NICARAGUA: NEW PROPERTY SUPERINTENDENT PAYS COURTESY CALL

UNCLAS MANAGUA 000626 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CEN GSCHIFFER, EB/IFD/OIA, L/CID AND WHA/EPSC TREASURY FOR INL MDONOVAN AND GCHRISTOPOLUS, OWH/JHOEK STATE PASS TO USTR SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EINV ECON USTR KIDE NU SUBJECT: NICARAGUA: NEW PROPERTY SUPERINTENDENT PAYS COURTESY CALL REF: MANAGUA 00591 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Mireya Molina Torres was officially instated as the new Property Superintendent on January 25, 2007, replacing Alfonso Sandino. In an unexpected courtesy, Molina paid an introductory call to the Embassy's Property Office days before. Molina stressed to Emboffs that her goal is to demonstrate progress on U.S. citizen property claims so as to again win a Section 527 waiver, echoing statements made by President Daniel Ortega to U.S. officials. Molina brings a unique perspective to the job. In the 1980s, she was intimately involved in the Sandinista land redistribution program. In the 1990s, Molina combined professorships at local law schools with a private law practice specializing in the privatization of rural enterprises. In 1997, she was a member of the legal team that drafted legislation governing extensive property issues (Law 278). More recently, she was the legal counsel for an American citizen with a property claim. End Summary. Unexpected Courtesy -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Mireya Molina Torres was instated as the new Property Superintendent on January 25, 2007, according to the online version of Gaceta, the official register of government events. Her predecessor, Alfonso Sandino, had participated in numerous Amcit claims resolutions. On January 18, in an unexpected courtesy, Molina paid an introductory call to the Embassy's Property Office, coming to the Embassy for the meeting. Molina stressed to Emboffs that her goal was to demonstrate progress on U.S. citizen property claims so as to gain a Section 527 waiver [to the Foreign Relations Authorization Act (Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995)] again this year. ¶3. (SBU) Molina vowed to do her best to resolve outstanding claims, and immediately began going through a list of active claims provided by Embassy staff. At the top of the list are longstanding cases close to resolution, but contentious in nature. Molina is familiar with many of the cases, and the people and properties involved. She suggested that we create a trimester work plan, focusing first on the best documented cases. Emboffs agreed. ¶4. (SBU) Emboffs stressed the importance of resolving all outstanding claims, including Army-held properties -- an area which has proved difficult to broach. Molina confided that she has good contacts within the Army, and that she expects to be able to make progress in this area, too. Comment -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Molina's desire to make progress on U.S. citizen claims may lend credence to statements made by President Daniel Ortega during the past several months. Beginning in his presidential campaign, Ortega has made a point of stating that private property rights would be respected under his administration. In addition, Ortega has conveyed to visiting U.S. officials his desire to resolve outstanding U.S. citizen claims. End Comment. Section 527 -------------- ¶6. (U) Section 527 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act prohibits U.S. economic assistance to or support in international financial institutions for any country where U.S. citizens have not received adequate or effective compensation for outstanding claims against a government that has confiscated property owned by U.S. citizens. The Secretary of State has issued a waiver to Section 527 for Nicaragua in each of the past 13 years. A key consideration has been progress made in resolving outstanding claims. Of 3191 claims subject to Section 527, 682 claims remain. Biography: Mireya Molina Torres -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Mireya Molina Torres brings a unique perspective to the job. In the 1980s, she was the National Director for Land Tenure in the Ministry of Agrarian Reform. In this capacity, she was intimately involved in Sandinista land redistribution programs and the issuance of land titles, especially to farmers and cooperatives. ¶8. (SBU) In the 1990s, Molina combined professorships at local law schools with her own private law practice, specializing in the privatization of rural enterprises. In 1997, she was a member of the legal team that drafted legislation governing extensive property issues, including distribution of state-owned land, titling, claims and compensation procedures (Law 278). More recently, Molina met with Embassy staff as legal counsel for an American citizen with a property claim in Nicaragua, proving that life, particularly in Nicaragua, sometimes comes full circle. TRIVELLI