Foreign Minister Samuel Santos seems visibly upset to hear a question about the state of democracy in Nicaragua.
He emphasizes that it is a lie that President Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua turns into a dictatorship.
"What do you base this on? You're a journalist. You should do more research. It is your duty," said Santos in Helsingin Sanomat during his visit to Finland on Tuesday.
Finland the only remaining friend that the Central American country in the Nordic countries.
Norway and Sweden have stopped providing aid to Nicaragua by what they see as the erosion of democracy, and Denmark intends to follow the example at the end of the year.
Nicaragua has since transferred his only embassy in the northern region of Denmark to Finland. The last moving boxes are now packed in Copenhagen.
Foreign Minister Santos is convinced that the move was a good idea.
"We have good and respectful relationships had for decades. Relationship, no matter what kind of government power in Finland and Nicaragua continued," Santos told Helsingin Sanomat.
Finland has cut back on direct aid to the Nicaraguan government and the focus shifted to finance non-governmental organizations to help them to work more in order to reduce poverty and promote democracy.
However, NGOs say they also face pressure from the government, because of President Ortega's negative attitude towards political rivals.
Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja (Social Democratic Party) said that development cooperation with Nicaragua will continue as agreed until the end of next year, and that his future will be considered later.
"I do not want to take a position on this matter yet," Tuomioja said Tuesday.
He sees no problem with the current arrangements. On the problems facing democracy in Nicaragua, Tuomioja states that Nicaragua and the European Union did not agree on control of the presidential election in November reached the country.
Finnish development cooperation with Nicaragua began in the early 1980s when the Sandinista rebels led by Daniel Ortega overthrew a right-wing dictatorship.
Ortega was narrowly elected president four years ago and has since been criticized for what is perceived as authoritarian rule.
He is expected to easily win reelection, especially since the country electoral commission and the Supreme Court are seen to work together to ensure the continuity of his administration to secure.
Santos insists that Ortega does not need dirty tricks to win.
"In Latin American countries, the opposition resorts to easy claims like this. The people of Nicaragua are clearly pleased with the way the government and President Ortega functioned in the past four years."
Santos refers to World Bank figures, which has decreased poverty in Nicaragua. However, poverty programs, preferably members of the Sandinista party.
Ahead of the election, this also applies to applicants for an identity card to vote. People who are not party members are not always issued identity cards.
He emphasizes that it is a lie that President Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua turns into a dictatorship.
"What do you base this on? You're a journalist. You should do more research. It is your duty," said Santos in Helsingin Sanomat during his visit to Finland on Tuesday.
Finland the only remaining friend that the Central American country in the Nordic countries.
Norway and Sweden have stopped providing aid to Nicaragua by what they see as the erosion of democracy, and Denmark intends to follow the example at the end of the year.
Nicaragua has since transferred his only embassy in the northern region of Denmark to Finland. The last moving boxes are now packed in Copenhagen.
Foreign Minister Santos is convinced that the move was a good idea.
"We have good and respectful relationships had for decades. Relationship, no matter what kind of government power in Finland and Nicaragua continued," Santos told Helsingin Sanomat.
Finland has cut back on direct aid to the Nicaraguan government and the focus shifted to finance non-governmental organizations to help them to work more in order to reduce poverty and promote democracy.
However, NGOs say they also face pressure from the government, because of President Ortega's negative attitude towards political rivals.
Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja (Social Democratic Party) said that development cooperation with Nicaragua will continue as agreed until the end of next year, and that his future will be considered later.
"I do not want to take a position on this matter yet," Tuomioja said Tuesday.
He sees no problem with the current arrangements. On the problems facing democracy in Nicaragua, Tuomioja states that Nicaragua and the European Union did not agree on control of the presidential election in November reached the country.
Finnish development cooperation with Nicaragua began in the early 1980s when the Sandinista rebels led by Daniel Ortega overthrew a right-wing dictatorship.
Ortega was narrowly elected president four years ago and has since been criticized for what is perceived as authoritarian rule.
He is expected to easily win reelection, especially since the country electoral commission and the Supreme Court are seen to work together to ensure the continuity of his administration to secure.
Santos insists that Ortega does not need dirty tricks to win.
"In Latin American countries, the opposition resorts to easy claims like this. The people of Nicaragua are clearly pleased with the way the government and President Ortega functioned in the past four years."
Santos refers to World Bank figures, which has decreased poverty in Nicaragua. However, poverty programs, preferably members of the Sandinista party.
Ahead of the election, this also applies to applicants for an identity card to vote. People who are not party members are not always issued identity cards.
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