WORLD : Nicaragua to Accept U.S. Envoys

The Sandinista government said today it will accredit new U.S. diplomats now that George Bush has taken office as President, lifting a ban imposed with the expulsion of the American ambassador and seven other U.S. diplomats in July.

“We hope this will open a new chapter in the relations between our two countries,” Foreign Minister Miguel D’Escoto said. “It’s a very generous measure on Nicaragua’s part, to demonstrate the good will of our country. He said the decision had been made unilaterally to give visas to diplomats the State Department had been requesting, adding there were around nine visa requests pending.