Chancelor of Foreign Affairs Enrique Castillo spent a day with his Israeli counterpart discussing the challenges and common interests between the two nations, according to digital news daily El Pais and Spanish news agency EFE.

According to official sources, the meeting between Castillo and Avigdor Lieberman was “very open and satisfactory, in which a summary of international affairs and regional processes in Latin America and the Middle East was discussed.”

Insofar as common ground, the officials discussed potential threats and cooperation affairs faced by both Costa Rica and Israel, mainly related to trade and commerce. Castillo also visited the West Bank in order to strengthen ties with all jurisdictions. He also visited the Israeli Supreme Court and met with Salim Yubran, the first Arab judge permanently appointed to that bench.

Earlier in the day, Castillo visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum, and left a memorial wreath. He is expected to visit with member of the Israeli Parliament and cabinet. He will also visit Ramala, where the Palestinian Authority is headquartered, and will meet with Yaser Abdarabu, Secretary General of the Executive Council of the Palestinian Liberation Organization. A meeting with Israeli President Simon Peres is scheduled for Thursday.

Concerns Over Iran-Nicaragua Relationship

According to La Prensa in Nicaragua, Minister Castillo made comments to a radio station in the Middle East regarding what he called as the “expansionist aims” of Nicaragua and her relationship with the Iranian government:

“We have a friendship with Israel, and Iran threatens her; we don’t agree with that, we are definitely with Israel and thus we are worried that Iran’s support could empower Nicaragua to continue her “expansionist aims.”

Such comments have not been reported by any other Spanish language news outlet. It is important to note that La Prensa is usually very critical of the Ortega administration and the Sandinista ideology.