Composers, songwriters and collective rights societies gathered in Costa Rica last week and called for the government to strengthen its focus on author’s rights protection as the country hosted the 31st International Council of Creators of Music (CIAM) conference.
The two day event was preceded by a press conference on 17th April where renowned Costa Rican composers from the local society ACAM were supported by senior representatives from CISAC. The press conference was also attended by the Vice-president of the board of the Legislative Assembly Martin Monestel and three deputies. They shared the concern of musicians and composers in the region that next year’s general elections might see the reinstatement of many regulatory changes made during the previous administration that weakened the effectiveness of international author’s rights agreements in Costa Rica.
These changes included draft legislation that greatly reduces the requirement for national radio and television companies to pay artist rights. In addition, legal reservations had been raised that aimed to exempt the country from certain clauses of the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s Performances and Phonograms treaty. Both would directly impact the livelihoods of authors in the region.
“Our objective is to raise awareness and understanding in Parliament of the importance of authors’ rights both culturally and a fair means of remuneration for creators,” said Simon Darlow, chair of BASCA, the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and Deputy Chair of PRS for Music. Authors are global rather than national artists and it’s vital that the international agreements that Costa Rica has signed are properly implemented and fully respected.
A mediation will be organised between users and composers members of ACAM by one of the deputies present at the press conference in order to discuss the different points of view, find common ground and unblock the situation.
The CIAM conference drew in over 60 delegates from Member Societies and key regional bodies around the world including the European Composers and Songwriters Alliance, the Pan-African Composers and Songwriters Alliance, Music Creators North America, the Alianza Latino-Americana de Autores de Música, as well as the Costa Rican Minister of Culture Manuel Obregon, as guest of honor.
The bases for CIAM as a hub were settled. South America, Europe, Africa and North America are now directly affiliated with CIAM as an umbrella organization. CIAM is much more representative that before. Authors are now connected in an unprecedented manner. Information can flow seamlessly from Malawi to the Americas and up to CIAM’s board, allowing regions to learn from each other, allowing a coordinated global response to local challenges.
New business models being developed every day for online music distribution make this a rapidly changing landscape and a number of panels were held on sub-publishing, online licensing, and future collection management.
CISAC director general, Olivier Hinnewinkel, praised the work of CIAM and its chairman Lorenzo Ferrero in bringing these issues to the fore.
President Daniel Ortega sat at the dinner table with Obama and his fellow Central American presidents.
After sitting politely and quietly through last Friday’s dinner summit with U.S. President Barack Obama, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega flew to Venezuela on Saturday to assume a more revolutionary posture by condemning perceived U.S. aggressions against the continuation of the “Chavista” government by second-string successor Ricardo Maduro.
“Today, more than ever, we are with Chávez, we are with the Bolivarian Revolution, we are with the fight for peace that’s being waged by the people, this country, we are for justice, we are for liberty,” Ortega said Sunday afternoon, during a commemoration of the two-month anniversary of Chávez’s death to cancer.
Taking the liberty to speak on behalf of “the people of Latin America, the people of the Caribbean and, in particular the people who are part of ALBA and Petrocaribe,” Ortega expressed hemispheric solidarity with Maduro’s government, which he said “is facing an onslaught from the historic enemies of revolutionary processes.”
The “historic enemy,” whose president was Ortega’s dinner companion the night before, is accused of taking an aggressive stance against Venezuela by calling on its government to respect democracy and human rights.
In a recent interview with Noticias Telemundo, Obama said his government wants Venezuela to be able to “choose their own leadership in fair and free elections in a democratic process that is credible.”
The U.S. president denied that his government has “tried to interfere in any way with what happens there.”
“What we’ve said is, let’s make sure that the rules are being followed, that people are not being thrown into jail or intimidated, that the press is allowed to report fairly on what happens, that the ruling party doesn’t resort to intimidation in terms of skewing results,” Obama said.
The U.S. president declined to comment on whether the U.S. government will join the rest of the hemisphere in recognizing last month’s election results in Venezuela, which have been decried as fraudulent by opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.
Obama did, however, call Venezuela’s recent espionage charges against detained U.S. citizen Timothy Hallet Tracy, “ridiculous.” Venezuela claims Tracy, a 35-year-old self-proclaimed documentarian, was funneling money to opposition students in an effort to provoke a “civil war.”
“When you want to do intelligence work in another country, all those big powers do this type of spying—they often use the facade of a filmmaker, documentary-maker, photographer or journalist,” Venezuela’s Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez told government-run TV on Sunday.
Venezuela accuses Obama of inciting ‘dogs of war’
Venezuela on Saturday responded to Obama’s brief comments about its democracy with an angry and grandiloquent statement that accuses the U.S. of “meddling” and reminds the U.S. president of Venezuela’s “novel public policies that allow everyone who lives in our dignified country to have more and better guarantees to gain access to civil rights, political rights, economic rights, social rights, cultural rights and the collective rights of the people.”
In a lengthy prepared statement released by the Ministry of Popular Power for Foreign Relations, the Venezuelan governmentblames Obama for worsening bilateral relations and “confirming to the world the policy of aggression that you and you government maintain toward our nation.”
Venezuela went on to accuse Obama of trying to incite “the dogs of war” to spark violence and create chaos in Venezuela to “justify imperialist intervention.”
“Know this, friends of the world: The son of Liberator Simón Bolívar and Comandante Chávez are ready to defend our rights to be free against any imperial domination,” the statement reads. “Compatriots, we raise the slingshot of David to confront the new aggression by Goliath!”
Politics make bad dinner conversation
Despite echoing Venezuela’s revolutionary bravado during this weekend’s Petrocaribe summit in Caracas, Ortega was on his best behavior 24 hours earlier during his roundtable dinner with Obama and the other presidents of Central America. Instead of bringing David’s sling to the summit, Ortega brought his dinner napkin and an earpiece to listen to the translation of Obama’s table talk.
Other than a few brief comments offered to the press upon his arrival at Costa Rica Juan Santamaría Airport on Friday afternoon, President Ortega’s participation in the Central American summit with Obama appeared to be minimal. Even when the conversation turned to topics on which Ortega had reason to boast about his country’s impressive gains in recent years—advances in clean energy technologies, increased trade and investment under CAFTA, and citizen security—the Nicaraguan president remained mostly quiet.
Costa Rican news outlets reported that Ortega was one of the few presidents who declined to give any comments upon exiting from the closed-door meeting with Obama. Hours later, Ortega hastily departed Costa Rica to fly to Venezuela, skipping out on a meeting that Obama and several of his colleagues held with Central American business leaders to discuss ways to increase investment and joint development initiatives in the region.
While Ortega’s participation in both summits suggests he is still trying to straddle the growing divide between Venezuela and the U.S., it becomes strange theater when he tries to play both roles in the same 48 hours.
Storyline: The Croods is a prehistoric comedy adventure that follows the world’s first family as they embark on a journey of a lifetime when the cave that has always shielded them from danger is destroyed. Traveling across a spectacular landscape, the Croods discover an incredible new world filled with fantastic creatures — and their outlook is changed forever.
Directed by:Kirk De Micco & Chris Sanders With the voices of: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds Playing in Costa Rica at:Cinemark (Mulitplaza Escazú), Nova Cinema, Cinepolis and other theatres
Review:What do we teach our children? All cartoons are to some extent tools for passing on the messages that we think kids should know – but what are those messages? ‘Don’t talk to strangers’, for instance. Pinocchio talked to strangers, and look what happened to him. ‘It’s OK to be different’: Dumbo had big ears, and that’s perfectly fine. Both those examples are 70 years old, but the second message is bigger than ever in our age of diversity (‘Don’t talk to strangers’ seems to have fallen by the wayside, maybe because kids are cooped up at home these days anyway). But we’ve also seen a new message in the past few years, driven perhaps by recessions and new technologies, first in the Ice Age franchise and now in The Croods: The world is changing. The old rules are no longer valid. Adapt or die.
The Croods is a clever, slightly formulaic cartoon from the folks behind How to Train Your Dragon. There’s a Homer Simpson-ish dad (voiced by Nicolas Cage) whose bossiness barely disguises his uselessness. There’s a ‘spunky’ teenage-girl heroine (Emma Stone) straining at the patriarchal leash, though she does become more generic once her warrior-woman credentials have been established (‘Girls are just as good as boys, and probably better’ is another of those messages we want kids to know). There’s a family – feral toddler, pudgy younger brother, crotchety grandma – and family values galore. There are visual marvels, especially once the dank Stone Age setting turns into a world of dandelions, tendrils and eye-popping colours. There are hungry monsters, funny jokes and slapstick set-pieces.
The film can be viewed simply as a Hollywood cartoon. Does it work? It does. Will kids love it? They will. Is it scary? Not really, though some of the details are macabre (like our heroine Eep recalling the demise of her various caveman neighbours) and the hungry critters have big teeth. Is it funny? Surprisingly, yes – and, despite the title, crude humour isn’t allowed to take over (there isn’t a single fart joke). The slapstick is over-extended, and there’s probably too many of those moments where the music swells inspirationally – but The Croods, even in itself, wipes the floor with all four Ice Ages.
