The situation in Nicaragua

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

The Dominican Republic has followed with great concern the latest and increasingly regrettable events in Nicaragua surrounding the detention, without guarantee of their rights, of pre-candidates for elective office, opposition leaders and social and business leaders, which constitutes a tangible threat to the holding of a fair electoral process as an expression of the sovereignty of the Nicaraguan people.

These actions prevent the conditions necessary for free and fair elections, to which all the Member States of our Organization have committed ourselves under the Inter-American Democratic Charter. If the appropriate corrections are not made, it is evident that the legitimacy of the elections scheduled in Nicaragua for November 7 is called into question.

We reiterate our call on the Nicaraguan Government to release those detained immediately and to respect their right to due process, to guarantee their integrity and personal safety, and to restore the guarantees for the full exercise of the civil and political rights of those who aspire to take part in the elections.

Mr. Chair, we are all aware that, while always respecting the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other States and the self-determination of peoples, when a crisis affects one country it generally has repercussions for its neighbors and for the region. We are very clear that all of us gathered here are committed to the principles and values of our Organization, chiefly with regard to the rule of law, the strengthening of our democracies, respect for human rights, freedom of expression and transparency in public administration, to mention only a few.

The Dominican Republic will continue to follow this situation, while reiterating its support for any regional initiative of cooperation or mediation in adherence to the Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS), the Inter-American Democratic Charter and the principles of international law and shared values, aimed at helping our Nicaraguan brothers and sisters achieve a peaceful way out of their present situation.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.