The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) presided by Ambassador of Costa Rica Rita Hernandez approved a resolution condemning the acts of violence in Nicaragua and called on all parties to participate “actively and in good faith” in the National Dialogue and urged the Government “to support an electoral calendar”.

The resolution approved by the Permanent Council with 21 votes in favor specifically condemns “the attacks on clergy, the harassment of Roman Catholic bishops engaged in the National Dialogue process, the acts of violence at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAN), the headquarters of CARITAS, and other peaceful protesters.”

It also demands the identification of those responsible of the violence through the corresponding legal processes.

Linyi Baidal, Minister-Counselor of Costa Rica, expressed during her intervention that Costa Rica as one of the countries presenting the resolution “feels thankful and encouraged, but not satisfied”.

“We cannot be (satisfied), because the situation in Nicaragua continues to deteriorate; young students, working and humble men and women continue being mortal victims of the repression and barbarie. No, they are not terrorists like they have tried to make them look”, added Baidal.

The Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica Epsy Campbell, expressed “Costa Rica cannot remain silent and undaunted. We will continue raising our voice in defense of a nation that is living one of the worse repressions; we will continue raising our voice until the reason and good judgment return to Nicaragua and its Government stops this wave of violence and repression”.

The document presented by the delegations of Costa Rica, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and the United States, also urges the Government of Nicaragua and all other actors “to participate actively and in good faith in the National Dialogue as a mechanism to generate peaceful and sustainable solutions to the situation unfolding in Nicaragua, and for the strengthening of democracy in that country.”

Moreover, the resolution exhorts the Government of Nicaragua “to support an electoral calendar jointly agreed to in the context of the National Dialogue process.”

The resolution was approved with 21 votes in favor (Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, United States, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia, Uruguay, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile), 3 against (Nicaragua, Saint Vincent the Grenadines and Venezuela), 7 abstentions (El Salvador, Grenada, Haiti, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Belize) and three absences (Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Bolivia).

During the same meeting, the Permanent Council rejected a proposed resolution presented by Nicaragua. The text received 3 votes in favor (Nicaragua, Saint Vincent the Grenadines and Venezuela), 20 against (Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the United States, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia, Uruguay, Argentina, The Bahamas), 8 abstentions (Barbados, Belize, El Salvador, Grenada, Haiti, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda) and three countries absent (Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Bolivia)