That’s not all, however – because the film also speaks to us in post-debacle Cyprus in a way that goes beyond its cartoon ambitions. Maybe it’s pretentious to view it as a kind of unintended metaphor – but films don’t exist in a vacuum, and any adult sitting in the K-Cineplex with his/her kids can’t fail to recognise our own situation in the story of the Croods, a Stone Age clan who live in a cave, nice and snug and protected from outside dangers, at least till their world literally collapses in an epoch-defining earthquake and they have to start anew. It’s not just their circumstances that change; they also have to change their mentality, specifically Papa Crood’s conservative insistence that “new” equals dangerous.
Enter Guy (Ryan Reynolds), an inventive young orphan who has everything the Croods lack: creativity, modernity, civilisation, above all “ideas”. Guy wears shoes and eats from a plate; he wears a belt, albeit a living belt (called Belt) who punctuates his warnings about the End of the World with a cheerful “dun dun duuuuunnnn!”. He also introduces the clan to concepts like jokes and leftovers, not to mention pets (“It’s an animal you don’t eat,” he explains; “We call those ‘children’,” replies Grandma). This may be the most unexpectedly touching aspect of The Croods, the notion of discovering the world for the first time – and the way the family blossom once they allow themselves to try something new. The feral baby speaks her first words. The boy finds a dog, and even Grandma starts to reminisce: “I was in love once. He was a hunter, I was a gatherer…”
The film is very American. Not in the dismissive way people sometimes use those words, but in the specific sense that America, more than any other culture, stresses creativity and adaptability in the face of crisis. Americans who lose their jobs simply move to another part of America and start over (it’s the legacy of being a nation of immigrants). Watching The Croods from our own vantage-point – not as wide-eyed children absorbing messages, but as adult chaperones trying to make sense of a world that’s been struck by a fiscal earthquake in the past month – it’s easy to get caught up in the story Guy tells the Croods (except Papa, who skulks in the background grumpily). It’s the story of a bold young tiger who wanders away from the stultifying safety of the cave, goes to the very edge of a forbidden cliff – then, having dared to take a risk and think outside the box, flies off into the sun. ‘Where did she fly to?’ ask the Crood kids, entranced. Tomorrow, replies Guy. She flew off to Tomorrow, a place of a thousand suns – “a place where things are better”. Let’s hope so.
Ángel Rafael never imagined that one day he would be face-to-face with a U.S. president, let alone doing his makeup. So, when he got the call from the Whitehouse giving him the job of making up President Barack Obama, he was thrilled and nervous at the same time.
Ángel Rafael was recommended by Telenoticias reporter and Telemundo correspondent in Costa Rica, Yessenia Alvarado. After an extensive interview, Ángel Rafael was chosen by the Whitehouse as he local professional.
“They asked for my resume, asked me very personal questions”, said Ángel Rafael.
Ángel Rafael arrived at 7am Saturday at the Intercontinenal hotel in Escazú amid heavy security that took him almost 45 minutes to reach president Obama.
“I was very nervous, I could feel my heart beating out of my chest”, commented Ángel Rafael who got to spend about 20 minutes with Obama, five of which were to apply makeup.
Ángel Rafael said that the president as “super good people”. The prez asked for a very soft makeup, “basically something light for skin correction, powder to give high definition”.
The makeup artist said he got to recommend his favourite Guanacaste beaches to President Obama, who had asked him for vacation recommendations.
Obama let out his charisma, joking with Ángel Rafael, including that Michelle would sure like Ángel Rafael to make up her.
But, what impressed Ángel Rafael most was Obama thanking him for his work and using his name. “When he left he thanked me for the work and the tips, he called me by name three times, which impressed me very much”, said Ángel Rafael.
It was 3:04am when a strong earthquake woke many in Costa Rica. The quake registered 3.6 on the Richter scale was located soe kilometres northeast of Corrarillo de Cartago and was felt in various parts of the country including the greater metropolitan area of San José.
The quake was confirmed by the Red Sismológica Nacional a (RSN) and the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica (OVSICORI).
President Barack Obama participates in a press conference with Presidenta Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica at the CENAC, San Jose, Costa Rica. May 3, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
Transcript of the press Obama / Chinchilla press conference following a private meeting by the two presidents.
PRESIDENTA CHINCHILLA: (As interpreted.) Good afternoon. Good afternoon, dear friends. Dear friends, international journalists and for American and SICA. Thank you very much. Thank you for being here with us this afternoon.
In the first place and before we get any deeper concerning the results of the meetings that we just had recently, in the first place, what I would like to do is to reiterate our warmest welcome on behalf of all the Costa Rican people to President Barack Obama and his delegation. And also I would like to reiterate on behalf of our Costa Ricans the feelings that we feel towards the United States of America.
And I also wanted to thank you very much for the way so cordial and constructive in which we have been able to develop this afternoon’s issues, Mr. President, because I think that we have had very successful conversations in the bilateral meeting. It was my pleasure to report that precisely thanks to this open process of conversations that we have had, it is that we can explore new horizons, always trying to strengthen these traditions based on the essential values that have characterized the relationship between the United States and Costa Rica.
Particularly speaking, I’m talking about values of peace, freedom, democracy, respect to the human rights and the human development. These are the values that we share. And these are the values on which we aspire to continue to develop the relationship between our two nations.
The conversations that we have had have been very useful and they have basically focused on six fundamental issues that reflect this rich diversity that characterizes the relationship between the two nations. We talked about institutional strengthening. We talked about issues of international policy and the involvement, in particular to which Costa Rica aspires in the international economic scenario.
We also talked about the use of fundamental instruments in the relationship of the two nations, like CAFTA, for instance. We talked about an issue that is important but it is not the one that defines our relationship, which is security. And we also talked about a fundamental issue that undoubtedly is going to define the progress and the joint development not only between the United States of America and Costa Rica, but also between the United States and the Central American region, which is the area of energy.
And finally, of course, in our Costa Rican agenda, we included issues having to do with education, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Please allow me to briefly walk you through these six issues so that you can get to know which has been the central element in each of them.
In the area of institutional strengthening, as you know, the government of the United States is promoting what is called the Alliance of Open Government, that basically seeks to strengthen practices that are much more transparent and integral in everything that has to do with the exercise of institutions of public function.
Costa Rica has been an enthusiastic participant in this initiative. We have already proposed our action plan, and we expect to continue to share initiatives, practices, exchanges of experiences on this issue.
In the area of involvement of Costa Rica in the economic global scenario and some of the issues of international policy, we are taking into account — we have used this session to talk about the involvement of the United States in the area of fire weapons — and that together they have been able to get the approval in the recent meeting of the United Nations.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, for having sponsored one of the — that is going to contribute the most to the peace in the world. In addition, I would like to recognize in particular the efforts of President Obama in his own country in order to raise awareness concerning the regulation of fire weapons.
Costa Rica, as some of you already know, is trying to play a more protagonistic role, especially in the area of global development. Costa Rica is a small economy, but it’s a very open economy. It’s a model of success. The accession of global value changes with more and more competitive in the attraction based on high technology. And being a middle-income country, we are a country that is not seeking to get more aid. We basically want to have more opportunities to export what our people are producing.
As we have said in the past, we either export our products the people are able to produce or generate, or we’re going to end up exporting our own people. And Costa Rica will continue to keep Costa Ricans in Costa Rica with better opportunities of economic growth and with better opportunities of welfare.
And that is that the aspirations of Costa Rica include to be able to insert itself in the different fora where we will continue to widen the opportunities of trade, investment, and as a consequence, the opportunities to continue to generate employment and welfare in our country.
To this extent, we have talked to President Obama about two important fora where Costa Rica aspires to be present. One is the Trans-Pacific Alliance, the TPP, where the government of the United States and especially the Obama administration is paying an important leadership to the effect of hosting this negotiation. And we would hope that Costa Rica will continue to be the center of attention of the pioneer countries to be able to insert ourselves in the same initiative.
And the other important forum where we have given our best efforts is the forum for the cooperation and development. Costa Rica wants to be there precisely because we want to continue to adopt the best possible practices in matters of development of public policy.
In the area of the using of the CAFTA platform, as you know, this is going to be an issue — an issue of regional scope. But it has become a bilateral issue to the extent that Costa Rica is one of the economies that has taken advantage of the opportunity provided by the American market. We have become in the SICA framework the most important partner with the United States. Thanks to CAFTA, the countries in our region have increased by 70 percent the international trade. And what we basically seek is to be able to promote initiatives in the area of facilitation of trade.
Concerning the area of security, this, as I mentioned before, is an obligated issue. As you know, Costa Rica considers this a fundamental issue — has been considering this issue a fundamental one in recent years. We have been able to do well facing common crime. We have been able to reduce the homicide rates significantly. We have been able to reduce the rates of violent crime, thanks to an integral approach in the area of prevention and sanction, as well as the issues having to do with control. But we also have to admit that the issue of organized crime continues to be important on the institution of stability and the integrity of our nations.
Thus, we talked about this issue. We had a conversation about it. We reiterated the importance of keeping the levels of cooperation that we have had so far. But very particularly, we made the point on the efforts that are being displayed by the SICA countries as well as the United States government with the purpose of approaching the issue of organized crime and drug smuggling from a much more integral approach, a much more diverse approach — not only through the instruments of war, thinking that we’re going to be able to overcome this evil. A country like Costa Rica cannot go, of course, to war, but we have to take very seriously the strengthening of those mechanisms and those policies that would allow to prevent the entity of organized crime in our country.
