Won’t Delay Chamorro’s Inaugural, Ortega Pledges

MANAGUA, Nicaragua —  President Daniel Ortega said Wednesday that he will hand over power to President-elect Violeta Barrios de Chamorro on the scheduled April 25 inauguration date, ending speculation that he would delay the transition if the U.S.-backed Contras were not disarmed.

“On April 25, I will hand the presidential sash to Violeta Barrios de Chamorro and she will become the chief executive, independent of whether the war continues in our country or has been eradicated,” Ortega told reporters.

Ortega made his comments after a 75-minute meeting with Chamorro at her Managua home.

On Monday, Ortega left open the possibility that the government transition could be postponed if the Contras were not disarmed, saying the country is on the brink of civil war.

However, Ortega said he has maintained his decision to hand over power that he first made Feb. 26, the day he accepted his election defeat by Chamorro in the Feb. 25 vote.

Ortega called on a delegation of Contras now in Managua to agree to lay down their arms by April 25 “so that the hand-over of power can be made in conditions of peace.”

Ortega said negotiations being held Wednesday between the Contras and Sandinista officials could lead to an agreement that would set a date for the disarming of the rebels.

Negotiators are also trying to set a timetable for the Contras inside Nicaragua to enter five large “security zones” patrolled by U.N. peacekeeping troops. Once inside the enclaves, they would be disarmed, fed and quartered and protected by international authorities.

The Contras and Sandinistas were expected to sign a definitive cease-fire accord later in the day.

Earlier Wednesday, rebel leaders had said they would not hand over their rifles before April 25. Ortega, however, described the Contra comments as not in line with the realities of the talks.

Chamorro, meanwhile, said that “we will start with a clean slate, which is what all we Nicaraguans want.”

Ortega said that as the Contras surrender their arms, so will Sandinista civilians who had been issued weapons to defend themselves against rebel attacks.

He also announced that at Chamorro’s request, U.S. citizens will no longer be required to have visas to enter Nicaragua. He did not say when the requirement will be lifted but indicated that it will allow Americans to attend the inauguration without a visa.