Deference outlives ideology. If the Kremlin is for it, and Washington is against it, Ortega must be in favor.
From AFP, via
Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega has revived Cold War ghosts by recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia, supporting Russia’s stance on the breakaway Georgian regions.
Ortega, a former Marxist guerilla leader who had close ties to the ex-Soviet Union, went further than other leftist Latin American countries in his defiance of Washington over the Georgia conflict by recognizing the independence of the rebel regions. …
Nicaragua “recognizes the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia” decreed by their respective parliaments in August, Ortega said Tuesday evening.
Nicaragua also completely supports “the Russian government’s position,” added Ortega…
Given its historical experience, you might think that Nicaragua would side with a small state against an overbearing northern neighbor, but no. Apparently the habit of following the line laid down in Moscow is too strong. (Presumably Ortega is also betting on a McCain administration in the US — thumbing your nose at the outgoing administration is going to have a very short shelf life — and an Obama team would bring rather different people to Latin American relations. That may not be the best of wagers either.)
Update: The of course completely reliable Wikipedia says that Nicaragua has five territorial disputes with its neighbors. But who needs territorial integrity as a norm in international relations?
Condi Rice in Lisbon finds a way to bracket the Nicaraguans —
I am satisfied at the condemnation of Russia’s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and the fact that by last count, it was South Ossetia and Abkhazia recognizing each other, Russia, maybe Nicaragua, I understand, and Hamas,
“Nicaragua has five territorial disputes with its neighbors. But who needs territorial integrity as a norm in international relations?”
What? That’s not the same at all. Japan, India,Brazil,Australia… all have border disputes too. You’ve got nothing on that point.
Nicaraugra is now much closer to most EU to countries that have recognized Kosovo. They are just following the EU lead. EU countries have shown that borders no longer matter when a minority can be backed by superpowers. Like the EU in Kosovo, Russia is getting more support for their newly created countries.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iQwVicLvAGhRkZZAIAd7HuGrt1-g
Merrill’s point was to underline the hypocrisy of Nicaragua’s stance. One would argue that self-interest would dictate against recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia, because that supports a precedent that may be used against one’s own territory. That’s what China did. Yet, Ortega chose otherwise.
I disagree. Mr. Merrill clearly compared Nicaragua’s position in a border dispute as that of nation building by changing the borders unilaterally. The two are completely different and can’t be compared, whether to show hypocrisy or otherwise.
However, self interest, as a legitimate reason to change a sovereign nation’s borders, is now on the books and is OK, since Kosovo. If the EU/NATO can do it, so can Russia, China, Brazil, India, Pakistan,……..
Personally, I’m against it. However, the EU/NATO have shown the way, opened the portal for new wars. South Ossetia and Abkhazia are just the beginning.
For those advocating Kosovo, Abkhazia, Kurdistan, and the others, get those children and grandchildren military training ASAP. Put your genes where your mouth and writing is. IF they come back in one piece or at all, they can be heroes! However, most veterans don’t come back with fond memories of killing people.
Euros types (fistfuls of them) despised Ronald Reagan, especially becasue he called a dictator a dictator. He once called Danny Ortega “the little dictator who went to Moscow.”
Well, one of Nicaragua’s “border disputes” (not in Wikipedia) is that the towns along the southern shore of Lake Nicaragua have tried to secede and join Costa Rica, most recently in 2002.
So you might think it would be stupid for Nicaragua support Russia … if anybody really believed that these sorts of precedents meant anything. The towns on the south shore aren’t going to rebel, Costa Rica is not going to invade, and the “precedent” means nothing.
So if Danny wants to tweak El Imperio, recognizing the two Caucasian microstates is a fine way to do it. What’s the U.S. gonna do? Cut aid flows? Nah.
All upside from his point of view.
Wow, they’re swarming thick tonight.
Doug, Nicaragua’s been the bad boy of Central America since forever. It was more obvious under the Sandinistas, but Somoza was just as difficult a neighbor. They have minor but intractable border disputes with Costa Rica, Honduras, and (remarkably) Colombia, and they’ve always been pretty obnoxious about refusing to resolve them.
That said, I suspect you’re right — this is probably a knee-jerk reaction on Danny’s part. He was once a reasonably competent guerrilla commander, but even then patient judgment was not his strong point.
Doug M.
Ya know, Muir has been a pretentious little ass since forever, so he and his circle-jerk clique never surprise me with their snarky refusal to listen to those who dislike whatever nationalism is fashionable to bourgeois expats this season. Still. Why does anyone comment here? Hint: they ain’t gonna respect you, if you can’t do the mental gymnastics required to love Kosova and Tibet while hating other oppressed little peoples. Seriously, people. Let the little cosmopolitans have their fun. Soon enough they’ll just be talking to themselves.
Eamonn, the list of dictators that St. Ronnie did not call dictators is a very long one. There were plenty of reasons to despise Reagan; his consistent support for essentially feudal lords in Latin America was just one of them.
OF, have you got anything substantive to say? If you’re just here to insult the writers, move along. It’s a big Internet out there, go read something you find informative.
Well said Old Friend! Ummm, working hard to not elaborate further…..Whew!
I think President Ortega is supporting Russia because of his concern with the unilateralism shown by EU/NATO and the support that has been shown for it at high levels within the UN (Puppet Moon and his predecessor). He’s voting for balance. The EU/NATO seems unable to promote a level playing field because of their use of double-speak and double standards.
The past twenty years in Europe are like a live remake of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, with the EU and NATO playing the pigs.
As someone who witnesses European and US Policy in Central America, I think President Ortega would argue it’s always been that way in Central America and South America.
You’re onto us, OF: there is only one Dougs. No hay que uno!
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Yellow card, Todd.
God, Orwell comparisons are so boring.