And in that sense, we are deliberating the efforts that we might be able to continue on doing in the matter of prevention of consumption with the matter of more opportunities for the younger community of our country on the subject of strengthening the law, of judicial independence, of free press that might be able to carry out the necessary investigations and the accusations without having on them any effect or threat.
The fifth point of the agenda was a subject regarding energy. It is well-known also for Costa Rica the energy subject has been a value from the point of view of its sustainable development. Ninety percent of the energy that we consume comes from renewable sources. Nevertheless, Costa Rica, as well as the rest of Central America, have a very big challenge ahead of them from the point of view of the cost of this energy. If we do not solve this in the short, midterm, this will have a tremendous weight on the level of competivity [sic] of our region.
Therefore, we have explored with President Obama the possibilities of using the platform of CAFTA so that in the future and once the government of the United States resolves some of the internal discussions that it might have, to be able to enjoy some preferences in regard to the import of natural gas, natural liquefied gas, a source of energy to which the government of President Obama has put a lot of emphasis on.
We have also commented about the efforts that we are developing here in Costa Rica with the purpose of promoting a group of new energies, especially the energies based on hydrogen, and the initiatives that have already been working on by the private enterprises both in North America and Costa Rica with the cooperation of the public sector of Costa Rica, to take them into consideration as part of the initiatives that he has promoted in the framework of the Alliance of the Americas for the energy and for the climate change.
And I finish by talking about the subject of the partnership of innovation and of the education that has such elements of further development. For Costa Rica, education has been a constant in its historical development. As I was telling President Obama, we were born as one of the poorest provinces of the colony, and we have become little by little a nation with great opportunities in the subject of economic development and of well-being for the people, and a fundamental factor, an essential factor has been precisely education.
Much before many other nations of the world, Costa Rica decreed the free and mandatory access to education. And now we dedicate 7 percent of our GDP to finance the public education, and we need, above all, to face the challenge of the reallocation of this education to the demands of the new economy to which we are aspiring to move our country.
In that sense, we have called upon the attention in regard to the possibility of using with greater intensity the very beautiful program that has been characterized by the international policy of the United States, which is the Peace Corps, so that through them, we might be able to improve even more. They have programs of bilingualism that Costa Rica, for 15 or 20 years we have already been introducing in our public education.
We believe that through Peace Corps we can achieve training programs with our teachers, with our professors, our English professors, so that that English is a more proficient English, more competitive, with greater quality and bound precisely through the aspirations of attracting investments and generation of employment that we are working on.
Finally, also we have called President Obama’s attention to the fact that there is nothing more valuable, that there is nothing more important than anybody to get to know a society from the inside. I am a true example precisely of the benefits of scholarship programs that the United States in the past have offered the Central American region. As a matter of fact, that is why we have — so that we can continue on promoting those scholarship programs and intensify them so that the youth of the Central American region and, of course, of my country can continue on also knowing or competing not only for knowledge of the best universities, of the quality of education of the United States, but also the values that have characterized this great nation.
So thank you very much. President Obama. (Applause.)
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Buenas tardes. Thank you so much, President Chinchilla, for your kind words and for welcoming me here today. This is my first visit to Costa Rica. And even though it is a brief one, I can already tell the incredible spirit of the people, the natural beauty of the country. I understand that the official slogan for those who are thinking about visiting Costa Rica is “un pais sin ingredientes artificiales.” So there’s nothing artificial about Costa Rica. Everything is genuine. And that’s certainly true about the friendship between our two countries.
And President Chinchilla has been so gracious in her hospitality. We are very grateful to her. I want to thank publicly the wonderful schoolchildren who sang for us. And I noticed that, Madam President, you and I didn’t sing. We didn’t trust our voices. (Laughter.) But we certainly enjoyed the spirit that those children delivered.
In the United States, we are so grateful for the contributions that Costa Ricans make to our country every day. You welcome many Americans as tourists, eco-tourists, and many others who have chosen to make Costa Rica a new home. This year we’re also marking the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps here, including President John F. Kennedy’s visit to Costa Rica and his vision for partnerships that advance development and democracy in the Americas.
I had actually a chance during the bilateral meeting to see a photograph of President Kennedy at the same table that we were meeting at — it had been specially commissioned. And so it shows the longstanding ties between our two countries.
And I’m here because Costa Rica is a great partner not just regionally, but globally. Given Costa Rica’s proud democratic traditions, we stand up together for democracy and justice and human rights in Central America and across the hemisphere. And I want to commend Costa Rica for your landmark law against the scourge of human trafficking. I’m proud to be here as you host World Press Freedom Day. So everybody from the American press corps, you should thank the people of Costa Rica for celebrating free speech and an independent press as essential pillars of our democracy.
Costa Rica shows the benefits of trade that is free and fair. Over the last few years, under the Central America Free Trade Agreement, our trade with Costa Rica has doubled, creating more jobs for people in both of our countries. Our partnerships are creating more opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs, including young people and women. As I told President Chinchilla, the United States will continue to be your partner as Costa Rica modernizes its economy so that you’re attracting more investment and creating even more trade and more jobs.
Costa Rica, of course, has long been a leader in sustainable development that protects the environment. The President and I agreed to continue deepening our clean energy partnerships. For example, we’re moving ahead with our regional effort to ensure universal access to clean, affordable, sustainable electricity for the people of the Americas, including Costa Ricans. And this is also another way that we can meet our shared commitments to address climate change.
The President and I reaffirmed our determination to confront the growing security concerns that have affected many Costa Rican families and communities. And under the Central America Regional Security Initiative, the United States has committed nearly half a billion dollars to helping Costa Rica and its neighbors in this fight. We’re disrupting drug cartels and gangs. We’re working to strengthen law enforcement and the judicial system. And we’re addressing the underlying forces that fuel criminality — with prevention programs for at-risk youth and with economic development that gives young people hope and opportunity.
Meanwhile, as I said in Mexico yesterday, the United States recognizes that we’ve got responsibilities; that much of the violence in the region is fueled by demand for illegal drugs, including in the United States. So we’re going to keep on pursuing a comprehensive approach not only through law enforcement, but also through education and prevention and treatment that can reduce demand.
And finally, I updated the President on our efforts in the United States to pass comprehensive immigration reform. I know this is of great interest to the entire region, especially those with families in our country. And I’m optimistic that we’re going to achieve reform that reflects our heritage as both a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants — men and women and children who need to be treated with full dignity and respect.
So, President Chinchilla, thank you so much for your partnership. Thank you and the people of Costa Rica for your hospitality.
I’m told there’s a well-known quote here in Costa Rica — “Where there is a Costa Rican, wherever it is, there’s liberty.” And in the United States, we’re thankful for the many Costa Ricans who contribute to our prosperity and our liberty. And we’re grateful for Costa Rica’s leadership in this region, as we’ll see again when President Chinchilla hosts tonight’s SICA meeting.
I’d note that our presence at tonight’s meeting with the leaders of Central America and the Dominican Republic is a sign of the importance that the United States places on this region, as well as our commitment to being a steady and strong and reliable partner — because we believe that no matter where you live, the people of this region deserve security and opportunity and dignity.
So let me, again, say thank you — and in my best tican — pura vida. (Laughter and applause.)
So I think we’re going to go Costa Rican press first and then I’ll call on someone?
Q Good afternoon. Welcome, President Obama. The policy of the United States for Central America on drug smuggling and organized crime — don’t you think, for both Presidents, that the time has come to improve our relationships and go on to an agenda that apart from security, we have the social aspects of education and health?
And my second question would be if we’re going to be supporting Costa Rica in subjects that were presented today for the SICA? So, thank you, and welcome.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, thank you very much. First of all, I completely agree with you, and I’ve tried to emphasize this throughout my trip: So much of the focus ends up being on security. And we understand that in the absence of security, it’s very hard to develop. But we also have to recognize that problems like narco-trafficking arise in part when a country is vulnerable because of poverty, because of institutions that are not working for the people, because young people don’t see a brighter future ahead.
And so what President Chinchilla and I spoke extensively about are initiatives like education, institution-building and capacity, trying to create greater economic opportunity, because the stronger the economies and the institutions for legitimate — for individuals who are seeking legitimate careers, the more those are there, then the less powerful these narco-trafficking operations are going to be.
And so not only are we interested in promoting trade and highlighting the already extensive trade that we’re doing, but we also want to see how can we build on the successes to improve education even in our strategies to fight narco-trafficking. We, for example, helped to finance youth centers that can give young people a different vision for their futures. We consider that to be part of our overall effort. So it can’t just be law enforcement. It also has to be human development, inclusive economic development. We’ve got to make sure that everybody feels opportunity.
Now, even if a country is doing well, the scourge of drugs and drug trafficking will still be there, and there still needs to be a strong law enforcement component. But we can do better than we’re currently doing. And I know that President Chinchilla is taking a great interest here in Costa Rica around these human development issues.
As far as the issues that you mentioned around international organizations, as I indicated earlier, Costa Rica has shown itself to be a world leader and model around free trade, freedom of the press, democracy, respect for human rights, and that makes it an outstanding candidate for membership in the OECD, for example. And so we will expect that we’ll continue to support Costa Rica in expanding its influence.
We enjoy a great partnership on, for example, regional human rights councils, as well as international human rights efforts. Costa Rica has been a real leader, and we appreciate that. And there’s something very effective when large countries like the United States, smaller countries like Costa Rica share values. We come in together. And I think it’s a great way to make the point that regardless of the country’s size, regardless of the language that it speaks, the idea of certain universal rights that are observed for all people is important. And that’s why we value this partnership so much.
