284. Telegram From the Embassy in Costa Rica to the Department of State and the Embassy in Nicaragua1
3136. From Bowdler. Subj: Nicaragua: Frustration of Transition Program.
1. (S-Entire text)
2. In the last few minutes I have received telephone calls from President Carazo, Junta member Robelo, Venezuelan OAS Ambassador Cardozo and Dominican FonMin Jimenez expressing mounting concern over the foot-dragging in Managua on implementation of the transition scenario. The frustration here started with the cancellation of the meeting at Puntarenas. It reached its peak when Nicaraguan Acting Foreign Minister Bodan reportedly told Junta advance man Rivas Gasteasoro the following: Quote. This is not a simple transmission of power that will take place when the GRN Junta arrives on Nicaraguan soil; rather what is involved is a government of transition through which a solution to the crisis is to be sought and that as a result of these talks there could emerge another Junta and not necessarily this one. Unquote.
3. As Robelo pointed out to me, the foregoing position is at sharp variance—if not in direct violation—of the understanding which the Junta thought it had reached with the USG.
4. The drama—and the seriousness—of the situation is underscored by the fact that all the persons listed in San Jose 3133 are in the airport awaiting a green light to fly to Managua to begin the conversations.2 Fortunately Dominican Foreign Minister Jimenez—who knows this situation so well—is with the group counselling patience until we have a chance to overcome the obstacle. The five Andean Foreign Ministers, from what Ambassador Cardoso tells me, are huddled in the Venezuelan Embassy awaiting a similar resolution. President Carazo for the domestic reasons which Ambassador Weissman has already reported [Page 699] (San Jose 3073)3 is highly exercised by the failure to follow through with at least the talks that would lead to implementation of the transition plan.
5. In my judgement we face a very serious situation here unless we can get Urcuyo and Mejia to give the green light for the party now at the airport to proceed to Managua this afternoon to start the talks.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P850133–1889. Secret; Flash; Nodis.↩
- In telegram 3133 from San José, July 17, Bowdler reported that Robelo had provided a list of names of GRN Junta members planning to fly to Managua that afternoon. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840133–1500)↩
- In telegram 3073 from San José, July 13, Weissman noted: “Within the past twenty-four hours, a festering internal crisis in Carazo’s government came very close to popping, but my current reading is that a wide-open split in ranks may be postponed some days or weeks, but no more. The substance and style of Carazo’s dealings with Cabinet, Congress and cohorts over recent weeks, his public inaccessibility in recent days, growing realization of the scope of GOCR support to the Sandinistas, frustration over continued fighting in Nicaragua, greater concern over the complexion of a post-Somoza government in some circles here, and finally the twin blows of the congressional fiasco on U.S. helicopters and the latest bombing of Costa Rican border areas all have contributed to widespread malaise.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790317–0595)↩