(QCOSTARICA) There is good news from Managua, sort of, for the migrants and the government of Costa Rica, a promise from Nicaragua to open its borders to growing number of migrants stuck in Costa Rica.
On Saturday, the government of Daniel Ortega announced it has in the works a number of mechanisms to ensure a “safe and orderly” transit of persons (migrants) through its territory.
“The authorities of Foreign Ministry, Police, Immigration and Customs are coordinating efforts to ensure the orderly migratory movement and secure our people need as part of their own life and relations between fraternal peoples,” said the Nicaraguan Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a brief statement and without going into details.
In the statement of August 6, Nicaragua explains that it has intensified air, sea and land controls to prevent the transit of migrants, with possible ties to organized crime, and trafficking of drugs, weapons and persons.
“Given the threats of organized crime and its hazards we are working to organize transit, while protecting the integrity and lives of (Nicaraguan) families and communities,” said the statement.
The document is signed by the deputy director of the National Police of Nicaragua, Francisco Diaz Madriz; the Deputy Foreign Minister, Arlette Marenco Meza, and the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Luis Cañas Novoa.
The announcement comes days after Nicaraguan authorities found at least ten migrants, reportedly of African origin, drowned in Lake Nicaragua as they tried to cross the Nicaraguan territory en route to the United States.
At the time, dozens of undocumented immigrants were detained and returned to Costa Rica, the last country crossed, some starting their journey from Brazil.
Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister, Manuel Gonzalez, described the statement from Nicaragua as a “positive element”; however, he was cautious because the document does not provide many details.
“The statement is somewhat ambiguous because it does not specify what actions they intend to take (…) it is the first time in many months that Nicaragua was officially expressed on the problem in the region,” said Gonzalez.
The minister added that the authorities in Nicaragua have not established any contact with those of Costa Rica, and “if the interest is genuine”, for him the next step is to coordinate with multilateral organizations for a joint regional solution.
Gonzales stressed that the statement can not be interpreted that Nicaragua will open its borders and allow the passage of migrants stranded in Costa Rica and those who are on their way from South America.
“Although the statement (of Nicaragua) is positive, it is not reflecting the desire to make any bilateral coordination between Costa Rica and Nicaragua, it cannot be interpreted that they are to open their borders and will allow the passage of those people who have accumulated in Costa Rica and continue to accumulate because they come walking up from the south,” said Gonzalez.
Source: La Nacion
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