warships moored off Nicaragua's Caribbean coast today, in a visit which has sparked heated debate in a country divided by disputed elections.
Leftist President Daniel Ortega claims he is authorized to approve the visit, but opposition lawmakers say the currently-paralyzed congress needs to approve visits by foreign military forces.
"We don't want to violate Nicaragua's laws. We only came on a friendship and humanitarian mission," Russian ambassador Igor Kondrashev told local media after the ships, led by destroyer Admiral Chabanenko, moored off Nicaragua s coast.
The ships carried computers, electric generators, medicines and other donations for the impoverished Central American country and were due to stay until Monday, the diplomat said.
Reports said Ortega was due to visit the ships today.
Nicaragua's congress was closed down on November 24 after the opposition proposed a bill to annul contested November 9 mayoral elections over fraud allegations.
Last week the Admiral Chabanenko became the first Russian warship to use the Panama Canal since 1944, after participating in joint exercises with the Venezuelan navy.
The maneuvers in the Caribbean a region traditionally seen as the US backyard--have been seen as a rebuke for Washington s decision to deploy an anti-missile defense "shield" in eastern Europe and to send warships carrying aid to Georgia during that country's war with Russia in August.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Russian Warships Sail Into Nicaragua Political Storm
Russian Warships Sail Nicaragua Into Political Storm
(NSI News Source Info) Managua - December 14, 2008: Three Russian warships moored off Nicaragua's Caribbean coast today, in a visit which has sparked heated debate in a country divided by disputed elections.
Leftist President Daniel Ortega claims he is authorized to approve the visit, but opposition lawmakers say the currently-paralyzed congress needs to approve visits by foreign military forces.
"We don't want to violate Nicaragua's laws. We only came on a friendship and humanitarian mission," Russian ambassador Igor Kondrashev told local media after the ships, led by destroyer Admiral Chabanenko, moored off Nicaragua s coast.
The ships carried computers, electric generators, medicines and other donations for the impoverished Central American country and were due to stay until Monday, the diplomat said.
Reports said Ortega was due to visit the ships today.
Nicaragua's congress was closed down on November 24 after the opposition proposed a bill to annul contested November 9 mayoral elections over fraud allegations.
Last week the Admiral Chabanenko became the first Russian warship to use the Panama Canal since 1944, after participating in joint exercises with the Venezuelan navy.
The maneuvers in the Caribbean a region traditionally seen as the US backyard--have been seen as a rebuke for Washington s decision to deploy an anti-missile defense "shield" in eastern Europe and to send warships carrying aid to Georgia during that country's war with Russia in August.
warships moored off Nicaragua's Caribbean coast today, in a visit which has sparked heated debate in a country divided by disputed elections.
Leftist President Daniel Ortega claims he is authorized to approve the visit, but opposition lawmakers say the currently-paralyzed congress needs to approve visits by foreign military forces.
"We don't want to violate Nicaragua's laws. We only came on a friendship and humanitarian mission," Russian ambassador Igor Kondrashev told local media after the ships, led by destroyer Admiral Chabanenko, moored off Nicaragua s coast.
The ships carried computers, electric generators, medicines and other donations for the impoverished Central American country and were due to stay until Monday, the diplomat said.
Reports said Ortega was due to visit the ships today.
Nicaragua's congress was closed down on November 24 after the opposition proposed a bill to annul contested November 9 mayoral elections over fraud allegations.
Last week the Admiral Chabanenko became the first Russian warship to use the Panama Canal since 1944, after participating in joint exercises with the Venezuelan navy.
The maneuvers in the Caribbean a region traditionally seen as the US backyard--have been seen as a rebuke for Washington s decision to deploy an anti-missile defense "shield" in eastern Europe and to send warships carrying aid to Georgia during that country's war with Russia in August.
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