Thatcher and Nicaragua’s Ortega Meet
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher met with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega for the first time Monday and reportedly told him she is disappointed by his country’s lack of progress toward democracy.
Thatcher also made no promises to help Nicaragua improve relations with the United States, a British source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.
Ortega is on a 10-nation West European tour to drum up support for his battered economy and to seek help in normalizing relations with the United States.
“This is the first time I’ve met the prime minister, and that in itself is a positive action, that the dialogue took place,” Ortega told reporters after his 75-minute meeting with Thatcher. “We were both frank and direct.”
After joking that they were both dressed in green, Ortega said, “On other points we might not have coincided so much, but we can work toward a convergence.”
Thatcher said there are “doubts about Nicaragua’s commitment to democracy,” the British source said.
Ortega said Thatcher also did not promise any financial aid for Nicaragua.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
