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Costa Rica dismisses Ortega’s invitation to join Central American Parliament

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Nicaraguan President, Daniel Ortega. (File photo).

Nicaraguan President, Daniel Ortega. (File photo).

August 30th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) Nicaraguan President, Daniel Ortega, invited Costa Rica to join the Central American Parliament (Parlamento Centroamericano, also known as Parlacen) this week.  Costa Rica is the only country in the region that is not part of the organization.

 

“The people of Central America, the Panamanians, the Dominicans are [all] represented in Parlacen.  We’re only missing our sister Costa Rica,” Ortega said at the closing Central American and Caribbean Conference of Political Parties on Wednesday.

 

Ortega said that Costa Rica’s participation in Parlacen was necessary for the success of the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union.

 

“When blacks were treated like slaves in the United States, who would have imagined that 50 years later [the United States] would have a black president?  I’m sure we will not have to wait 50 years for Costa Rica to be incorporated into the Central American Parliament, it will be much sooner,” Ortega said.

 

Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister, Enrique Castillo described Ortega’s invitation as another “gesture of hostility,” saying that Costa Rica would in no way be part of the political body.

 

“[The invitation] is a gesture of hostility from President Ortega.  Costa Rica would join [Parlacen] only if there is a change that makes it useful for Central American integration,” Castillo said.

 

Currently, the Central American Parliament consists of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic.

 

 

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  • An t-eolaí

    Smooth – an invitation to be partners and secure a lucrative economic partnership with the most powerful trading body in the world is an act of aggression. What could possibly constitute an act of peace to these people? I knew next to nothing about Costa Rica a week ago. The more I learn (I have a valid and pressing reason for taking a short-term interest), the more I find the place (or at least its administration) to be utterly objectionable.

    • Ken Morris

      Yes, this is precisely what’s wrong with CR’s foreign relations, and in particular its relations with Nicaragua. It steadfastly refuses dialog, and prefers to make nasty remarks instead. Others in other countries perceive this as arrogance, as reflecting CR’s overly-cozy relationship to the US, and as self-interested (since CR is wealthier than its neighbors). It’s not an attractive national characteristic, and raises questions about CR’s pacifism. Pacifists who eschew diplomacy put themselves in an impossible position. Perhaps, as many suspect, CR’s pacifism is really a reliance on the US military.

      • mhogan

        Costa Rica is wealthier than its neighbors? They may pretend to be … but really???

        • michaelwink

          Sounds like you haven’t traveled central america much. Costa Rica is both obviously richer by 2 – 10 times, if you visit the countries, and the GDP stats support it https://www.google.com/search?q=gdp+costa+rica&oq=gdp+costa+rica&aqs=chrome.0.57j0l2j5j60j62.2571j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

          • mhogan

            Give it time, my friend. That could change in our lifetime. For the time being, CR is sitting on its past laurels, all smug and righteous. It will be their downfall. Whoda’ thunk a decade ago that the good ol’ U.S.A. would be in the state they are in today — overspending and underproducing. Sound familiar?

          • michaelwink

            I would agree that Costa Rica is pricing itself out of the tourist market, and most tourist tend to leave with a ‘never again’ stance because of the price. I also believe that most people are blissfully ignorant of the fact the entire economy is built on tourism. I suspect there will be a bit of a regional normalisation, but not a collapse.

      • Frank Castle

        Ken, there you go again. Costa Rica DOESN’T HAVE an overly-cozy relationship with the USA. Recently, a US Navy vsl and a Coast Guard cutter couldn’t even get permission to dock there. One was concerning Anti Drug Ops and the other was going to do some community service in country. The legislature stalled and sent the signal “you aren’t wanted here” so get the facts straight.

    • Miguel

      I suggest you study the history of all these alliances in the past, all they generate to CR is a long list of bills that we end up paying. Also these alliances come with lots of requirements, its the reason we dont want to have a common passport, or eliminate visas for members of the CA4 etc etc etc. We would end up having to/being pressured to take part in agreements that are not in the best interest of CR. Good thing you are learning, keep trying.

  • mhogan

    I guess the Chinchilla administration hasn’t heard the saying: “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”. This would be a great opportunity to know things firsthand; instead, it seems rumors and paranoia prevail. Forget Nicarauga, Panama has a bad taste in its mouth for Costa Rica for a number of reasons, least of which is Costa Rica holding up the Latin America Free Trade Agreement (necessary for all countries to sign in order for passage). CR needs to learn a little diplomacy but arrogance stands in the way. Keep p***ing off your neighbors and see where it gets you (the Panama border dispute, maybe???) Who’s the “bad neighbor” now?

    • http://insidecostarica.com/ Timothy Williams

      Marry, just FYI — you are allowed to say “pissing off” here on ICR :)

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