raguan Workers Central or CTN-A; Confederation
of Labor Unification or CUS; Independent General Confederation of
Labor or CGT-I; and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; Nicaraguan
Workers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; Superior
Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation of business
groups

International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco AGUIRRE Sacasa
chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: (202) 939-6570
FAX: (202) 939-6542
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New
York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Oliver P. GARZA
embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: APO AA 34021
telephone: (2) 662298, 666010, 666012, 666013, 666015, 666018,
666026, 666027, 666032, 666033
FAX: (2) 669074

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white,
and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band;
the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA
DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to
the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by
the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in
the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five
blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

@Nicaragua:Economy

Economy - overview: Nicaragua is one of the hemisphere's poorest
countries, with low per capita income, flagging socio-economic
indicators, and huge external debt. The country has made significant
progress toward macro-economic stabilization over the past few years -
even with the damage caused by Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998.
International aid, debt relief, and continued foreign investment have
contributed to the stabilization process. GDP grew 6.3% in 1999, while
inflation remained about 12%, and unemployment dropped. Nicaragua may
qualify for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative,
though aid is conditioned on improving governability, the openness of