PRESIDENT CHINCHILLA: I’m just going to add a couple of comments. And I think that it seems to me that I should start by thanking President Obama for his expressed support to the aspirations of Costa Rica for being a member of OECD. We know that there are tests that we have to comply with, and we know that we will be able to comply with them.
Also, let me add something more precisely — a comment in regard to the subject of narco traffic, organized crime. We believe that there is not a single doubt that President Obama’s administration — since his coming to Mexico, and now his visit here in Central America — brings along an agenda that is trying to redefine those relationships based on a greater diversity.
As has been said, our countries are more than just security and violence and narco traffic. That doesn’t mean that it is not an important problem, but I would like to basically finally add the following. What some other countries for a few years now, with the purpose of trying to review some strategies that fall under the fight against drugs, are based basically on the fact that some of the most immediate experiences we have seen in region are experiences that have had to call upon the extreme fight of the war on drugs. Costa Rica doesn’t have an army. And since we don’t want to found an army, we do not want to allow ourselves to come to war scenarios to face drug smuggling or organized crime.
Many times the generals ask me, how has Costa Rica done to face such a big threat when you don’t have an army and precisely the countries next to you do have an army? But curiously enough, Costa Rica has demonstrated that we have been more effective and more successful in fighting against these threats precisely without having an army. And where am I going through with this? That what we’re looking for, for a while now, is precisely the signals that the Obama administration is sending in the sense that an effective policy for the fight against drugs and narco traffic goes through the strengthening of the institutions — through prevention, through an open society, a more transparent society, and through a citizenship that is much more aware of the problem.
It seems to me that advancing that direction is precisely advancing in the correct direction.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: All right, Mark Felsenthal, of Reuters.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. Madam President. Mr. President, on Syria, you said yesterday that anything the United States does should make the situation better, not worse. How long are you prepared to wait to determine whether chemical weapons were used? What happens when you make your determination? And will you take your case to the United Nations? And have you ruled out putting U.S. troops on the ground in Syria?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, first all, I emphasized yesterday, so let me re-emphasize — we’re not waiting. We’re not standing by. We are currently the largest humanitarian donor to deal with the crisis in Syria. We are the largest contributor of nonlethal aid to the opposition. We’ve mobilized 80 countries to support the opposition. We are working to apply every pressure point that we can on Syria, working with our international partners.
And so we are actively engaged on a day-to-day basis to try to deal with this crisis and to restore a Syria that is respectful of the rights and aspirations of the Syrian people.
Now, as I’ve said before, if, in fact, we see strong evidence that we can present and that allows us to say that the Syrian military and the Syrian government is using chemical weapons, then that is a game-changer for us because not only is there the prospect of widespread use of chemical weapons inside of Syria, but there’s the possibility that it lands in the hands of organizations like Hezbollah.
We have evidence that chemical weapons have been used. We don’t know when, where, or how they were used. We are initiating on our own to investigate and get a better handle on the facts inside of Syria. We’re also working with the international community and our partners to try to get a better handle on what’s happening, and we’ve already gone to the United Nations to say we want a full-blown investigation inside of Syria — so far, for unsurprising reasons, President Assad has resisted.
We will stay on this. Now, if, in fact, there’s the kind of systematic use of chemical weapons inside of Syria, we expect that we’re going to get additional further evidence. And at that point, absolutely we will present that to the international community, because I think this is, again, not just an American problem; this is a world problem. There are international rules and protocols and norms and ethics. And when it comes to using chemical weapons, the entire world should be concerned.
Now, in terms of what that means in terms of American action, keep in mind we’re already taking a whole range of actions. We’re going to continue to take a whole range of actions. Separate and apart from the chemical weapon use, we got tens of thousands of people who are being killed inside of Syria and we want to see that stopped — for humanitarian reasons but also for strategic reasons.
But in terms of any additional steps that we take, it’s going to be based on, number one, the facts on the ground. Number two, it’s going to be based on what’s in the interest of the American people and our national security. And as President of the United States, I’m going to make those decisions based on the best evidence and after careful consultation — because when we rush into things, when we leap before we look, then not only do we pay a price, but oftentimes we see unintended consequences on the ground. So it’s important for us to do it right. And that’s exactly what we’re doing right now.
Q Good afternoon, President Obama. Good afternoon, Madam President. President Obama, 10 years ago you were about to come to the Senate. Well, 10 years have gone and Central America has lost more than 130,000 lives caused by drugs traffic. This has been the sacrifice that the region has had because of this problem. What is the sacrifice that in your four years of government you intend to undertake for this business that feeds on the profit that are produced especially by the consumption in your country? And if the United States also believes that the best option is to use warships to be able to survey or keep a watch on the seas on the joint anti-narcotic drug war?
And, Madam President, you have also expressed the values that the government of Costa Rica has with the government of the United States and your point of view with President Obama, for example, on the subject of the international create of weapons — fire weapons. You say that President Obama said the time has come to recognize the rights for the homosexual couples of the United States. When is the time going to come for that in Costa Rica?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, I think all of us recognize the pain and hardship that’s been caused by drug trafficking and transnational drug cartels here in Central America. There’s a cost obviously in the United States as well. It’s not as if we don’t have tragic drug problems throughout the United States. And when you look at poor communities inside of the United States, including communities in my hometown of Chicago, there are young people who are killed every day as part of the drug trade.
So this is not a situation where we do not feel the effects. There are common effects, and there are common responsibilities, which is why it’s so important that we work on this on a regional basis.
Now, since I’ve been President, we’ve put our money where our mouth is. I’ve spent — my administration has spent approximately $30 billion in reducing drug demand in the United States over the last several years. And we’re actually seeing an impact in terms of reduced demand. But the United States is a big country and a big market, and so progress sometimes is slower than we’d like it to be.
There is obviously a role for law enforcement. I’m not interested in militarizing the struggle against drug trafficking. This is a law enforcement problem. And if we have effective law enforcement cooperation and coordination, and if we build up capacity for countries in Central America, then we can continue to make progress.
But the important thing that I’ve tried to emphasize throughout is that this is a common problem. This is one where we’ll only solve it when we’re working together. It has adverse effects in all of our countries. But — last point I’d make — I think it’s very important to make sure that our bilateral relationship and the United States relationship with the region as a whole is not solely defined by this problem. Because when it is, we’re missing all the opportunities that exist out there.
When I got off the plane I was greeted by Dr. Chang, obviously a well-known scientist here who worked at NASA and is working now on developing a whole new vision for clean energy, and he brought along four young people — these incredibly talented young people who are in their last year of high school here. And all of four of them, thanks to some of the good work of our Ambassador and others, will be attending universities in the United States next fall.
And when you talk to those young people, there’s incredible hope and incredible promise and incredible optimism. And I don’t want every story to be about drug traffickers and nobody is writing a story about those four young people and what they represent in terms of the future of Costa Rica and the future of this region.
PRESIDENT CHINCHILLA: Every nation or every society has its own way of evolving towards to the responses that have to be provided to the different demands of the social groups and of the different collectiveness that a country might have.
And when we analyze the evolution of the different nations, we see how some of them have advance a little more accelerated — to subjects maybe of commitment towards the environment, in subjects, for example, for the control of some important aspects in the subject of protection of human life, like for example, the the subject of the control of fire weapons. And others are advancing furthermore in the recognition of certain rights, among them like the one that you have mentioned, the rights of couples of the same sex.
The important thing, Alvarro, is that we cannot simply pass on or go beyond the rhythm or the evolution of the debates from one nation to another. Each one of the nations has its own rhythm. The important thing here I believe — and what’s it’s worth here — is that in Costa Rica the framework precisely of democracy that has characterized us, the debate has to be an open debate, a live debate, an active debate — a debate like the one that I have in qualifying it that has to take place with the greatest of respect without putting a stigma on the different positions that are brought to the debates that take place in a democracy.
And only the mature, ripened, seasoned debate will end up giving the result that will have to be given where it has to be given, which is inside the parliament. So it seems to me that that is what is important, that the debate in Costa Rica is an open debate, a free debate that has to continue as a debate without restrictions.
That is why I have advocated and restated opportunities in my recent report to the nation that this is a dialogue that has been faced sometimes inconveniently on some positions that take sides. And as long as this is faced in this way, I think that the advancement is going to be very slow. I hope and I trust that the debate might really be a much more balanced, much more mature dialogue without putting stigmas on it, and that this might eventually generate a decision in the Congress of the Republic.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Okay, last question, Lisa —
Q Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Leahy is pushing for a bill on recognizing same-sex couples as part of the immigration bill. Are you concerned at all that that undermines the success of the package? And given that you made a point throughout your presidency to make clear that you don’t think LGTB Americans should be treated any differently, will you sign a bill that will do exactly that?
And for you, Madam President, is there any concern that the more — that by creating more stringent immigration standards could hamper the ability of Costa Ricans to emigrate to the U.S.? Thanks.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Lisa, I hope you don’t mind, before I answer your question I want to get back to Mark because I realize there was one clause in your question — sometimes you guys have a lot of clauses in your question — (laughter) — that I didn’t specifically answer, and I didn’t want anybody to extrapolate from that.
You asked about boots on the ground and whether we’ve ruled boots out on the ground in Syria. As a general rule, I don’t rule things out as Commander-in-Chief because circumstances change and you want to make sure that I always have the full power of the United States at our disposal to meet American national security interests.
