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Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega has been invited to the SICA summit in Costa Rica, however, tense relations between the two countries may make him a no show
The invitation was made, but will he show up, as Costa Rica extends a friendly hand to Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega to sit with U.S. President Barack Obama and the other presidents of Central America during the Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA) summit hosted by Presidenta Laura Chinchilla in San José.
Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister, Enrique Castillo, told Nicaraguan television on Tuesday that his government “has invited president Ortega” by way of Nicaragua’s Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Denis Moncada, to be present at the May 4 summit.
Castillo said on Nicaragua’s television channel 15, that his government has yet to send out “formal” invitations to the presidents of Central America, but have all been contacted by telephone. “We hope all SICA countries will be represented at this historic meeting”, remarked Castillo to his Nicaraguan audience.
Tensions have marked relations between Costa Rica and Nicaragua for more than two years due to the border conflict. Presidents Ortega and Chinchilla have avoided been together at SICA summits during this period.
The last time Ortega was in Costa Rica was at the Chinchilla inauguration in May 2010.
The SICA meeting, which will include Presidenta Obama, will discuss development cooperation and bilateral trade in the region. According to Castillo, organized crime, drug trafficking and natural disasters are the main topics of discussion. Plus there will be discussion on immigration reforms, a topic driven by the US president.
