Press Releases

Secretary of Defense
The Honorable Donald Rumsfeld
October 3, 2006

OPEN LETTER TO THE NICARAGUAN PEOPLE

To the people of Nicaragua: 

For the past three days, I have been in Managua for the Conference of the Defense Ministerial for the Americas.  My thanks to President Enrique Bolaños and to Defense Minister Avil Ramirez for hosting this important conference.  Minister Ramirez was kind enough to host me at Masaya National Park as well, and show me some of the beauty this land offers.   

My thanks also to the people of Nicaragua  --  and especially the people of Managua  --  for your gracious hospitality in making this conference possible.

I believe this is the first such conference held in Central America, and Nicaragua is a fitting setting.  This country’s commitment to international cooperation and dialogue goes back at least to 1945, when it was the first nation to ratify the United Nations charter.  And we are here, in part,  to celebrate the growth of democracy in Nicaragua,  and in Central America.

The United States is proud to consider Nicaragua a friend and we look forward to increasing our cooperation in the future. I extend my best wishes to you and the respect and friendship of the United States.