Having said that, I do not foresee a scenario in which boots on the ground in Syria, American boots on the ground in Syria would not only be good for America, but also would be good for Syria. And by the way, when I consult with leaders in the region who are very much interested in seeing President Assad leave office and stabilizing the situation in Syria, they agree with that assessment.
So I just wanted to make sure that my omission there did not turn into a story.
To your question, Lisa, as I’ve indicated, I’ve got four broad criteria for immigration reform. I want to make sure that our border is secure and well regulated, in part so that we can get down to the business of smoothing trade and commerce across our borders and creating jobs in the United States, but also making sure that negative actors aren’t able to penetrate the United States.
Number two, cracking down on employers who are breaking the law. Number three, making sure we’ve got a legal immigration system that works better, smarter, and so what we can continue to attract the best and the brightest to the United States.
And by the way, when it comes to legal immigration, the issue here is not going to be stringency, per se. The issue is do we make the system more rational, more effective, better. If there are smart engineers and young people and scientists and students who are looking to emigrate to the United States from Costa Rica, then we want them to know that we’re a nation of immigrants. But we want to make sure that the legal process is in place so that it’s easier and simpler, but also more effective in managing the legal immigration process.
And finally, that we’ve got a pathway so that the 11 million or so undocumented workers inside the United States are able to pursue a tough, long, difficult, but fair path to legal status and citizenship.
So those are my broad-based criteria. Now, the provision that you’ve discussed that Senator Leahy has talked about is one that I support, and I’ve said in the past that the LGBT community should be treated like everybody else. That’s, to me, the essential, core principle behind our founding documents, the idea that we’re all created equal and that we’re equal before the law, and it’s applied fairly to everybody.
And so Senator Leahy may present this provision in committee. It may be presented on the floor. It will be one of many amendments and provisions that are presented, some of which I’ll support, some of which I’ll think are really bad ideas. And I think that the general principle for me is are we advancing, are we improving the immigration system — because ultimately this is an immigration bill.
And we’ll evaluate the end-product. I think it’s premature for me to start talking about what I will or will not do before I get a final product since the road is going to be long and bumpy before I finally see an actual bill on my desk. But I can tell you I think that the provision is the right thing to do.
I can also tell you that I’m not going to get everything I want in this bill. Republicans are not going to get everything that they want in this bill. But if we keep focused on what our main aim is here — which is creating a smart, effective immigration system that allows us to be a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants — then we’re going to be in a position to not only improve our economy and what’s happening inside the United States, we’re going to I think have a much stronger relationship with the region and that’s going to help enhance our economy and jobs and our growth over the long term.
And, last point I’ll make, as is true with every bill, if there are things that end up being left out in this bill, or things that I want to take out of a bill, but if it’s meeting those core criteria around a comprehensive immigration bill that I’m looking for, then we go back at it and we fix what’s not there and we continually improve what’s been presented.
I think that this comprehensive immigration bill has the opportunity to do something historic that we have not done in decades. But I don’t expect that, after we’re finished with it, that people are going to say, there’s not a single problem that we have with our immigration system, any more than is true after any piece of legislation that we pass.
Well, thank you very much everybody. Muchas gracias.
PRESIDENT CHINCHILLA: Thank you very much. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Costa Rica’s strong tradition of democracy and longtime friendship with the United States ensured President Obama would enjoy a smooth – if uneventful – trip this weekend.
Costa Rica is like vanilla ice cream; it’s a safe bet. How can you go wrong with vanilla ice cream?
Latin America’s least popular president finally has something to cheer about. Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla, whose approval ratings barely register in double digits, could receive an “Obama bounce” in the polls after the US president traveled to San José and heralded her country as an exemplary leader for Central America.
In just his second visit to Central America and his first trip to Costa Rica, U.S. President Barack Obama this weekend called for new partnerships and increased integration with the region – especially in the areas of trade, innovation, and energy. Obama, who arrived in San José Friday afternoon to a rock star’s welcome of people lining the streets to cheer his motorcade, lauded Costa Rica for its historic commitments to democracy, peace, human rights, education and socio-economic development.
Costa Rican government officials and local pundits are proudly interpreting Obama’s visit as first-world recognition of their country’s new standing as an international player. Costa Rican Foreign Minister Enrique Castillo said Obama’s visit puts Costa Rica in a “better position to become a modernized country on the path to progress.”
Nuria Marín, a political analyst for Teletica Channel 7 News, echoed those sentiments, calling Obama’s visit an acknowledgement of Costa Rica’s “regional protagonism” and the country’s “return to the geopolitical map.” Just by spending 24 hours in the capital city of San José, Obama has helped to “strengthen Costa Rica’s brand name for attracting more US tourism and investment,” Marín predicts.
Other analysts, however, are still scratching their heads over what the summit was all about. Some are even questioning whether Obama’s stop in Costa Rica was just part of an extended layover on a circuitous return flight to Washington after a tough two-day working trip in Mexico
“This has been one of the most mysterious presidential visits I have witnessed in the last two decades,” says Costa Rican political analyst and 2014 presidential hopeful Luis Guillermo Solís. “Nothing seemed to make sense about the objectives of Obama’s visit.”
During his stay in San José, Obama met privately and publicly with President Chinchilla, held a private dinner with his counterparts from Central America and the Dominican Republic, and participated in an investment forum with nearly 200 MBA students and Central American business leaders. The agenda items ranged erratically from trade, drugs, and immigration, to clean energy, gender equality, education, infrastructure, and gay marriage. The summit ended without a joint declaration and with no agreements, resolutions, or even a clear sense of what comes next.
Even the most innovative proposal that was discussed during the meeting (the possibility of using the US-Central American Free Trade Agreement [CAFTA] as a platform for the US to sell liquid natural gas to Central America to reduce the region’s soaring energy costs) was delivered with an asterisk when Obama said he still has to make an executive decision whether or not the United States even wants to export liquid natural gas.
Some analysts are calling Obama’s trip to Costa Rica an empty-handed courtesy call after being criticized for neglecting the region during his first term in office. And when it came to deciding which Central American country to visit, Costa Rica was viewed as a safest choice to get in and out without incident, says Nicaraguan political analyst Arturo Cruz.
“It’s difficult to go wrong with Costa Rica – It’s a democracy with a vibrant economy and a friendly government that will always be friendly to the US,” Cruz says. “Costa Rica is like vanilla ice cream; it’s a safe bet. How can you go wrong with vanilla ice cream?”
Costa Rica also holds the pro tempore presidency of the Central American Integration System (SICA), which gave Obama the excuse of not playing favorites.
But given Central America’s current cast of presidents – Guatemala’s Otto Perez is a leading critic of the US drug war, El Salvador’s Mauricio Funes has failed to assume a regional leadership role that the US had hoped he would step into, Honduras’ Porfirio Lobo is viewed as a political byproduct of the 2009 coup, Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega is democratically challenged and prone to “anti-yanqui” political ranting, and Panama’s Ricardo Martinelli is considered a loose cannon autocrat who is well-suited for his nickname, “El Loco” – Chinchilla was an easy pick, despite her unpopularity and socially conservative views.
Though the presidents of the region managed to gather at the same dinner table for a meal with Obama, Central America’s strained integration process started to show through the smiles soon after desert was served. Few details were made public about the presidents’ private meeting on Friday night, but by Saturday morning the presidents of Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras had already left the country before Obama’s meeting with Central American business leaders.
Central America’s political integration, which has been a nonstarter since the early 19th Century, has become even more strained in recent years as the various political leaders of the isthmus lead their countries in diverging directions. As Nicaragua seeks closer ties with countries such as Russia, Iran, and the leftist Latin American nations belonging to the Bolivarian Alliance for Our Americas (ALBA), Costa Rica is celebrating what former president and Nobel Peace Laureate Oscar Arias this week called his country’s “extraordinary new chapter in the long history of friendship” with the United States.
Ironically, Nicaragua in some ways is on an equally good footing as Costa Rica to talk with Obama about the issues of renewable energy technologies, growing trade and investment under CAFTA, and citizen security – three areas in which Nicaragua is excelling. But politics being what they are, President Ortega, the former socialist firebrand whose revolutionary government battled US-funded counterrevolutionaries in the 1980s, remained quiet during the summit while Costa Rica grabbed the spotlight. Ortega departed Costa Rica early Saturday morning for another summit in Venezuela, where attitudes toward the Obama administration are markedly different than they are in Costa Rica.
Thousands of spectators invaded the autopista to take pictures of U.S. president Barack Obama. At least of “the Beast”, the presidential limo.
“When comparing the image of the arrival of John F. Kennedy in Costa Rica 50 years ago, the arrival of Barack Obama, yesterday, you’ll notice the idionsyncracis of Costa Rica is still very similar”, writes Luis Miguel Herrera in his article in La Nacion.
Like a half centry ago, thousands of Costa Ricans took to the streets to welcome the visiting dignitary, despite the rigorous security operation put in place by the U.S. Secret Service.
With with and playfullness, and equipped with smartphones, Ticos hunted memories. “We’re here to see Obama or see Obama. Please we are in Costa Rica, they may sneer but this is history and we have to see”, Rosa Cascante, who cam from Belén to see what she could see, told La Nacion.
