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countries of Central America. A "Final Act" was signed committing the members of the European Community to annual political meetings in principle at Ministerial level with the Central Americans, with
the participation of the Contadora countries. A cooperation agreement between the European Community and Costa Rica,
An
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama was also signed. This agreement contained an undertaking by the European Community to provide substantially increased aid to the Central
American states from which all the countries will benefit.
agreed objective is to encourage regional cooperation and the
Community confirmed its intention to grant priority assistance for
regional projects on the basis of the jointly agreed priorities and
objectives for the region. We, and the Latin American countries,
recognise that the countries of Western Europe cannot solve the
problems of Central America but we hope that the closer
institutional bonds and the substantial increase in aid agreed at
Luxembourg will provide a welcome signal of encouragement, goodwill and support for the efforts of the Contadora Group to bring peace and economic development to the region.
On 15 October 1985, President Daniel Ortega announced the suspension for one year of 13 Articles of the Statutes of
Nicaraguan Rights and Guarantees. The UK is seriously concerned
about this suspension of civil liberties and the recently announced tightening of the 'state of siege' which
'state of siege' which has already resulted in the closure of the country's only opposition newspaper, La Prensa, and measures against Church leaders, including the expulsion from
Nicaragua of Bishop Pablo Vega. The Government has consistently, both privately and publicly in Parliament, urged the Nicaraguan Government to adopt a genuine pluralist democratic system and to
improve civil liberties.
We view with concern many of Nicaragua's actions, particularly the build up of its armed forces and armaments, which has served to
increase instability in Central America. This is a matter of legitimate concern to its neighbours. We have made it clear to the Nicaraguan government that our future relations with Nicaragua will depend on progress towards establishing a genuine pluralist democracy, reducing armaments and ceasing to support subversion of
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