Managua, February 22 (RHC)-- Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega has inaugurated the new mandate of the Army's Chief Julio César Avilés, during a ceremony commemorating the 86th anniversary of the death of the revolutionary leader, General Augusto Cesar Sandino.

The National Assembly opened the session in Niquinohomo, where Sandino was born, as a tribute to the revolutionary leader.  "Sandino, our national hero, and with him, we walk through his heroic path with the flags and our dignity intact," said the country's Vice President Rosario Murillo.

"Today is a national day of mourning," said Ortega, "since sadly, we do not have the conditions in this world to make peace a reality," adding that Nicaragua was fighting to get such peace.

Nicaragua has been a victim of U.S. expansionist policies, and Washington "continues to repeat its policies, not only against Nicaragua but against other peoples, disrespecting international law, the UN Charter, violating rights, and this is the biggest threat against peace."

Ortega said that powerful nations should be determining factors to promote peace, but that they were not making efforts in that direction -- pointing to the criminalization of immigrants while investing funds in problematic countries.

He highlighted the heritage of Sandino and his fight against U.S. occupation in the first half of the 20th century.