A crowd greeted the Obama limo on Friday from the airport to the Intercontinental hotel. Outside the airport terminal, in the park across from the airport, many gathered to see the presidential plane land and then invaded the security line, crossing the autopista to get close to the limo.
Along the autopista, there were people lined up all along the route, many close enough to possibly even touch the vehicles if they had slowed down any.
The same occurring today on Obama’s ride back to the airport. Secret Service agents must have scolded Costa Rican authorities, for the park today was roped off and the security line manned by officials of the “intervention unit” -a specialized arm of the Costa Rica police force – and the closeness was now a few metres (yards) instead of centimetres (inches).
Although the Secrect Service had maintained that people would not get any closer than 200 metres from the president or his limo – and this was certainly true to their word where Obama was outside the limo – in other places there were instances where there were close encounters of the presidential kind.
Many, like good Ticos ready for the Tope or Light Festival parade, came out armed with folding chairs and coolers (probably filled with cold imperial beers), while others abandonded their cars and motorcycles, hoofing it to get close to the motorcade.
Although reports of the security breaches and the headaches many a Tico caused the Secret Service have not been made public, posts in the social media tell tales of more than one Tico spending several minutes with hands up in the air, so that American snipers could be clear of the situation.
No matter, it was worth the price of getting close.
In the departing words of president Obama, Pura Vida. Muchas Gracias.
Carlos Arredondo, the Costa Rican who became news after the attacks in Boston weeks ago, is visiting his home country and this morning (Saturday) tried to meet U.S. President Barack Obama.
Arredondo said he was in front of the Intercontinental Hotel at 6am this morning, looking for an opportunity to come face-to-face with Obama.
Although he did not achieve his goal, he said he got a chance to talk to Secret Service agents who recognized and thanked him for his work during the emergency in Boston.
It was 12:38pm when the wheel of Air Force One lifted from the tarmac at the Juan Santamaria airport, almost 22 hours to the minute, of the arrival of U.S. President Barack Obama on his first visit to Costa Rica.
During the 22 hours, under heavy security, Obama held bilateral meetings with Costa Rican president Laura Chinchilla and participated in a summit with the presidents of Central America and the Dominican Republic, forming part of the Central American Integration System (SICA).
The Obama visit even brought Nicaraguan President, Daniel Ortega, to Costa Rica, his first visit to the country since May 2010 and the border conflict between the two countries occurring in October 2010.
In addition to the closed public appearances that included a “working dinner” at the Teatro Nacional Friday night, Obama participated at a meeting of Central American business leaders at the Old Customs House. Here he answered questions by INCAE Business School students, before heading out to the airport for his trip home.
Sending off the U.S. president on the tarmac of the airport were presidenta Laura Chinchilla, who received a Presidential peck on the cheek; vice president, Luis Liberman, Costa Rica’s ambassador to Washington, Muni Figueres; and Foreign Minister, Enrique Castillo, among others.
It would be ironic that the autopista General Cañas would inconvenience U.S. President Barack Obama much in the same way it does daily Costa Ricans.
It was minutes before noon that woman driving a small SUV plowed into the back of a bus, near the toll booths, a short distance from the airport.
This was also the time that Obama was wrapping up his participation in the Central America Forum sponsored by the INCAE, Costa Rica’s elite business school, in downtown San José.
The news of the accident sent the President’s security team scrambling for alternate routes.
However, Costa Rican authorities were able to clear the accident in record time, not affecting the Obama motorcade and his flight leaving on schedule.
Reports indicate that the woman driver plowed into the back of a bus a short distance from the toll booths, on exactly the route the presidential motorcade would take.
The woman suffered fractures in her legs and required hospitalization. Four others suffered minor injuries in the accident.
Snipers and explosive detection dogs watched over historic district
A musician was silenced and children checked with metal detectors were part of the ‘show’
“We ask for your cooperation to inform us through 911 (indicating that it the CANCILLERIA code) any abnormal situation observed in your environment, any strange movements of people (on roofs, houses, neighbors, vacant lots) and any abandoned packages”.The edificio Jimenez is located next Casa Amarrila.The yellow posts on are part of the Casa Amarilla fence.
This was the message taped to the door of the Jimenez apartment building located next door o the Casa Amarilla, who was receiving a very important guest, U.S. President Barack Obama.
Rose Marie Breedy, a resident of the building, in telling her story to La Nacion, described how Secret Service agents began last week with the inspection of the building, asking for data on each of the tenants and requeste authorization to place Marines in some of the balconies.
“They were really good people, very friendly…well, almost all”, Breedy told Alonso Mata of La Nacion.
As the arrival of President Obama approached, vigilance of the area intensified in the area of Barrio Amón that is known for robberies, drugs, car thefts and transvestite prostitutes.
The wachimen and destitute that are part of the everyday landscape of Barrio Amón were replaced by huge men with a “hard to kill” face and others in dark suits and sunglasses.
On Friday, the bustle of vehicular traffic, the noise of motorcyclists who annoy the transexuals at night and even the daily drill used in the National Insurance Institute (INS) building restoration, yielded to the silence of a major operation involving explosive detection dogs, GI Joe style security agents and even snipers.
All took security very seriously. They even checked choir children of the Escuela Buenaventura Corrales, who had been invited to sing for Obama, with metal detectors.
James Getman, a California native and living in Tiquicia for four years, was yet another viciem of the extreme vigilance.
From the terrace, across the Foreign Ministry, Gateman improvised a stage and with a guitar and speaker, had intended to serenate the President. “We live in a chaotic world, I wanted him to see that there is hope”, Gateman said before security agents prevented his concert.
Snipers sat atop the INS, the Holiday Inn Aurola and the Foreign Ministry buildings. On the arrival of Obama the residents were asked to go inside of their balconies and not to peek through the windows, as snipers “got nerovus with so much movement”. Since we igonred the warnings, within minutes police were sent to our balconies.
Nevertheless, despite the restrictions and the scare of the snipers, as curious neighbors we able take photos and save the memory.
Nicaragua’s president Daniel Ortega (right) accompanied by his wife, Roasrio Murillo, on his arrival in Costa Rica Friday
While the rest of the presidents of Central America, the Dominican Republic and U.S. president Barack Obama were already in the centre of San José, in typical Daniel Ortega fashion, the President of Nicaragua, accompanied by his wife, Rosario Murillo, arrived in Costa Rica at around 4:30pm, aboard an F-70 Air Panama flight.
Caught by surprise by the media, don Daniel assured that relations with Costa Rica are “normal”.
“In terms of trade, in terms of all that is the subject of Central America integration are working. And the issues that are controversial are where they should be in the International Court of Justice”, said Ortega.
The last time Ortega was on Costa Rican soil was the inauguration of Laura Chinchilla in May 2010.
Asked if he had a rapproachement with Chinchilla, Ortega showed the warmth of a good neighbour.
“With her I have not had any break. In different events we have met and have greeted each other. Today I have the opportunity to greet her again, she is our hostess”, he said trying to leave behind years of controversy, unanswered letters and statements in high pitch by the border conflict that has been ongoing since October 2010.
Just two months and 12 days have elapsed when Costa Rica hosted the summit of Central American countries and Mexico where Ortega was absent.
At the time the Nicaraguan President cited pending domestic issued that prevented him from travelling to Costa Rica. Attending the summit on Nicaragua’s behalf was Economy Minister, Orlando Solorzano.
With resepct to the matters highlithing his meeting with his counterparts in Central America and Obama, Ortega cited the fight against poverty as a “fundamental” theme.
“I think we have here the basic elements of the agenda for Central America and now have the opportunity today to share with the President of the United States, Barack Obama,” said Ortega.
Ortega and his wife were present at the “working” dinner meeting at the Teatro Nacional last night.
At the end of the event, around 9pm, Ortega did not offer any statemets to press. Shortly after the couple left for their country.
Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister, Enrique Castillo, assured that the subject of the Isla Calero border conflict was not a topic of discussion between Chinchilla and Ortega.
U.S. President Barack Obama made a pitch for regional economic cooperation Friday before sitting down to dinner with Latin American leaders.
Before dining with Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla and leaders of several other Central American nations who are in San Juan for an economic and political meeting, Obama said while he was technically on hand as an observer to hear their concerns, he appreciated their willingness to indulge him by allowing him to speak.
“We need to think about investments in our infrastructures … all of which can allow for more trade, more growth, more jobs,” Obama said.
“If the hemisphere is working effectively together, all of us benefit. If we’re not, then we will lose in that competition to other regions.”
Obama addressed the issues of energy and climate change, which he said “everybody has to be concerned about.”
“My concern is helping every country at this table reduce its energy costs, making its economy more efficient, because when you have high power costs, that’s not only a tax on your citizens effectively, but that’s also a situation that impedes growth over the long term,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of education.
“If we don’t have the best trained workers in the world … then we’re going to lose,” he said. “Everything to train our young people … and pool our resources … will end up benefiting everybody.”
Obama also address drug trafficking and its effect on citizen safety.
“Obviously that’s something that’s important, during this trip I’ve tried to make the point that we’re interested in cooperating with every country around issues of citizen security, we know what a major toll it’s taken, we are obviously deeply concerned about narco-trafficking and the drug trade,” the American president said.
“We can’t just have a law enforcement only approach, we have to have a prevention approach, we have to have an education approach, we have to think creatively.”
