Nicaragua tells US it will not destroy all its SA-7 missiles

WAR.WIRE

Nicaragua tells US it will not destroy all its SA-7 missiles
MANAGUA (AFP) Feb 23, 2005
Nicaragua on Wednesday for the first time told the United States it will not destroy all of its Soviet-made surface-to-air missiles, which Washington worries could fall into the hands of terrorists.

"The intention, the clear and firm will of the government is precisely to continue to dispose of the excess (missiles) while retaining a strategic reserve of 20 percent of the total so as to not undercut the state's defense capacity," said Defense Minister Jose Adan Guerra.

Concerned by the whereabouts of missiles dating from the clash between leftist Sandinistas and contra rebels in the 1980s, the United States this week sent a mission to Nicaragua to review President Enrique Bolanos' progress on his pledge to find and eliminate them.

Guerra made his remarks after meeting with a US team, led by Rose Likins, the acting assistant secretary for political and military affairs, visiting Managua.

"We reached specific agreements so as to ease any concerns, doubts or worries there might be on the US part," Guerra said, stressing the US mission was convinced "the missiles are stored perfectly safely."

The SA-7s were purchased by the Nicaraguan Sandinista government between 1979-1990 to battle the US-backed contras.