Cuban government and other foreign organizations. According to official figures 1.2 million Nicaraguans cannot read and write, although the real figure is likely to be significantly higher. The population of rural and semi rural areas are particularly likely to be illiterate. Since 2005 local governments controlled by the FSLN have been introducing the literacy program Yo Sí Puedo (Yes, I can) based on a Cuban model. As a result tens of thousands of Nicaraguans have learned how to read and write free of charge. After Ortega’s government is inaugurated on Jan. 10 the program will receive a large amount of extra funding and be implemented at a national level, according to de Castilla.
The first step will be to carry out a nationwide survey so as to identify the areas with greatest need. “This will also highlight the urgent need to build more schools,” according to de Castilla who says that a large number of Cuban teachers will be sent to Nicaragua to help implement the program. De Castilla says that the FSLN-led government considers education as “a weapon in the fight against poverty.” De Castilla went to say that as of Jan. 11 it will become “obligatory” for parents to send their children to school. This means that “[we must guarantee] primary education that is absolutely free of charge” and “look for ways to provide children with school uniforms so that poverty is no longer an excuse not to enroll a child in school.”
Currently over 800,000 primary and secondary aged children are not in school and a third of all of those who enroll at the beginning of the year are forced to drop out due to financial hardship, according to Ministry of Education figures.
The future Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Ariel Bucardo, has promised to prioritze small and medium agricultural producers in his plans to reactivate the agricultural sector. Bucardo made this comment after a meeting with outgoing Minister Mario Salvo on Dec. 18.
Bucardo promised to keep in place certain government programs designed to support small and medium producers, such as the Libra por Libra (Pound for Pound) and the Prorural programs implemented by the outgoing administration, although he believes it is necessary to “develop… and strengthen” these programs and make “a few corrections” so as to increase their effectiveness. Bucardo also reiterated the Ortega administration promise to create an agricultural development bank which would give small and medium farmers access to credit.
The agricultural sector is one of the biggest employers in Nicaragua. Small and medium farmers have been cut off from government support and access to credit since Daniel Ortega left office in 1990. There are high expectations in agriculture and in the "human capital" sectors such as education and health care, that a Sandinista government will redress the past 16 years of IMF-mandated short-changing of those sectors.
Topic 3: Ortega meets with representatives of international financial institutions
On Dec. 19 President-elect Daniel Ortega met with representatives of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The meetings took place at the headquarters of the Sandinista party (FSLN) in Managua. FSLN Deputy Bayardo Arce described the meetings as a “preliminary” and “informal” discussion of the new government's economic policies. IDB President Luis Moreno led the IDB delegation. Moreno described the meeting as “very good,” and said he was able “to confirm Ortega’s interest in maintaining Nicaragua’s macroeconomic stability but also to hear his concerns and the issues he wants to focus on during the immediate future.” Moreno listed water, sanitation, the energy crisis, the founding of a Nicaraguan development bank, and the agricultural sector crisis among the list of issues of utmost importance put to him by Ortega.
The possibility of an economic program for 2007 with the IDB, which could include a loan of up to US$100 million, will be further analysed in January after the inauguration of the incoming administration. The IDB has loaned over US$520 million to Nicaragua over the last five years, money which, according to Moreno, has been used in projects to strengthen basic infrastructure such as water, sanitation and electricity.
Later that day, Ortega met with an IMF delegation led by the institution’s representative for the Western Hemisphere Anoop Singh. According to Singh the president-elect expressed his plans to maintain the country’s macroeconomic stability and a low inflation rate while introducing policies to reduce poverty and unemployment and to ensure that all regions of Nicaragua are benefited by the country’s economic growth. “I told Ortega that I am in agreement with his plans,” said Singh. He also said that if the new government wants to sign an agreement with the IMF then “we will listen to their ideas and work towards that.”
Topic 4: Chinese government condemns ratification of Nicaraguan-Taiwanese trade agreement
TThe Chinese government has condemned the ratification of a trade agreement between Nicaragua and Taiwan. The agreement was ratified by the National Assembly on Dec. 13 after several months of negotiations. The Chinese Exterior Ministry issued a statement in response to the National Assembly decision which reads “Taiwan is looking to expand what it calls ‘a space of international activity’…and attempting to create the idea that there are ‘two Chinas;’ China and Taiwan… As everybody knows, Taiwan is an inseparable part of the Chinese territory.”
So far the Nicaraguan government is yet to formally respond to the Chinese government’s condemnation. Nicaragua is one of only 24 countries to have formally acknowledged Taiwan’s sovereignty from China. President elect Daniel Ortega has expressed his desire to maintain diplomatic relations with both Peking and Taiwan.
This hotline is prepared from the Nicaragua News Service and other sources. To receive a more extensive weekly summary of the news from Nicaragua by e-mail or postal service, send a check for $60.00 to Nicaragua Network, 1247 E St., SE, Washington, DC 20003. We can be reached by phone at 202-544-9355.