Costa Rica
(San Jose La Nacion (Internet Version-WWW) in Spanish -- conservative daily. URL: http://www.nacion.com): no selections
Former President Arias To Announce Presidential Nomination Soon -- San Jose Prensa Libre reports that former President and Nobel Laureate Oscar Arias will soon announce his intention to run for president during the 2006 presidential campaign. Sources close to Arias and his National Liberation Party (PLN) have stressed that Arias could, in the short run, become one of the hopefuls for the presidential position. He is expected to make the announcement before August 2004. (San Jose Prensa Libre (Internet Version-WWW) in Spanish -- Independent daily. URL: http://www.prensalibre.co.cr)
El Salvador
Arena Presidential Candidate Vows "Very Tough Hand" Against Youth Gangs -- San Salvador El Diario de Hoy reports that Nationalist Republican Alliance (Arena) presidential candidate Elias Antonio (Tony) Saca has vowed to apply a "very tough hand" to combat youth gang activity. He pretends to convert El Salvador in one of Latin America's safest countries. Saca yesterday met with relatives of people who have been killed by youth gangs. He promised them to take stronger action against gangs while providing former gang members the opportunity to rehabilitate for their insertion into society. (San Salvador El Diario de Hoy (Internet Version-WWW) in Spanish -- Independent, ultra-conservative daily. URL: http://www.elsalvador.com)
Canada Supports Costa Rican Candidate for OAS Position -- San Salvador La Prensa Grafica reports that the Costa Rican Government yesterday disclosed that Canada will support former Costa Rican President Miguel Angel Rodriguez's nomination for the OAS secretary general position. Costa Rica's Foreign Ministry stated that Canada has expressed its support considering the traditional friendship and cooperation ties and the shared values in the struggle for democracy and human rights. Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar thanked Canada for its support and highlighted that 24 out of 31 countries have expressed their support for Rodriguez's nomination. (San Salvador La Prensa Grafica (Internet Version-WWW) in Spanish -- Independent, conservative, largest-circulation daily. URL: http://www.laprensa.com.sv/)
US Ambassador Barclay Protests FMLN Manipulation of Courtesy Visit -- San Salvador La Prensa Grafica reports that US Ambassador to El Salvador Douglas Barclay yesterday made it clear that a meeting he held with Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) presidential candidate Schafik Handal was merely a courtesy visit. Barclay accused the FMLN presidential candidate of manipulating the visit to politically favor the FMLN cause. He made reference to a full page paid advertising published yesterday in national media. Meanwhile, FMLN general coordinator Salvador Sanchez Ceren said that he would like to talk with US Embassy officials about the issue to comment about it.
US Assistant Secretary of State Noriega Arrives Today -- San Salvador La Prensa Grafica reports that US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Roger Noriega, today will arrive in San Salvador after a one-day visit to Guatemala City. He is expected to meet with President Francisco Flores, Legislative Assembly President Ciro Zepeda, and with Supreme Electoral Tribunal magistrates. He will also meet with private sector representatives.
President Flores Supports Armed Marshals in Airplanes -- San Salvador La Prensa Grafica reports that President Francisco Flores yesterday stressed that armed marshals could soon be placed aboard Salvadoran commercial airplanes. Flores disclosed that the country's airport and national airline have received an important safety certification, but the government will adhere to stronger and better security mechanisms. National Civilian Police (PNC) authorities have said that special, undercover agents will be placed in all commercial airline flights leaving El Salvador after undergoing a 6-month training program. (FBIS is texting this item)
Guatemala
US Assistant Secretary of State Noriega Offers Support to New Government -- Guatemala City Prensa Libre reports that Roger Noriega, US assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, yesterday said that he met with President Oscar Berger to learn about his new government programs. He also stressed the US Government's support to the new Berger administration. In regards to the immigration status of Guatemalans currently living in the United States, Noriega said that it will not change in the short run. Noriega also said he discussed issues such as the government's economic and anti-corruption plans, the renewal of the Maya Jaguar Plan to undertake actions against drug trafficking in the country, and immigration issues concerning Guatemalan citizens living in the United States. (Guatemala City Prensa Libre (Internet Version-WWW) in Spanish -- Independent daily. URL: http://www.prensalibre.com)
CSJ Accepts To Conduct Preliminary Hearing Against Former President Portillo -- Guatemala City Prensa Libre reports that the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) yesterday accepted to initiate a preliminary hearing against former President Alfonso Portillo for charges filed by newspaper El Periodico President Jose Ruben Zamora. Justice Carlos Larios Ochaita said that Portillo has been accused of covering up a criminal accusation, conducting an illegal house raid, and physical aggression against Zamora and his immediate family. The CSJ appointed Justice Maria Eugenia Villasenor, chairman of the 3rd Appeals Chamber, as the person in charge of conducting the investigations. She will determine after analyzing evidence if Portillo's immunity as deputy to the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) should be removed to face the charges.
