Nicaraguan Congress postpones vote on pact (CAFTA)

[Judi Lynn]

ALEMAN
Associated Press Writer

Nicaraguan Congress postpones vote on pact


AUG. 9 2:27 P.M. ET Nicaragua's congress on Tuesday postponed until next month debate on a proposed free-trade agreement between Central America and the United States.

Congressional President and leftist Sandinista leader Rene Nunez said lawmakers could not reach an agreement to include the so-called Central American Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, on the legislative agenda before summer vacations, which begin on Wednesday.

"There are important sectors of the country that still need more information on this," he said of the pact, which would eliminate trade barriers between the U.S. and Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

CAFTA supporters said the debate was delayed because of pressure from Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega, whose party, along with dissenting members of Nicaragua's ruling Constitutionalist Liberal Party, oppose the measure. The parties have formed a majority alliance in the national assembly.
(snip/...)

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8BSFB600.htm?campaign_id=apn_home_down&chan=db

[K-W]

1. How democratic of them. EOM

[mom cat]

2. I hope they suceed in blocking it and give other Central American

countries the courage to stand up and reject this disaster!