The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, Rodolfo Solano, urged the Nicaraguan Government in Vienna on Wednesday to release political prisoners and considered that in the absence of democratic guarantees it is “extremely difficult” for the elections to be held this Sunday in that country are legitimate.
In an interview with the Efe agency in the Austrian capital, Solano expressed his “repeated, serious and deep concern” because the electoral process in Nicaragua “has not met the minimum conditions for democratic participation and fundamental freedoms.”
Given these conditions, “it is extremely difficult to count on the legitimacy of the electoral process,” the foreign minister warned.
Likewise, he regretted “the large number of political actors, candidates and opinion makers” imprisoned in Nicaragua and stressed the role of the international community in solving this conflict.
“Commitments and responsibilities”
“Democracy, human rights and freedom of expression have no borders. It is not a matter of intervention or non-intervention. They are fundamental values that transcend human dignity, and when we speak of human dignity there are commitments and responsibilities ”, emphasized Solano.
He recalled that the identity of Central America must be governed by “democratic institutions, respect for human rights and freedom of the press and expression,” as stated in the so-called ‘Protocol of Tegucigalpa’, which reflects that political will of Costa Rica. Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.
On the other hand, the Foreign Minister reiterated Costa Rica’s solidarity towards Nicaraguan society, which has been experiencing a profound social and political crisis since the 2018 demonstrations, violently oppressed by the government of President Daniel Ortega.
Support to Nicaraguans
The authoritarian practices of the Sandinista leader have caused a migratory flow of people seeking refuge in neighboring countries, first of all Costa Rica, its more prosperous neighbor.
The foreign minister assured that his government will maintain its support for Nicaraguans who seek refuge in the country, although he defended that this crisis should not be addressed only as a regional problem, but as a “collective responsibility.”
“In the Costa Rican identity, the capacity to provide shelter has always been present, it is a manifestation of solidarity and we trust that we have the necessary instruments to be able to serve them,” Solano stressed.
At this key moment in Nicaraguan history, accessing reliable information is more important than ever. That is why, at CONFIDENTIAL, we have kept our news coverage free and free for all, without paywalls. This commitment to citizens would not be possible without the support of our readers. Therefore, we invite you to support our work by joining our Membership Program or by making a donation. By becoming a member, you will receive exclusive products such as eBooks, specialized newsletters and historical digital archives. As a donor, we will send you an annual report on how we invest your financial contribution. Thank you, in advance, for being part of this collective effort to inform our entire community.
