Pacheco Criticizes Media For Attacks on Him
Last night, in a national address on television and radio, President Abel Pacheco began his attack against the collective media for the persecution campaign against him and for discrediting him in the past week.

The President told his audience that there are some media who are angry with the government for not buying advertising space from them, the reason which is that they are more expensive and that his government has to use public funds wisely.

He did not name names.

Pacheco added that the game these people are playing is a dangerous one, as they  generalize their discredit, the real corrupt can take advantage of the situation by dressing in sheep's clothing and create a climate of uncertainty for all.

"You know me and know how I am. Abel Pacheco, will not yield his principles. Costa Ricans can be sure about that", were the words spoken by the President.

Pacheco took the time to explain what he says is the "truth".

He said he has nothing to hide and explained in detail his trip to Dominican Republic and Spain last year, and that it was all done in public and fully covered my the media. There was no mystery or secret to his trips and that now the media is trying to make a scandal out of it.

The president admitted that he did use the tickets for the San José - Miami - San José portion of his trip, tickets given free of charge to the government by TACA airlines, that which Pacheco commented was normal practice among the other Central American presidents for decades.

The President spoke about the facts surrounding his trips to Sevilla, Spain and the publication of his book by the prestigious Ateneo de Sevilla and the Fundación Martín Robles, which are highly respected around the world. "In this case they have tied a series of events that make me look corrupt and that the publicatio of the book is payment for a favour, which I did not or have conceded. This is false. It is a lie", the President told his viewing and listening audience.

"You know me, you know how I am and not because I say it, but because there 71 years of public testimony of an honest and correct life", president Pacheco referred to his reputation.

As to the naming of Bernardo Martín Moreno where he is accused of making a trade, naming the Moreno to Honourary Consul in Sevilla, Spain, for the publication of his book, Pacheco said it was utterly false and evil. "Costa Ricans, things have gone so far, that one day, while I was flying to Guatemala in economy class, they were watching to see if the peanuts I was given were just for me or for all passengers. I could not beleive that. It has gone to the ridiculous, to the point where my colleagues in the region, kidding, are callinbg me 'el presidente ceniciento"."

Pacheco explained that there are powerful forced in the country that are angry with him over the Plan Fiscal (Tax Plan) that will see the rich being taxed as they should, like they should have been for many years already. They tell me that there are also those who would have loved if I had sold off ICE (the state monopoly on telecommunications and electricity), which I will not do.

"If that is why they are angry with me, well let them continue to be angry, because I will not yield on the tax reforms, the TLC and nor will I hand them the ICE flag, nor the INS or the Caja, I will not hand over Costa Rican goods so that a few can do business.

If these people is what they want to is treat me ill and discredit me, let them because I can bear it for I am used to it," affirmed the President.