Ten years of civil war and Sandinista mismanagement saw to that. But since 1990, we have had five consecutive free elections, our citizens enjoy full press freedom and we don't have a single political prisoner in jail. Our human rights record is also strong. On the economic front, our economy has grown more rapidly, in per capita terms, than those of Spain, Italy, Japan and Germany since 1990, with most of that growth coming during the last four years despite Mitch and low prices for our main exports and punishingly high prices for oil in 2000. Indeed, ours was one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America in 1999 and 2000.
Private investors are also optimistic about Nicaragua.
Obviously they would not be doing so if they were as bearish on Nicaragua as you appear to be. This will have to be my last answer since I will have to head off to a meeting of the economic team. First, I arrived this morning from Mexico where I had long meetings with President Fox and his Foreign Minister. We discussed President Bush's visit to Mexico and his talks with Mr. Fox. The Mexican President believes that Mr. Bush has a lively interest in Latin America and a natural affinity for the Region.