Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega visits Uruguay

Caracas, Venezuela, 26 May 2008. The President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, visited Uruguay to attend the closure at Montevideo of the XIV Sao Paulo Forum on Sunday. During the Sao Paulo Forum meeting, President Otega hailed there were 13 left wing leaders in regional governments in Latin America.

On Monday 26 May 2008, Ortega met with his counterpart the Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez  to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues. Both regional leaders share their left wing ideology and concern for social issues. Even though there was little news coverage on the bilateral talks, it is most likely that Ortega proposed the opening of a Nicaraguan Embassy in Montevideo. There is only an Nicaraguan Honorary Consulate in Montevideo which does not represent the increased level of political rapproachment between the two countries. The Mayor of Montevideo, Ricardo Ehrlich, offered President Daniel Ortega the keys of the city to honour his visit to Uruguay.

On the other hand, Uruguayan Newspaper Espectador reported  that a group of conservative women organizations -CNS- issued a communiqué to reject the visit of President Daniel Ortenga.  They opposed Ortega´s visit on the ground of his allegedly incest and misbehaviour with women.

Back home, there is a discussion over the government took over 16%  of share in Spanish power provider Union Fenosa. The government intends to confront an internatinal arbitration demand over its intention to intervene the Spanish company to provide power along the country.   President Ortega will also face a strike by some transport labour organization which do not follow the Sandinista policy or membership. Furthermore, the local opposition is accusing him over links with FARC.

However and despite such political events, President Ortega will be visiting Tehran next month to increase bilateral relations. Nicaragua and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding early this year during the visit of Ahmadinejad to Managua. It established Tehran would finance Nicaraguan infrastructure projects, hydroelectrical stations, fishery activities and irrigation systems. 

Sources: La Voz del Sandinismo, El Pais.uy, La República, Teledoce, Espectador, El Nuevo Diario,  InsideCostaRica , People´s Daily, CNS,