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Caribbean-Latin America

Ortega Backs Unified Central America

2006-11-22

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - Nicaraguan President-elect Daniel Ortega, making his first official trip outside the country, promised on Tuesday to work toward a unified Central America but also said his country needs new trade partnerships beyond its neighbors and the United States.

For example, with Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Syria, all the big trading guys ...

After a meeting with Guatemalan President Oscar Berger, Ortega told a news conference, "If we don't unite, we'll sink. We have to work toward a union of the Americas, of Central America with the Caribbean and South America," he said. "Meanwhile, let's build the unity of Central America."

"And I'm available to run it."

The trip is his first abroad since being elected as president on Nov. 5. Political analysts have suggested that by making such a visit before heading to either the U.S. or Venezuela, he could distance himself from a dispute between the two countries. The U.S. openly opposed Ortega and Venezuela strongly supported him as a presidential candidate.

Central American leaders have been holding talks aimed at integrating the region by opening borders from Nicaragua to Guatemala. Both countries have also signed a new free-trade pact with the United States.

Ortega said Nicaragua should also embrace other possible trade partners, such as the Mercosur trade bloc, which currently includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela, and the left-leaning Bolivarian pact between Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia.

Under the Sandinista leader's rule from 1985-1990, Nicaragua descended into economic chaos under radical economic policies that included property seizures. Ortega has promised that his new administration will respect property rights and the Central American Free Trade Agreement with the United States, as well as negotiating for a new economic package with the International Monetary Fund.

And you can trust an ex-commie. Honest.

During his Guatemalan visit, Ortega also sharply criticized the United States' plans to extend a wall along the border with Mexico, saying the U.S. "should work for the unity of the Americas, but taking into account the asymmetries between the countries."

Posted by:.com

#5 Link for above:http://fightingintheshade.blogspot.com/2006/09/central-american-travelogue.html

Posted by: Leonidas 2006-11-22 21:50

#4 I don't know who was in charge there when I got busted by the sandinistas in January 1980 for "spying" eg anchoring too close to the beach in bad weather, but they had seized most private property by then and "solved" their unemployment problem by conscripting all males into the army. The soldiers took the place of traffic signals (4 to each intersection) as there was no electricity and no businesses were open. They released us upon learning we were merely storm tossed sailors.

Posted by: Leonidas 2006-11-22 21:48

#3 the left-leaning Bolivarian pact between Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia.

Left leaning? Left LEANING? How do you get to the left of Marxism?

Posted by: Secret Master 2006-11-22 21:16

#2 It's not a bad idea. Perhaps they should start with dismantling their militaries like Costa Rica did. Nicaragua should start first since they have the bloodiest record and after all it's Ortega's idea.

Posted by: rjschwarz 2006-11-22 11:36

#1 "a unified Central America "

Under Ortega's leadership, of course.

Posted by: Glenmore 2006-11-22 08:19

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