Castro the Star as Nicaragua Swears In Ortega

Former guerrilla chieftain Daniel Ortega, 39, took office Thursday as president of Nicaragua, and former guerrilla chieftain Fidel Castro showed up for the inauguration ceremony.

The famous and flamboyant Cuban president was the undisputed star among an otherwise lackluster group of foreign officials who attended the afternoon inauguration in Managua’s Plaza de la Revolucion.

In taking his oath of office, Ortega became Nicaragua’s first president since Sandinista revolutionaries seized power from the Somoza family dynasty and installed a government junta in July, 1979.

Ortega headed the junta and is a member of the nine-member National Directorate, the ultimate source of power in Nicaragua. He won the presidency in Nov. 4 elections that were boycotted by some opposition parties.

Wearing his blue and white presidential sash over an olive green uniform, Ortega used his inaugural speech to harshly criticize U.S. authorities for sponsoring an “orgy of blood” and “genocide” in Nicaragua.

Castro, also in uniform, slumped low in his chair as Ortega spoke.

Castro’s arrival was rumored but unannounced until his jetliner landed at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. At the airport, he extended a “brotherly and warm greeting” to the Nicaraguan people, but gave no press conference.

“He’s not going to give a press conference today because that would just take the limelight away from the inauguration,” a Nicaraguan government press aide said.

Castro’s presence was interpreted by foreign diplomats as a reinforcement of Cuban solidarity with Nicaragua. Like Cuba, Nicaragua is at odds with the United States over its revolutionary policies.

The Reagan Administration, which supports anti-Sandinista guerrillas fighting the Managua government, sent no special delegation to the inauguration. The United States was represented by its ambassador here, Harry E. Bergold Jr.

One European diplomat said Castro’s message to the Sandinistas appeared to be that although Cuba cannot do much to help Nicaragua against the United States, “we’re still with you.”

Castro was expected to use the inauguration as an opportunity to meet with the foreign ministers of Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela. Those four countries, known as the Contadora Group, are mediating Central American peace talks.

The Contadora foreign ministers came to Nicaragua after meeting earlier this week in Panama. Foreign Minister Augusto Ramirez of Colombia said the peace negotiations are entering “a final stretch.”

The Contadora peace plan would include the withdrawal of foreign military advisers from Central American countries. Cuba has military advisers in Nicaragua and the United States has them in Honduras and El Salvador, the latter embroiled in a war with leftist guerrillas.

Castro has said Cuba is willing to withdraw its advisers if a peace agreement is reached.

In his inaugural speech, Ortega reaffirmed Nicaragua’s support for the Contadora efforts and invited the other governments of Central America to join Nicaragua in a direct “dialogue” for peace.

He also said that Nicaragua wants to normalize its relations with the United States but said Washington is trying to “liquidate the just aspirations of our people.”

“A truly dramatic situation has been imposed on the Nicaraguan people by the military, political and economic war that U.S. leaders are promoting,” he said. “Today they are demanding an added budget from the American people to continue the orgy of blood in Nicaragua.”

He added later: “Despite this situation, Nicaragua is not an enemy of the United States and defends its right to normalize relations with that nation, whose leaders--without consulting with its people--have been carrying out a policy of genocide against the people of Nicaragua.”

Earlier in the week, Ortega announced his new Cabinet, which retains the key ministers of the previous Cabinet. The president’s brother, Commander Humberto Ortega, remains as defense minister; Father Miguel D’Escoto, a Maryknoll priest, stays as foreign minister, and Commander Tomas Borge continues as interior minister, in charge of police.