«Witnesses, companions, and advisers» will take part in the national dialogue in Nicaragua, Fides News Agency reported March 6, 2019.
The agreement reached in the last two days, therefore, provides that in addition to the two parties (Government and Civic Alliance), other persons falling into these three categories will be present at the dialogue table. This was announced yesterday evening, March 5, by Carlos Tünnermann, representative of Civic Alliance, speaking to the local press. The figure of the guarantors is still under discussion. In the interview with the Nicaraguan press, the Civic Alliance representative also informed that a written invitation was delivered to the Episcopal Conference (CEN), signed and delivered by the representatives of the two parties.
Fides received confirmation of this invitation from the Bishop of Estelí, Mgr. Abelardo Mata, who reported in a message that CEN received the official invitation last night, but also stressed that the Bishops do not want to be used for political tactics or underground agreements.
Carlos Tünnermann recalled in yesterday’s press conference that «for Civic Alliance the presence of CEN is of vital importance in the process of national dialogue. In the current context for Nicaragua, CEN is the most credible institution and therefore the Bishops must be present as witnesses.»
With regards to the fact whether the government agreed on the Bishops’ presence in the dialogue, Tünnermann replied very clearly that there is no resistance on the part of the Government, but «modalities» are being discussed. The Episcopal Conference will meet on Friday 8 March to define its participation in the national dialogue.
