Arias Offended By Union Leaders Refusing Invitation to His Home
President-elect, Oscar Arias, says that the attitude of union leaders Albino Vargas and Fabio Chaves, is an offense and a slap in the face, for not accepting his invitation to his home in Rohrmoser to dialogue.

Arias, said before the television cameras "in this country, when one is invited to a house and they open the door it is a demonstration of friendship, appreciation and trust. I, for one, if someone invites me to their house I will not not go because it would be an offense... one has to accept otherwise it would be like a slap in the face for the host".

Vargas and Chaves, heads of the powerful Asociación Nacional de Empleados Públicos (Anep) and Frente Interno de Trabajadores del ICE (FIT), respectively, refused to meet Arias at his home, saying they would prefer to meet in neutral ground.

Several other union leaders, namely, Xiomara Rojas of the Sindicato de Trabajadores Independientes Estatales Costarricenses (Siteco), Gilberto Venegas and Erick Reyes of the médicos veterinarios, Geovanny Jiménez of the vendedores ambulantes, Miguel Ramírez of the Servicio Nacional de Aguas Subterráneas (Senara), Riego y Avenamiento and Eugenio Barrantes of the Municipalidad de San José, promptly arrived at the home Arias at 9:30am yesterday.

Xiomara Rojas said that if one is representing and working for the workers you have to be open about many things. "Two kilometres does not make any difference for talking", said Rojas, referring to the proposed meeting location by the Vargas and Chaves.

Arias says the door to his home is always open. Yesterday, Arias also met with Yoshihiki Sumi, the Japanese ambassador to Costa Rica, who for the record, are neighbours. The Japanese ambassador's home is across the street from Arias.