US official: Washington can work on poverty with Nicaraguan President Ortega

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - The head of a U.S. anti-poverty program said Thursday he believes the U.S. can work with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, despite political differences with the leftist leader who once waged war against U.S.-backed rebels.

«Maybe he has some international and national positions that are a bit uncomfortable, but the truth is that we are neighbors and poverty everywhere is a threat to prosperity,» said John Danilovich, executive director of the Millennium Challenge Corp.

John Danilovich said he believes the U.S. has positive relations with Ortega, despite the Nicaraguan leader's close ties to Venezuela and Iran.

At the inauguration Wednesday of a 17-kilometer (11-mile) section of highway in western Nicaragua, Ortega shouted, «Long live the U.S. government
During Ortega's first run as Nicaragua's leader in the 1980s, the U.S. suspended all aid to the former Marxist and instead backed the Contra rebels trying to overthrow him.
PR-Inside

Chavez can't be happy with the words and pictures of Ortega hugging the director..I think that "No" vote is still ringing in the ears.