Costa Rica Closes 3
Embassies, 2 Consular Offices In Cost Cutting Plan
Costa Rica has decided to close three embassies around the world and
two consulates in the US, as part of the Arias government cost
cutting measures. The Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Foreign
Ministry) announced yesterday that it would be closing embassies in
Bolivia, Czech Republic and Paraguay, in addition to its consular
offices in Chicago and Puerto Rico.
The closures come under the measures of the "Plan Escudo" announced
by Costa Rican president Oscar Arias last week to mitigate the
impact of the financial crisis.
The Bolivia, Paraguay embassies and consular offices in Puerto Rico
and Chicago will be closed as of April 30, while the Czech embassy
will remain open until May 31.
Foreign Ministry officials say the closures follow an internal study
of the resources of the diplomatic centres around the world before
recommending the closures to president Arias, who in this case had
the last word.
Ministry officials did not say yesterday how much money the closures
will save Costa Rica, adding that the closures do not mean a break
in diplomatic relations those countries nor affect bilateral
relations, being simply a cost cutting measure.
In the case of the Chicago consular offices, cases will be sent to
the New York office, while the Czech will have to go Germany and the
Bolivia, Paraguay and Puerto Rico cases will be handled from San
José.
Costa Rica will continue to maintain embassies in 35 nations, 10
consular offices and 5 international missions.
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