QCOSTARICA – Who will take the first step after the call by Pope Francis for Costa Rica and Nicaragua to strive for “reciprocal cooperation”.
The two countries have been butting heads on a number of issues for years. But despite the Pope’s words on Sunday, neither country seems ready to be first build “a renewed spirit of fraternity, overcome their resentment most notablY over the long-running border disputes and the impasse over the almost six thousand stranded Cuban migrants.
In Costa Rica, the government has issued a statement “thanking” the Pope.
In Nicaragua, First Lady and government spokesperson, Rosario Murillo, said “we are fully ready to dialogue”.
However, the reality maybe different that the political rhetoric by both countries.
Nicaragua cannot be too pleased losing the five year court case, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last week ruling Costa Rica had sovereignty over the Isla Calero lands.
Costa Rica in a sign of frustration over Nicaragua’s not allowing the Cuban migrants passage through its territory, keeping them stranded on the Costa Rica side of the border, last week announced the withdrawl from the Central American Integration System (SICA), a political body meant to promote cooperation in the region.
The Pope’s message to Costa Rica and Nicaragua is at minute 15 to 17 of Sunday Decemb 20 speech.
Ideologically, the two countries are far apart as well. Nicaragua, ruled by President Daniel Ortega is fiercely anti-American. Costa Rica is pro-American.
I don’t know which of the two Countries will take the first step toward reciprocal cooperation, but I can tell you which of the two didn’t, with Nicaragua proposing a Visa requirement on Costa Ricans traveling to Nicaragua, along with new import taxes on various goods from Costa Rica. Apparently, the proposals are in response to the World Court Order for Nicaragua to pay compensation to Costa Rica for the damages and costs associated with the Isla Calero invasion.