Nicaraguan president visits OAS

PRESIDENT ENRIQUE Bolanos of Nicaragua said the countries of Central America are enjoying a period of unprecedented unity, peace, and economic integration, and urged international financial institutions to seize the moment. Central America, he said, "deserves greater attention and economic assistance for the development and prosperity of its people. Now is the time!"

Addressing a special session of the OAS Permanent Council last February, Bolanos noted that Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua hope to complete negotiations on a U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) this year. These countries, as well as Panama, all have civilian, democratically elected governments and have chosen to settle their territorial differences peacefully, he said. The Nicaraguan leader praised the OAS role in Central America, and particularly in his country, in helping to resolve the conflicts of previous decades.

Bolanos affirmed his country's unwavering determination to fight corruption, terrorism, and arms and drug trafficking. Referring to a recent OAS report on the diversion of Nicaraguan arms to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, he said his government was taking steps to carry out the report's recommendations.

Bolanos told the Permanent Council that Nicaragua is willing to lead an effort to strengthen the application and implementation of the Inter-American Convention Against the Illegal Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials. "In accordance with the report, which the OAS Secretariat has called the beginning and not the end of an investigation, I have given specific instructions for a thorough investigation at the national and international level," he said.

In his remarks, Secretary General Cesar Gaviria praised Bolanos. `Throughout these past thirteen months holding the reins of Nicaragua's destiny, you have demonstrated your commitment to transparency, honesty, austerity, and a head-on, sustained campaign against all forms of corruption," he said.

Gaviria also noted the Nicaraguan government's "serious and responsible macroeconomic management," which led to an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. "The belt-tightening that you have practiced has helped significantly to change Nicaragua's image overseas, has created a better climate for foreign investment, and is resulting in improved economic indicators," he said.

Janelle Conaway is an editor with the OAS Department of Public Information.

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