Cablegate: Nicaragua Formalizes Recognition of South Ossetia

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UNCLAS MANAGUA 001138

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN, EUR/RUS, EUR/CACEN
STATE PASS USAID FOR CARDENAS
NSC FOR FISK, GARCIA
SOUTHCOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL RU GG NU
SUBJECT: NICARAGUA FORMALIZES RECOGNITION OF SOUTH OSSETIA
AND ABKHAZIA

REF: MANAGUA 1124

1. (U) On September 5, the Ortega Administration issued
Decrees 46 and 47, extending full diplomatic recognition to
its "sisters," the Republic of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
The decrees recognize the independence of the two
"republics," welcomes them into the "community of independent
nations of the world," and directs the Foreign Ministry to
take all necessary steps to consummate the recognition by
establishing "full diplomatic relations." The Decrees were
signed by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Acting
Foreign Minister Manuel Coronel Kautz. Copies of the decrees
have been sent to STATE/WHA.

2. (U) Nicaragua media reported that on September 4, Russian
Ambassador Igor Kondrashev met with the Chair of the National
Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee, Jamileth Bonilla, to
discuss the situation of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Kondrashev "welcomed" the decision of Ortega to recognize the
"two regions." Bonilla, a former opposition leader who now
claims to be independent but tends to vote with the Ortega
government, noted her opposition to Ortega but "applauded"
the decision to recognizing, noting that it would "contribute
to peace." Nicaraguan radio is reporting that other Latin
American nations are praising Ortega's "leadership" on
recognition and that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and
Cuba's Raul Castro have called Ortega to congratulate his
move.

3. (U) Opposition leaders have begun to criticize Ortega's
decision. Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC) spokesman
Leonel Teller issued a press release lamenting the decision
and Ortega's "continued alienation" of Nicaragua from
countries that can help and establishment of alliances with
countries from whom Nicaragua has "nothing to gain, ... such
as these countries protected by Russia." National Assembly
Deputy and Chair of the Defense Committee, Enrique Quinonez
commented that Ortega rushed to recognize because "he wants
to be world leader and is looking to start another Cold War."

CALLAHAN

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