published in:
NUEVO DIARIO
10/14/06
Managua, Nicaragua

 see the original article (spanish) - scroll to 2nd half of story

"We will not apologize"

In a response to a letter published by citizens of the United States requesting that Ambassador Trivelli be silent regarding the electoral process, the government of the United States states that it will not apologize for helping to develop democracy.

 In a press release, the diplomatic seat accredited in Managua assured that the U.S. government does not favor any of the five presidential candidates in Nicaragua, a position which contradicts the declarations of Trivelli and of other North American functionaries who have given tacit support to Eduardo Montealegre, because according to them he represents the "anti-pact" group, and have publicly stated their opposition to the PLC and FSLN strong men, Arnoldo Aleman and Daniel Ortega respectively.

 ...the letter continues,

The Embassy of the United States respects the freedom and right of the people who signed the "Open Letter to Ambassador Paul Trivelli" published in the Nuevo Diario and La Prensa to express their points of view openly and frankly.  We would simply like to indicate that the funds that the government of the United States has provided to the government of Nicaragua and non-governmental organizations for the electoral process have been used in a non-partisan manner for activities that include voter registration, technical assistance for the Supreme Electoral Council, domestic and international observation and civic education.

 This program represents the strong commitment that our government has assumed with the Nicaraguan people to hold free, transparent and inclusive elections. 

 As Ambassador Trivelli has stated many times, we have not and will not endorse any specific candidate.  We have not, nor will we finance any political campaign.  And we will not apologize for our efforts to support the development of democracy in Nicaragua.