Nicaragua Long Socialist--Ortega : Claims That Has Been the Reality for Last 9 Years

President Daniel Ortega, speaking at the ninth anniversary of his leftist government, said today that Nicaragua has been socialist since 1979.

“There were expectations on this July 19 that we were going to declare ourselves socialists,” the president, wearing a plaid cowboy shirt, said in the nationally broadcast speech. “They haven’t understood yet that we are socialists, and there’s (been) socialism in Nicaragua since 1979.”

It was believed to be the first time that he or any of the Sandinista leaders described themselves as socialists. Recently, Sandinista leaders have said that the country had a mixed economy with socialist orientation.

Ortega spoke to a crowded stadium in the central city of Juigalpa, 85 miles east of the capital.

Bilateral Talks

He also urged the United States to renew bilateral talks, last held in 1984, to normalize relations.

The president called on the U.S.-backed Contra rebels to reopen stalled discussions on a definitive cease-fire. He also said that government troops would extend a truce until Aug. 30. The current cease-fire was due to expire at the end of this month.

The anniversary marks the day Sandinista guerrillas arrived triumphantly in Managua, the capital, after a 1 1/2-year civil war that ended four decades of dictatorial rule by the Somoza dynasty.

Troops on Monday conducted searches at roadblocks along the road to the site of the festivities in Juigalpa, 85 miles east of Managua. Also, the Interior Ministry banned alcohol sales for 24 hours in Chontales province, where anniversary festivities also are being held.

Military Exercises

The measures followed three days of military exercises that ended Sunday. The armed forces, using tanks, helicopters and guns, joined civilians to act out air strikes and land attacks.

Also Sunday, thousands of youths attended dances to celebrate the “Day of Happiness,” marking the day in 1979 when President Anastasio Somoza left the country.

The celebrations come while a quick and permanent end to the government’s seven-year war with the Contras remains elusive.

Negotiations broke down in June for a lasting peace to the conflict that has claimed 26,000 lives. The rebels in recent weeks have staged almost daily ambushes despite a cease-fire agreement signed March 23.

Ambassador Expelled

The government last week expelled U.S. Ambassador Richard H. Melton and seven other American diplomats. It accused the U.S. Embassy of being behind a plan to incite domestic unrest.

Also last week, courts sentenced to six months in jail the three dozen opposition figures who attended an anti-government demonstration that police broke up with tear gas and beatings.

Lawmakers in Washington are discussing resuming military aid to the Contras, which Congress cut off in February in hopes that the Sandinistas would deliver on promises of democratic reforms.

The government claims that most of Nicaragua’s problems center on the war with the Contras, which it says has caused $3.6 billion in damage to the economy.