Ortega Cancels U.N. Visit, Hits Rules by U.S.

MEXICO CITY —  President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua said today that he would not go to the United Nations this week because the United States failed to issue enough visas for his party and imposed unacceptable restrictions on his stay.

“I cannot accept these rules because the United States cannot decide when, how and with whom a chief of state can visit an international organization like the United Nations,” Ortega told a news conference.

Ortega said the Reagan Administration refused to issue visas for half his party and also refused to issue visas for Nicaraguan journalists who wished to accompany him.

He also said the United States limited his travels to four boroughs of New York City. Ortega said this would prevent him from visiting the home of the Nicaraguan ambassador to the United Nations, who lives outside that area.

On Friday, U.S. officials said visas had been approved for Ortega, his wife, Rosario, and his son Rafael, on Dec. 5. They were to be accompanied by Ortega’s physician and 14 guards.

Visa applications from 14 other Nicaraguans who wished to accompany Ortega as part of his official party were turned down because they were submitted too late.