The Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the OAS, ambassador Montserrat Solano who is currently functioning as President of the Permanent Council (through Dec. 31), confirmed today that she received the request of the Secretary General, Luis Almagro, to apply the Inter-American Democratic Charter in Nicaragua’s Case.

“We received the request from the Secretary General, and as it corresponds the same has been passed over to the representatives of the Member States”, explained Solano.

The Inter-American Democratic Charter (Article 20) can be activated in cases were “in a Member State there is an alteration of the constitutional order that seriously affects its democratic order”

“The Charter was adopted by acclamation at an extraordinary General Assembly of the OAS held in Lima on September 11, 2001. It is recognized as one of the most complete inter-American instruments, enacted for the promotion and strengthening of the principles, practices and democratic culture among the states of the Americas. The Charter is binding on all active OAS member states”.

The Permanent Council must now analyze the situation and make any decisions it considers necessary, exhausting the necessary diplomatic options to promote the normalization, strengthening and preservation of democratic institutions.

Measures that could be taken include the suspension of credits by financial organisms, or the suspension of the country from the OAS.