COSTA RICA NEWS – President Luis Guillermo Solis has relieved Costa Rican ambassador at The Hague, Jorge Urbina. Urbina, along with diplomat Edgar Ugalde, has been the face of this country during the long series of hearings before the International Court of Justice against Nicaragua in the border dispute beginning in 2010.
Foreign Minister Manuel Gonzalez said he replaced Urbina since he is not a career diplomat and has served two Administrations (Oscar Arias and Laura Chinchilla) abroad, first as ambassador to the United Nations in New York under Arias, then as ambassador to The Netherlands.
Gonzalez added that this adheres to the principle of rotation in the diplomatic corps. The Foreign Minister denied that the change would weaken this country’s chances in the ongoing case against Nicaragua. This country has so far fared well in that border dispute.
He added that Urbina had little to do with the presentation before the World Court which has been crafted by five lawyers used by the Foreign Ministry. Three of those legal minds are located in Britain, Switzerland and the United States.
La Nacion reported that President Solis has already named a successor to Urbina and is only awaiting approval of the King of The Netherlands as diplomatic protocol demands. Once approved, he will reveal the name to the press.
It appears that that name has not even been shared with the cabinet, although Gonzalez said, “It’s a person with wide experience in international law and is familiar with the case against Nicaragua and Costa Rica’s legal strategy in it.”
Until the new ambassador arrives in The Netherlands, charge d’affairs Gustavo Alonso Campos will head up the embassy.
Artilce by iNews.co.cr. reposted with permission