LatinNews Daily Report - 22 March 2012

Nicaragua | Ortega says no to drugs. On 21 March President Daniel Ortega came out against the proposal put forward by his Guatemalan peer, Otto Pérez Molina of legalizing drugs as an alternative strategy to the war on drugs. Porfirio Lobo of Honduras, Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica and El Salvador’s Mauricio Funes have come out in favour of the debate, though have clearly stated they do not agree with the de-regulation proposal. The government of Panama has been less clear: Foreign Minister Roberto Henríquez said “we don’t agree in the least bit with legalisation”, but failed to clarify if they would welcome or participate in the discussion. Central American leaders are due to debate the initiative at the next Central America Integration System (Sica) summit, scheduled to take place in Guatemala on 24 March.