Cablegate: Resettlement of Cuban and Haitian Migrants (2)

VZCZCXYZ0035
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMU #1499 1882224
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 072224Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6912
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 0090
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0018

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 001499

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND PRM FOR ROBERT GEHRING AND ROD MACKLER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF NU CU
SUBJECT: RESETTLEMENT OF CUBAN AND HAITIAN MIGRANTS (2)

REF: A. MANAGUA 1114

B. STATE 78762

Classified By: Ambassador Paul Trivelli for reasons 1.4 (b and d)

1. (C) Poloffs met with Ambassador Domingo Salinas, Director
and Western Hemisphere Affairs at the Nicaraguan Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) and U.S. Desk Officer Agnes Alvarado to
discuss Nicaragua's willingness to assist in the resettlement
of Cuban and Haitian migrants at Guantanamo. After extensive
discussions at the "highest levels," the GON decided that it
can not accept migrants at this time, Salinas stated. He
confided that President Enrique Bolanos and Foreign Minister
Norman Caldera are concerned that a hostile press may attack
Bolanos for accepting migrants when the country is suffering
economically. Salinas also worried that the Sandinista Front
(FSLN) may deport the Cuban migrants back to Cuba if Daniel
Ortega wins the November 5 national elections.

2. (C) Salinas was evidently disappointed with the GON
decision, as he has worked hard in the past to assist Cuban
migrants (ref A). He commented that the GON may revisit its
decision after the elections, depending on the outcome.
TRIVELLI

© Scoop Media