Nicaragua Rejects the Panama Decision Regarding Martinelli Safe Passage Exit

Nicaragua rejects that the Foreign Ministry denies safe passage to Martinelli.  Nicaragua reiterated to the Panamanian Foreign Ministry its adherence to and compliance with international law to grant asylum to Ricardo Martinelli.  The government of Nicaragua ‘categorically’ rejected the fact that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama  does not recognize the asylum it granted to former President Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal that denies him the safe passage he requires to leave the national territory of Panama.  Through a note issued by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nicaragua reiterated to the Panamanian Foreign Ministry its adherence to and compliance with international law, especially the Convention on Asylum signed in Havana (Cuba) in 1928 and the Convention on Political Asylum adopted in Montevideo (Uruguay), in 1933 to grant asylum to Martinelli.  Likewise, they state that “not recognizing asylum and denying safe conduct constitutes a violation of the asylum conventions, in particular Article 2, third provision, of the 1928 Asylum Convention, which clearly establishes that the State Government that grants asylum, may demand that the asylum seeker be removed from the national territory within the shortest possible time; an obligation in strict accordance with the Convention that remains unfulfilled by the Republic of Panama.”  They also point out that political asylum must be respected as a humanitarian right, in accordance with the conventions that regulate it, which is why Nicaragua reiterates that Martinelli’s asylum has been granted because he considers himself persecuted for political reasons and because his life, physical integrity and security, are at imminent risk. Nicaragua reaffirms its respect for international law and the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other States; The granting of asylum to Mr. Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal is a purely humanitarian matter and is consistent with international law on this matter.