01/03/2019 (Agence Europe) – While welcoming the first steps towards resuming national dialogue in Nicaragua, the spokesperson of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Maja Kocijancic, encouraged the country's authorities on Friday, 1 March, to continue their efforts to overcome the current political crisis through a negotiated solution (see EUROPE 12176). "The national dialogue between the Nicaraguan government and Alianza Civica [a Nicaraguan organization calling for justice and democracy, editor's note], has resumed and the prison regime of 100 prisoners, who were arrested after the outbreak of social demonstrations in the country, has been relaxed", she noted. But she then called for: - the release of all illegally detained prisoners; - respect for fundamental rights; - reforms to ensure the credibility of the elections; - the restoration of Nicaragua's cooperation with international human rights organisations. (DG - intern)