MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US blasts “corrupt pact” in Nicaragua

United States Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said that the “corrupt pact” between former Nicaraguan Presidents Arnoldo Aleman and Daniel Ortega is a relic of the past which is threatening Nicaragua's future.

Mr. Zoellick made his remarks after meeting on Tuesday with president Enrique Bolaños, who has been engaged for months in an escalating battle with a congress dominated by Aleman's centre-right Liberals and Ortega's leftist Sandinistas.

"The Nicaraguan people want democracy and development", said the US official who emphasized that United States and the Organization of American States "firmly" support the democratic and legitimate government headed by Mr. Bolaños. "There's a corrupt pact between Aleman and Ortega and that belongs to Nicaragua's past, not to the future" insisted Mr. Zoellick who warned that such a pact could make Nicaragua loose the benefits of the Central America Free Trade Association with the United States.

Liberals and Sandinistas currently dominate the judiciary, elections board and the comptroller's office, and are trying to strip the executive of control over water, energy and telecommunications services by way of constitutional amendments for which they have sufficient Congressional support.

Zoellick announced that the United States will donate 4.5 million US dollars to ensure that next year's elections are "free and fair".

Washington also cancelled U.S. entry visa of Nicaraguan Attorney General Julio Centeno and two children of Mr. Aleman, alleging corruption charges.

President Bolaños claims that Mr. Aleman, his predecessor and one-time mentor, is giving control of Nicaragua's institutions to Mr. Ortega as part of a deal to secure him a pardon from the 20 years in prison he was sentenced for corruption.

The strong crusade against graft and corruption was launched by President Bolaños. However based on a ruling by a Liberal-dominated Managua appellate court, Mr. Aleman currently enjoys what amounts to probation while he further appeals his conviction for looting ten of millions of dollars from impoverished Nicaragua.

Mr. Bolaños lost control of the Liberal party which now responds to Mr. Aleman.