President Arias Asks MOPT and Alterra To Find A Solution
Although the International Finance Corporation (IFC) - the private sector arm of the World Bank Group - has said clearly that it cannot accept the government's proposal to continue to finance the completion of the Juan Santamaría (San José) international airport, the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), has yet to announce its next move.

The IFC are bankers behind Alterra, the company with the contract to manage and finish the construction of the San José airport.

Alterra and its bankers had until last Monday to make decision on the governments proposal that would see the completion of the airport and extend Alterra's management contract.

However, the bankers said no because they could not accept the conditions imposed on them, among them the government's refusal to cap the fines against Alterra for delays in delivery of the completed work. The IFC decision was delivered in writing to the Consejo Técnico de Aviación Civil (CTAC).

The CTAC said firmly and without equivocation last week that if the bankers did not approve the deal, the government would be forced to cancel the contract it has with Alterra and find a new manager for the airport .

The vice-minister of Transportes, Viviana Martín, has kept publicly quiet on the subject, preferring to exhaust every last effort to come to an agreement with the airport manager and its financiers before announcing a decision on the matter.

However, Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, did make a public statement on the subject during a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Colegio Marista in Alajuela.

"I have asked Doña Karla (MOPT minister) that we look again, that we take them to the table and see it unjust that we have told them much earlier, when the lawyers have already consented the proposal Costa Rica made them", said Arias.

Arias regrets that, after such a long time negotiating, the parties haven't come to an agreement.

"I am worried of the bad sign that we will give if after giving a concession for some reason we take it away. That is a bad signal and this is a State of rights", added president Arias.