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EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in US:
Ambassador: Francisco Obadiah Campbell Hooker
Embassy: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570
Fax: [1] (202) 939-6542

Consulate(s) General are in:
Los Angeles
3303 Wilshire Bl., Suite 410,
Los Angeles, CA 90010.
(213) 252-1170

San Francisco
James Flood Bldg. S1054, 870 Market St., Suite 1050/1052,
San Francisco, CA 94102.

Miami
8370 W. Flager St., Suite 220,
Miami, FL 33144.
(305) 220-6900

New Orleans
World Trade Center, 2 Canal St., Suite 1937,
New Orleans, LA 70130.
(504) 523-1507

New York
820 2nd Av., Suite 802,
New York, NY 10017.
(212) 986-6562

Houston
6300 Hillcroft, Suite 312,
Houston, TX 77081.
(713) 272-9628

US Diplomatic Representation:
Ambassador: Phyllis M. Powers
Embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur., Managua
Mailing Address: APO AA 34021
Telephone: [505] (2) 66-2298, 666010, 666012/13, 666015-18, 666026/27, 666032/33
FAX: [505] (2) 666046

Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Nicaragua

U.S. Embassy Web Site in Nicaragua
Permanent Mission of Nicaragua to the U.N


FOREIGN RELATIONS

The United States established diplomatic relations with Nicaragua in 1849 following its independence from Spain and the later dissolution of a federation of Central American states. Post-independence, the country saw a mix of armed conflict, U.S. military intervention and occupation, rebellion, assassination, and dictatorships. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed or interrupted a number of times. Nicaragua's 1990 presidential elections marked an improvement in bilateral relations and were followed by elections in 1996, 2001, 2006.

The 2011 presidential and legislative elections and 2012 municipal elections were marred by significant irregularities and were denounced by domestic and international observers as severely flawed. The U.S. Government has clearly stated that these elections marked a setback to democracy in Nicaragua and undermined the ability of Nicaraguans to hold their government accountable. The United States has called on the Nicaraguan Government to uphold democratic processes and protect universal human rights, and has said that it will continue to support civil society and promote human rights in Nicaragua.

U.S. Assistance to Nicaragua

U.S. assistance aims to help strengthen Nicaragua’s democracy through training for emerging democratic leaders, increasing civil society engagement, supporting an independent media, and improving local governance. U.S. assistance also seeks to promote economic growth and poverty reduction in part through market-led food security programs in the highly-impoverished north-central region. In under-governed areas of the Caribbean coastal region where drug trafficking and related criminal activity is rising, military-to-military engagement and prevention programs focusing on education and skills development support citizen security. In response to the Nicaraguan government’s continuing failure to account fully for substantial resources made available to it by Venezuela, the State Department did not seek a waiver for Nicaragua in Fiscal Year 2012 of Congressionally mandated restrictions on assistance to the central governments of countries who do not maintain international standards of fiscal transparency. This curtailed FY 2012 security assistance and affected some counternarcotics and development programs that otherwise would have benefitted the central government.

Bilateral Economic Relations

The United States and Nicaragua are parties to the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which aims to facilitate trade and investment and further regional integration by eliminating tariffs, opening markets, reducing barriers to services, and promoting transparency. CAFTA-DR contains a chapter on investment similar to a bilateral investment treaty with the United States. There are over 125 companies operating in Nicaragua with some relation to a U.S. company, either as wholly or partly-owned subsidiaries, franchisees, or exclusive distributors of U.S. products. The largest are in energy, financial services, textiles/apparel, manufacturing, and fisheries. U.S. exports to Nicaragua include agricultural products, donated relief articles, and machinery. U.S. imports from Nicaragua include apparel, agricultural products, and automobile wire harnesses. The United States works closely with the Nicaraguan government to seek resolution of several hundred claims against it by United States citizens to properties expropriated from them during the 1980s.

Nicaragua's Membership in International Organizations

Nicaragua and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, Organization of American States, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.

Bilateral Representation

The U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua is Phyllis M. Powers; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List.

Nicaragua maintains an embassy in the United States at 1627 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009 (tel. 202-939-6570).

More information about Nicaragua is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:

Department of State Nicaragua Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook Nicaragua Page
U.S. Embassy: Nicaragua
USAID Nicaragua Page
History of U.S. Relations With Nicaragua
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports
Trafficking in Persons Reports
Narcotics Control Reports
Investment Climate Statements
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Countries Page
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Export.gov International Offices Page
Library of Congress Country Studies
Travel and Business Information




TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Nicaragua check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving U.S Driving Permit accepted
Currency (NIO) Gold Cordoba
Electrical 120 Volts
Telephones Country Code 505, City Code Managua 2+6D, Leon 3+6D, Granada 5+6D, Esteli 7+6D



Climate
Tropical climate for most of the country. The dry season is from December to May, and the rainy season is from June to November. The northern mountain regions have a much cooler climate.

Clothing
Lightweight cottons and linens are required throughout the year. Waterproofs are advisable during the rainy season. Warmer clothes are advised for the northern mountains.

Food & Drink
Restaurants, particularly in Managua, serve a variety of cooking styles including Spanish, Italian, French, Latin American and Chinese. Local dishes include gallopinto (fried rice and pinto beans) and mondongo (tripe soup). Plantain is used in many dishes. Other specialities include nacatamal, indio viejo, quesillo, vigorón and roquillas. Food is often scooped up in tortillas instead of using cutlery. Roast corn on the cob is sold on the streets. Seafood is also available.
There are a number of cheap but good restaurants/bars (coreders) where beer, often the cheap local brand, is available. Imported beverages are available but shortages may occur in some areas. Multicoloured fruit drinks made from fresh tropical fruit are superior to bottled soft drinks. At the other end of the scale, the few plush hotels have sophisticated restaurant/bars with a choice of international cuisine and beverages.

Shopping
Local items include goldwork, embroidery, shoes and paintings. Traditional crafts are available, particularly in Masaya, at the handicrafts market. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1900, Sat 0900-1800.

Tipping
Ten per cent of the bill is customary in hotels and restaurants. No tip is necessary for taxi drivers but porters expect a small tip.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES


Currency..................No duty free allowance

Tobacco...................200 cigarettes or 500g of tobacco

Liquor......................3 litres

Perfume...................1 large bottle or 3 small bottles

Cameras...................No restrictions

Film..........................Reasonable for personal use

Gifts..........................No duty free allowance

Prohibited Imports: Canned or uncanned meats, leather and dairy products. A licence is required for firearms.

Prohibited Exports: Archaeological items, artifacts of historical or monetary value, and gold.



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