On behalf of the people of the United States of America, I congratulate the Nicaraguan people, in Nicaragua and elsewhere, as they celebrate 203 years of Independence.
The United States recognizes the historical ties of friendship between our peoples and reaffirms our shared beliefs in opportunity, human dignity, and equality before the law. In this spirit, we recently worked to secure the release on humanitarian grounds of 135 political prisoners held by the Nicaraguan government and have joined with other governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations to help them rebuild their lives.
We reiterate our commitment to supporting the people of Nicaragua in their pursuit of a safe, secure, and prosperous future where every Nicaraguan can exercise their fundamental freedoms, including freedoms of expression, association, peaceful assembly, and of religion or belief.