The Diplomat in Spain

Ambassador Rafael Garranzo. 

The Diplomat. 26/07/2018

Spain’s Ambassador to Nicaragua, Rafael Garranzo, attended on July 19 the acts with which the Government of Daniel Ortega celebrated in Managua the 39th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution.

His presence, criticized by NGOs that work in the country for taking place in full wave of repression against anti-government protesters, was due to an express request of the Nuncio of the Holy See in Managua, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Sources of the Ministry quoted by Europa Press indicated yesterday that the presence of Garranzo was known by the department and responded to a request of the Nuncio, Stanislaw Waldemar Sommertag, to keep open the dialogue with the Government at a key moment of Nicaragua’s crisis.

The Executive of Pedro Sánchez shares the commitment to dialogue, while calling for an end to violence that has caused the death of more than 300 people since last April 18.

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Foreign Ministry sources explains that his presence was requested by the Nuncio in Managua

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The matter was addressed yesterday with the head of Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, by the umbrella organization of Non-Governmental Organizations for Development (NGDO), in the meeting held in Santa Cruz Palace. Borrell explained the reasons for the presence of the Ambassador in the events of Sandinista Revolution’s anniversary and the actions taken by the Embassy in Managua to guarantee the safety of the Spanish colony and, specifically, of the NGDOs working in the country.

The Embassy published a notice to the Spanish community in which it recommends to those who feel insecure «to leave the country by their own means». Since May, the Ministry’s website discourages any trip to Nicaragua.