The leaders dined in the National Theater, a baroque, colonial building adorned with gold leaves and a painted ceiling. The menu was “New Costarican fusion cuisine” that featured green tomatoes and avocado tartar with red tomato jelly, and shrimp with truffles in olive oil; cream of pejibaye (local palm fruit) with samplings of lobster and confetti of sweet chile; and salmon medallions with green sauce, sweet corn terrine and vegetables. There also was French wine.
The group included Central American Integration System Secretary-General Juan Aleman, Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, Honduran President Porfirio Lobo, El Salvadorean President Mauricio Funes, Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow, Guatemalan President Otto Perez, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina.
Haiti’s president was not expected to attend Central American economic and political organization’s gathering.
Costa Rican Foreign Minister Enrique Castillo told CNN en Espanol regional leaders saw “indifference” to the region during Obama’s first term in the White House.
“This gesture of coming to Costa Rica and meeting with the Central American presidents is a change,” Castillo said.
Thousands were on hand as Air Force One landed at the airport in San Jose, and large crowds lined the streets despite the threat of rain as the president’s motorcade headed for a hotel, where Obama met with U.S. Embassy personnel.
Obama, who spent Thursday night in Mexico City after meeting with President Enrique Pena Nieto, traveled to Costa Rica after delivering remarks at Mexico’s National Museum of Anthropology, which contains artifacts from Mexico’s pre-Columbian heritage, and meeting with Mexican entrepreneurs.
In meeting with Pena Nieto Thursday, Obama offered his support for Mexico’s shifting security strategy as he called for a greater focus on economic ties.
Pena Nieto is revamping his law enforcement bureaucracy, which U.S. officials say could limit coordination with U.S. agencies.
Mexico has placed new restrictions on intelligence-sharing with the United States, pulling back on the extraordinary access the previous Mexican administration gave U.S. authorities in prosecuting the drug war and organized crime.
Mexican officials deny the changes will lessen Mexico’s coordination and cooperation with U.S. law enforcement efforts.
U.S. President Barack Obama showed his Spanish during the press conference Friday afternon at Centro Nacional de la Cultura (CENAC) – Natural Cultural Centre – in San José.
Obama opened his speech with a “good afternoon”, highlighted the qualites of Ticos and mentioned the Costa Rican tourism slogan, “Costa Rica, no artificial ingredients”.
But, the show stopper were Obama’s closing remarks, when in pure ticolandia told his audience, “Pura Vida, muchas gracias”.
All that was missing of Obama to be considered a real Tico, was “Mae”.
“Sometimes you have to trouble yourself to get to the good friends”, were the words of Presidenta Laura Chinchilla to Costa Ricans who felt “bothered” by the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama.
Some, by way of the social media networks, felt it unfair that everyday life in San José was disrupted.
Doña Laura said that she understood the discomfort generated by the Obama visit.
Costa Rica is hosting the conference of the Central American Integration System (SICA), uniting the presidents of Central America and the Dominican Republic and with a special visit by the United States president.
Presidenta Chinchilla is the pro-tempore president of the SICA, a post that rotates every six months among the presidents of Central America and is playing host to U.S. president Obama.
Illustration by Brian Stauffer for The Wall Street Journal. Enlarge Image
Novelist Jessica Soffer tried to re-create a sense of pura vida in New York, only to find that some things don’t translate
WHEN I WAS 15, I did a home-stay in a very tiny, very rural village in southwestern Costa Rica called Tres Piedras, and I fell in love. Not with anyone in particular, but with everything generally: the pace of life, the nature, the people, the food.
Illustration by Brian Stauffer for The Wall Street Journal.
I grew up in New York City and for 12 years attended an intense school where I didn’t wear the right clothes or live in the right neighborhood or have parents with the right jobs (mine were a writer and an artist). Costa Rica, with its laid-back “pura vida” approach to life, was a haven, a gift. In the years that followed, I found ways to return again and again. When I was 17, I applied for grants. During college, I baby-sat like a fiend and begged my parents for help so I could teach English in a one-room school house, climb trees, laze in the river and ride two hours on a horse to the nearest telephone, which only worked on every other Tuesday (if the sun was shining), so I could thank them for letting me go.
On every visit I lived with the same family in their itsy bitsy house, which had no hot water, mirrors or glass in the windows. What it did have was an outhouse, cows that needed milking, mosquitoes that were never satiated, a horse that nose-nudged the front door open every morning and neighed until I gave him a carrot, and an endless stream of kids who braided my hair and sat on my lap and couldn’t understand why I didn’t eat pig. I tried to explain tofu, the subway, living on the 11th floor and Chinese-food delivery. I tried to explain having grown up without siblings. They offered to be mine.
Anelí was the matriarch of this house (and the only constant inhabitant—family members were always stopping by, moving in or moving out). She was a tiny powerhouse in an apron, always singing, always chasing away stray dogs and goats with a machete twice her size, and always telling me that I should marry a Costa Rican. But, she said, I’d need to learn to cook first. And eat pig.
“Anelí gave me her tortilla press, in a fit of hope. ‘For your husband,’ she said. ”
In one way or another, Anelí was related to everyone in the town. She was considered the village chef and cooked for the school, the church and the weekend soccer games that flooded the town with visitors from neighboring villages. She spent all day making jams and cheeses, stewing batches of rich frijoles, killing chickens to put into her vats of tender arroz con pollo and frying long strips of plantains into crispy submission.
Most miraculous of all her creations were the empanadas. I would eat them until I had to lie down on my bed, begging the kids to please not sit on my stomach. Instead they sat everywhere else, counting my mosquito bites: One hundred and one. One hundred and two. I would promise myself I would never eat the empanadas again. But of course I would. I couldn’t resist the gooeyness of the cheese, the delicate crunch of the dough, the salty sweetness that I’d never encountered in an empanada before, and haven’t since. Chalk it up to the freshness of Anelí’s ingredients, her confidence, her deft touch, but there was something else, too, that made them taste so good. Something a bit harder to identify.
The last time I lived with Anelí was seven years ago. I spent three days covered in sweat, flour and grease splatter, attempting to master her empanada recipe. “For your husband,” she said a little too emphatically. (I was in college at that time, and had been with the man who is still my boyfriend for just a year.) I imitated everything she did: the amount of water she used in tortillas, how to not overwork them; the placement of the filling, how to not overwork it; the temperature, the cooking times, the handling. I left armed with five pages of notes, photos and diagrams, as well as Anelí’s tortilla press, which she gave me in a fit of hope. “For your husband,” she said.
Four thousand miles from Anelí, in my kitchen with a dishwasher, microwave and wireless router, I made her empanadas. They were dense, chewy and appallingly bland. Determined to keep the pura vida alive in New York, I tried using different cheeses, flours and oils, but over time my empanadas got worse and worse—reflecting, in some ways, the distance that was growing between Costa Rica and me. I loved college. I loved the Internet. I was trying to sort out a career in writing.
I went to Murray’s Cheese, asking for their advice on meltiness. When they had none to give, I was almost relieved. I wouldn’t have to try—and fail—again. Then, two years ago, I quit eating dairy. And I finally quit trying to make empanadas. I display Anelí’s tortilla press on a shelf.
They say that taste is in equal measure scent and flavor. But that doesn’t account for the more touchy-feely parts: poignancy and hope and a sense of place. Taste is, of course, susceptible to mood. A cheap red wine in a palazzo in Italy can knock your socks off as much as the $80 Chianti at Il Buco in downtown New York.
Someday I will return to Costa Rica, to dairy and to Anelí and her empanadas. And when she inquires about her beloved tortilla press, offering me a fourth and fifth empanada from the pot, and I tell her that I’ve failed her, she will ask me, not really asking, if I’ve married—and I’ll see her point. But I won’t linger on it. There will be too many empanadas to eat, to enjoy, then and there, only and ever.
Ms. Soffer teaches fiction writing at Connecticut College. Her first book, “Tomorrow There Will be Apricots,” a novel, was published last month.
The downtown core of San José on Friday was a ghost town, void of the normal Friday traffic congestion, the overcrowding of the markets, and the pigeons had the Plaza de la Cultura all to themselves.
The areas around the INS building, Casa Amarilla, the CENAC and the Teatro Nacional were completely closed off. Only authorized personnel were allowed past the barricades and then submitted to a search of person and bags.
This was not your typical Friday afternoon in San José. The following photos capture the somber mood of the downtown core Friday. Authorities say they will not lift the lock down until after noon today, when US President Barack Obama is expected to leave San José for the airport and Costa Rica.
Under a security blanket never before seen, the usually casual and commercial area of Escazú, from La Sabana to Multiplaza, has become a kind of fortress with hundreds of police officers stationed every 100 metres.
This all for the arrival of U.S. president Barack Obama, who appears will be spending Friday at the Intercontinental hotel.
From La Sabana, along Ruta 27, police keep an eye on traffic and people. Two officers are posted at every bridge. Closer to the Intercontinental the crackdown intensifies, with a security seal of a radius of 200 metres.
Parked in the Intercontinental lot include police cars, motorcycles, ambulances. During the last couple of days the black SUV’s used by Secret Service and various “official” limousines.
Although security is being tight lipped as to where Obama will be staying, the Intercontinental is the favourite. The alternates are the Marriott and Hotel Cariari.
This morning the airspace over San José has been quiet. Since Tuesday night, three Black Hawk helicopters have been doing flyovers. Costa Rica’s security minister, Mario Zamora, explained the flyovers are to test the equipment and for the U.S. military personnel to get familiar with the area they are charged with covering.
