VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHMU #0633/01 1401347
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191347Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2633
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MANAGUA 000633
STATE FOR WHA/CEN, EB/IFD/OIA AND L/CID
STATE FOR WHA/EPSC
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR
TREASURY FOR INL AND OWH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV ECON USTR KIDE NU
SUBJECT: NICARAGUA: ATTORNEY GENERAL PRESSED FOR MORE COOPERATION TO
RESOLVE U.S. CLAIMS
REF: A) MANAGUA 564, B) MANAGUA 274, C) MANAGUA 0002,
D) MANAGUA 424, E) 02 MANAGUA 877, F) MANAGUA 336
SUMMARY
-------
1. (SBU) In a May 9 meeting with the Ambassador, Attorney General
Hernan Estrada agreed to extend a May 16 deadline to June 16 to
allow U.S. claimants more time to consider Government of Nicaragua
(GON) offers to settle 42 property claims. Estrada finally conceded
that U.S. Embassy Property Office staff could attend GON meetings
with U.S. claimants. He also agreed to meet with claimants to
determine whether their cases should be dismissed under Decrees 3
and 38. The Ambassador noted that the GON has resolved only 12
claims this waiver year -- and none for properties under GON control
-- and pressed Estrada for more cooperation on case resolution. As
the end of this waiver year approaches, Estrada's constant
assertions that the GON is doing all it can to resolve U.S. claims
still ring hollow.
AGREEMENT TO EXTEND DEADLINE TO RESOLVE 42 CLAIMS
--------------------------------------------- ----
2. (SBU) On May 9, the Ambassador met with Attorney General Estrada
to review U.S. property claims resolutions as the waiver year draws
to an end. Ruth Zapata, head of the Office of Assessment and
Indemnification (OCI), also attended the meeting. Estrada asserted
that 42 claims are ready for final settlement, pending additional
paperwork and claimant signatures. The Ambassador noted that
several U.S. citizens on that list have told Property Office staff
that the GON had not notified them of their settlement offers, and
that the GON is pressuring them to settle without giving them a
chance to fully understand the GON's offer of compensation. In the
Ambassador's presence, Estrada agreed to extend the deadline to
finalize these 42 claims from May 16 to June 16, and he asserted
that he and his staff are ready to meet with claimants to discuss
their offers. [Note: Estrada's assertion that he will meet with
claimants to discuss their settlement offers contradicts his April
24 letter to the Ambassador stating that he will not meet with
claimants to discuss settlement offers. End note.]
EMBASSY STAFF CAN ATTEND MEETINGS WITH U.S. CLAIMANTS
--------------------------------------------- --------
3. (SBU) The Ambassador again asked Estrada to allow the Embassy
Property Office staff to attend GON meetings that he and his staff
have with U.S. claimants to improve cooperation on resolving cases.
After five months of asking, Estrada finally conceded, asserting
that his April 24 letter invited Property Office staff to attend
meetings with U.S. claimants at the Attorney General's Office. The
Ambassador reviewed the April 24 letter in Estrada's presence, but
could not find this point explicitly stated.
ESTRADA WILLING TO REVIEW ANTI-SOMOZA DISMISSALS
--------------------------------------------- ---
4. (SBU) The Ambassador voiced serious concern that the GON has
dismissed 84 more claims based on Decrees 3 and 38 (Somoza family
and associates) without providing claimants an opportunity to defend
their cases (Refs A-C). The Ambassador told Estrada that some
claimants have "certificates of non-confiscation," which state they
are not subject to confiscation under Decree 38 and/or other
confiscation decrees (Ref D). Estrada said he is willing to meet
with claimants to determine if the decree is applicable to their
cases. He noted that one claim belonging to U.S. citizen Octavio
Bustamante was initially dismissed under Decree 38, a decree that
authorized the expropriation of property belonging to "allies of
Somoza," but the GON's technical committee for property claims
reviewed the case and determined that Bustamante was eligible to
receive compensation. [Note: We are following up with Mr.
Bustamante's legal representative to confirm this information. End
Note.]
FEW U.S. CLAIMS RESOLVED; NONE UNDER GON CONTROL
--------------------------------------------- ---
5. (SBU) The Ambassador pointed out that from our perspective only
12 claims have been resolved during the waiver year, none of which
involve properties under GON control. Zapata explained that the GON
is preparing a settlement offer for the 29 properties in the Las
Serranias residential complex co-owned by U.S. citizen Juan Barreto
but controlled by the Nicaraguan Army (Ref E). She added that OCI
is also working on settlement offers for three claims under the
control of CORNAP, a parastatal holding company, and on two claims
controlled by government ministries.
GON RISKS LOSING WAIVER
-----------------------
6. (SBU) The Ambassador pressed the Attorney General for more
cooperation on resolving U.S. claims, noting that the GON runs the
risk of not receiving a Section 527 waiver for 2007-08, and losing
important bilateral assistance. Estrada responded that the GON is
working diligently to resolve claims with its limited financial
resources. The Attorney General said he believes that the Ortega
administration has made a good faith effort to resolve U.S. claims.
The Ambassador urged the GON to do as much as it can before the end
of this waiver year.
COMMENT
-------
7. (SBU) Estrada's seeming confidence and constant assertions that
the GON is doing all it can to resolve U.S. claims still ring
hollow. Indeed, Estrada's March 17 interview with a local newspaper
conveyed his belief that the Ortega administration will receive the
waiver regardless of the number of resolved claims by the GON (Ref
F).
TRIVELLI