Former Central American Presidents Could Become Parlacen's Advisors -- Guatemala City Prensa Libre reports that President Oscar Berger will propose to his Central American counterparts several reforms to the Central American Parliament's constitutive agreement. Political Reforms Commissioner Mario Fuentes Destarac disclosed that one of the proposals that should be analyzed is that former presidents and vice presidents should not be automatically incorporated as Parlacen's deputies after concluding their term in office. Fuentes added that they could become advisors but not full deputy members of Parlacen. The proposal also includes changes to make the regional forum's decisions more functional so that they contribute to the region's political integration.
(Guatemala City Siglo Veintiuno (Internet Version-WWW) in Spanish -- Business-oriented daily. URL: http://www.sigloxxi.com): no selections
Honduras
Court Finds Journalist Renato Hernandez Guilty of Slander -- Tegucigalpa La Tribuna reports that the Francisco Morazan Court of Appeals yesterday found journalist Renato Hernandez guilty of slandering former Nationalist Party (PN) deputy Eduardo "Lalo" Sarmiento. Sarmiento sued Hernandez for reading a list with the names of people allegedly involved in drug trafficking activities during the "Face to Face" section of a TVN television newscast. After the ruling, Alvarez maintained his innocence and said he will file a writ of appeals before the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ). (Tegucigalpa La Tribuna (Internet Version-WWW) in Spanish -- Independent daily; owned by family of former President Carlos Flores. URL: http://www.latribuna.hn) (FBIS is texting this item)
Former President Flores Explains Reasons for Resigning From Parlacen -- Tegucigalpa La Tribuna today includes a letter signed by former President Carlos Flores in which he explains the reasons that motivated his resignation from the Central American Parliament (Parlacen). In the letter, Flores states that he did not want to incorporate himself to the Parlacen upon ending his period as Honduran president for lack of time. However, he states that several months after concluding his presidential term, the Parlacen's president and several Honduran deputies to Parlacen visited him and convinced him to join them in the work at Parlacen. Flores said that he accepted the invitation and started to work at the side of his Honduran colleagues. He added that he became frustrated when he saw first hand that much of the Parlacen's work, decisions, and resolutions are not accepted by member countries, thus the work becomes irrelevant. Flores regrets this situation that in his opinion is not contributing the Central America's integration process. At the end of the letter, Flores stresses that he has given his modest contribution to Parlacen, thus there is no need for him to continue there.
Italy To Provide Support to Honduran Police -- San Pedro Sula Tiempo reports that Italy's Ambassador to Honduras Estafano Cacciguerra yesterday signed a cooperation agreement with Security Minister Oscar Alvarez to provide logistical support and technical training to Preventive Police. Cacciguerra and Italian Colonel Maximo Pellegrini, an expert in Italian police issues, learned about the National Security Plan and about the training problems faced by police. (San Pedro Sula Tiempo (Internet Version-WWW) in Spanish -- Left-of-center daily. URL: http://www.tiempo.hn)
Nicaragua
Japanese Government Suspends Glass of Milk Program -- Managua La Prensa reports that Japanese Ambassador to Nicaragua Mitsuhiro Kagami and Foreign Cooperation Secretary Mauricio Gomez yesterday disclosed that the Government of Japan has decided to suspend financing the "Glass of Milk" program at local public schools. Kagami yesterday stressed that the Nicaraguan Government must generate the resources to finance the program that feeds a glass of milk to approximately 400,000 children. Meanwhile, Gomez acknowledged that the program is very expensive and that his office is making efforts to obtain funds from other donor countries. (Managua La Prensa (Internet Version-WWW) in Spanish -- Independent daily; owned by the Chamorro family. URL: http://www.laprensa.com.ni)
Executive Brach Seeks Consensus for Approval of Judicial System Reforms -- Managua La Prensa reports that President Enrique Bolanos and his most important legal advisors are confident that National Assembly deputies will reach a consensus over the Judicial Career Bill he submitted this week. They also hope that the proposal will be approved without many changes. The president yesterday down played comments regarding the unconstitutionality of the proposal. He stressed that the legal team that prepared the proposal made sure it did not have any conflict with the Constitution and the principle of independence of government branches.
Ombudsman Confirms Human Rights Violations in Costa Rican Raid -- Managua La Prensa reports that Ombudsman Benjamin Perez Fonseca yesterday reported that his Costa Rican counterpart, Jose Manuel Echandi, has documented more than 20 human rights violations against Nicaraguan citizens during the police and immigration raid at San Jose's La Carpio neighborhood last week. Perez said that these violations included physical and psychological abuses against Nicaraguan citizens. Perez said that he will pressure the Foreign Ministry for the establishment of a number of legal measures to protect Nicaraguan citizens in Costa Rica.
Executive Branch Submits Package of Bills to National Assembly -- Managua La Prensa reports that President Enrique Bolanos yesterday delivered a package of bills to the National Assembly board of directors with a special request for their urgent approval. The package contains14 draft bills, including the Arms, Ammunition, Explosives, and other related material Control and Regulation Bill, the Water Usage Bill, the Government Property Bill, Judicial Career Bill, Fiscal Responsibility Bill, Customs Service Bill, and the Competition Bill. It also includes a bill calling for the authentic interpretation of Article 1 of the 1913 law that established that government-owned property cannot be legally attached as a result of a court-ordered action. The president requested the urgent approval of these bills for the benefit of the country.
Friction Among PLC Faction Deputies -- Managua La Prensa reports that Deputy Enrique Quinonez, Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC) faction leader, yesterday had a verbal confrontation and discussion with PLC Deputy Pedro Joaquin Rios for differences over the nomination of PLC Deputy Fernando Avelllan as chairman of the Defense and Government Committee. Rios accused Quinonez of favoring Avellan, who has been allegedly recommended by US Embassy Political Counselor Carlos Garcia. Meanwhile, Quinonez denied any US Embassy pressure and down played Rios' remarks. Rios is also seeking the chairmanship of the Defense and Government Committee. (Managua El Nuevo Diario (Internet Version-WWW) in Spanish -- Pro-Renewal Movement newspaper. URL: http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni)
Panama
President Moscoso Signs New Industry Law -- Panama City La Prensa reports that President Mireya Moscoso yesterday signed the controversial Industrial Development Law. She stressed that this law was not improvised but rather, a consensus was reached with all the interested sectors. She stressed that this new law will provide new rules to strengthen and stabilize the industrial sector. Meanwhile, Trade and Industries Minister Joaquin Jacome highlighted that the law seeks to promote industrial growth and sustainable development through investment promotion and production improvement. (Panama City La Prensa (Internet Version-WWW) in Spanish -- Most widely circulated daily, pro-business. URL: http://www.prensa.com)
Several Government Officials to Parlacen -- Panama City La Prensa reports that a total of 39 government officials and close relatives are seeking a seat at the Central American Parliament (Parlacen). This includes President Mireya Moscoso, who despite publicly asking for the organization's dissolution, has also said that she will join it after her term expires.
New Homeland Presidential Candidate Torrijos Meets Former Colombian Presidents -- Panama City La Prensa reports that New Homeland presidential candidate Martin Torrijos yesterday met in Bogota with former Colombian Presidents Ernesto Samper, Alfonso Lopez Michelsen, and Julio Turbay Ayala. Vice Presidential candidate Samuel Lewis Navarro, former Foreign Minister Jorge Ritter, and Colombian Senator Jose Renan Trujillo also attended the meeting. Torrijos' campaign committee reported that they discussed "issues of regional interest" during the meeting.
Former Presidency Minister Young Stresses Intention To Obtain Parlacen Seat -- Panama City El Panama America reports that former Presidency Minister Ivonne Young yesterday stressed her intention to obtain a seat at the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) despite negative criticism against the regional organization. In Young's opinion, the Parlacen was created with the intention to obtain benefits for the region's countries and these benefits have not been adequately communicated. She stressed that Parlacen should continue existing despite President Moscoso's remarks to the contrary. (Internet Version-WWW) in Spanish -- Right-of-center, business-oriented daily owned by the El Panama America Publishing House. URL: http://www.elpanamaamerica.com.pa)
toolkit.dialog.com/intranet/cgi/present?STYLE=739318018&PRESENT=DB=985,AN=184400E-mail this article