In San José, Paseo Colon and Avenida Segunda have been closed since 6am this morning. The General Cañas and Ruta 27 (San José – Caldera) will see temporary closures. The most affected areas will be around Casa Amarilla (across from the INS building), the old Fercori (across from the Pacific train station) and the Teatro Nacional.
Many businesses in those areas have cut their hours today, some closing down completely. Some have sent emails to their customers of the closure.
There are some 16.000 U.S. citizens living in Costa Rica, the majority working in teaching and prefer to live in San José and Pérez Zeledón.
Americans are the third largest immigrant group in the country in terms of population, after Nicaraguans and Colombians.
Almost half of the 16.000 Americans living in Costa Rica are 29 years of age and younger; 41% are of married couples with children, and 19% are retired.
Of those working in Costa Rica, most teach, others work in administrative and support services and business.
Nearly half of the employed work for private companies, while a quarter are self-employed.
The preferred cantons for Americans living in Costa Rica are: San José, Pérez Zeledón, Escazú, Alajuela, Santa Ana and Santa Cruz (Guanacaste).
The profile of Americans living in Costa Rica is from the 2011 Census by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos.
The date on which Americans are the third group of immigrants is taken from the Directorate General of Immigration national report 2012.
Arodys Robles, director of the Central American Population Center at the University of Costa Rica, says the data yields two patterns.
“One of Americans who come to Costa Rica with their families to work, generally made up of a younger group, from children to those active in the work force, generally between 35 and 560. The second are retirees, predominantly over 60”, says Robles.
A caricature poking fun at Costa Rica's potholes during the official by U.S. President Barack Obama in 2012.
In this CRHoy.com Toon, we see Obama’s limo fall prey to the famous Costa Rican potholes.
The captions:
Obama: “And the Ticos”
Driver: “The car comes equipped against bullets, bombs, gas attacks…but not potholes; these we don’t have in the USA”
Chinchilla: “Thet must be…happy!”
The Whitehouse website will be offering the President Obama and President Chinchilla Press Conference live, stating at 5:15pm local time (7:15pm EDT).
The website offers the following “official” schedule for president Obama:
FRIDAY
President Obama will participate in a bilateral meeting with Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla at Casa Amarilla.
In the evening, President Obama will hold a press a conference in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Watch Live at 6:30PM E.T.
President Obama will participate in a working dinner.
SATURDAY
On Saturday, President Obama will attend the Central America Forum on Sustainable Economic Development, where he will deliver remarks and take questions from the press.
In the evening, President Obama will return to Washington, DC.
The presidential plane, Air Force One, is expected to touch down at the Juan Santamaría international airport at 2pm today, when U.S. president Barack Obama starts his official 22 hours in the Costa Rica.
In the early hours of this morning, Paseo Colon and Avenida Segunda had already been blocked off to all vehicular traffic.
The Fuerza Pública is using the National Stadium as a base for operations and officials have been posted on all bridges near the Obama motorcade route.
The Embassy of the United States requested that Costa Ricans follow the visit of President Barack Obama on May 3rd and 4th on television or Twitter and to avoid going downtown San Jose.
The security of the President and of the other heads of state is a priority, Mr. Eric Nelson, minister-counselor of the Embassy told adn radio 90.7 FM. He added that they are cooperating with local officials to minimize the impact of extraordinary measures.
Mr. Nelson added that the talks will be about stimulating the economy and cooperation to fight organized crime.
The US diplomat pointed out that cooperation to fight organized crime is a very important topic. He remarked that it is a threat to the region which has to be challenged and that this is an opportunity to discuss joint measures.
Protesters burn an image mockery of President Barack Obama on Wednesday May 1, 2013, during the International Labour Day in San José (Costa Rica). A confrontation between several dozen youths and police broke out in the area around the Legislature, where were inside were assembled all the deputies, in the traditional May 1 politica activities. Photo / Jeffrey Arguedas
In less than 24 hours U.S. President Barack Obama is set to arrive in Central America, one of the world’s most violent region because of drug trafficking, to meet with the eight presidents who are waiting with economic demands to support their fight against the drug trade and attention for the 5.3 million Central American migrants living in the United States.
Obama arrives in San José, Costa Rica, from Mexico, on Friday, May 3, where during his 22 hours in the country will be holding short meetings with the presidents of the region and attend the Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA) conference.
The White House announced that President Obama is keen to “strengthen cultural ties, and economic fraternity” with Mexico and Central American nations. The official report recognized that security issues will be included on the agenda for discussion.
According to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), attached to the United Nations, more than 70% of the 280 tons of cocaine flowing from South America to the United States passes through Central America.
In its report on the state of the war on drugs 2012, the INCB noted that in several Central American countries, the highest rates of homicides are linked “to organized crime and conflicts between criminal groups fighting for control of routes drug trafficking. ”
The countries most affected by violence and organized crime, according to various sources, are Honduras (92 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants) and El Salvador (69 per 100,000), although the region is plagued by the scourge of drug trafficking.
On a visit to Washington a few days ago, Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes, pointed out that the United States has paid just US$40 million of the US$360 million it has pledged to the security strategy in Central America.
“All Central American presidents agree that while there is not a greater involvement of the main consumer of drugs, the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime is not enough to expected results,” said Funes.
From Managua, Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega was more direct: “The U.S. is the largest recipient of drugs in the world, therefore, should provide more funds if you expect the Central governments can contain drug trafficking.”
A media release from Guatemala, meanwhile, indicated that Guatemalan President Otto Pérez, travels to San José with his intention to restate his controversial proposal to legalize the drug, which has not had much response in the region.
Costa Rica authorities confirmed the presence of eight leaders to the meeting with Obama: in addition to Funes, Ortega, Perez and hostess Laura Chinchilla, attending will be Porfirio Lobo (Honduras), Ricardo Martinelli (Panama), Danilo Medina (Dominican Republic), and Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow.
In addition to the issue of drug trafficking, the presidents could also discuss the American Immigration Reform, which is expected to benefit the 5.3 million Central Americans living in the United States.
According to official data, migrants to the region contributed over US$12.7 billion dollars in remittances in 2012, a record and equivalent to seven percent of gross domestic product (GDP) of the area.
The countries benefiting the most from the remittances is Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, according to official figures.
Remittances are considered a vital source for the fragile econonies of Central America, where it is estimated that nearly half of the population lives in poverty and 19% of them living in extreme poverty.
Thursday afternoon government officials provided details about the agenda regarding U.S. President Barack Obama and the Central American Integration System (SICA) conference.
The central focuse of the agenda is based on collaboration in areas of economy, social and infrastructure. Communications Minister, Francisco Chacon, emphasized this is not a social, bur a working meeting.
Costa Rica’s Ambassador to Washington, D.C., Muni Figueres, said that there is an interest from the United States to generate discussion on economic and security issues and build bridges for a closer relationship and technical cooperation.
According to her, there is “an interest of the United States and Costa Rica and Central America to broaden the debate and discussion on the relationship between the member countries of SICA to economic development issues, opportunities, jobs and address the issue of organized crime.”
Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister, Enrique Castillo and Minister Chacon, released to the press a glimpse of the activities in which President Obama will participate in while in Costa Rica.
Friday at 2:00pm, Obama is expected to arrive at the Juan Santamaría airport. By 3:00pm Obama should be at Casa Amarilla (Foreign Ministry) in downtown San José, where he will attend bilateral meetings, privately, with Presidenta Laura Chinchilla.
At 4:00pm, Obama is expected to hold meetings with all the SICA presidents.
A news conference is schedule at 5:15pm in the CENAC, which is expected to last one hour.
At 7:00pm, dinner with Obama and the SICA presidents will beheld at the Teatro Nacional.
President Obama is scheduled to depart Costa Rica at 12:30pm Saturday.
In English it is called Peach Palm Fruit, in Costa Rica it is Pejibaye, and it will be a special guest in the dinner for President Barack Obama and his Central American peers this May 3rd.
There will even be a tray with the red or Bellow fruit, cooked but unpeeled, so President Obama will know where the intense yellow of the dishes comes from. By the way, on security grounds, the names of the dishes were not disclosed.
May be the only one who will wonder is President Obama, since his chef and a good many of his security staff already know in detail the menu, the ingredients, their origin, the place where they were bought, the cooking process, the name of the cooks, their last few hours’.
“I was in charge when President Bill Clinton came (in 1997) and I can tell that security is a lot stricter now,” said Chef Isabel Campabadal, who is Foreign Trade Minister Anabel Gonzalez’s mother and Communications Minister Francisco Chacon’s mother in law.
She was entrusted with the dinner for the visiting heads of state that is to be held at the National Theater. She proposed a menu that went to the White House and was authorized by Mr. Obama’s cooks, who are led by Chef Cristeta Comerford, quite a celebrity in her field in the United States.
“They did not change one sole ingredient,” Mrs. Campabadal said, proud of her success in her cooking fusion concept, since she blends Costa Rican flavors with those imported.
Care. Even though she is not authorized to disclose the menu, she said it will be based on ingredients as tropical as pejibaye. Avocados and mangoes also play a major role.
Tomatoes, peppers, corn, thyme, and other vegetables will also be used to prepare cold dishes, since it is not allowed to turn on ranges at the National Theater.
The main course will be fish or seafood. The rule is avoiding spicy ingredients, only. Mr. Obama does not report allergies o intolerance to any food. At least, that is what Mrs. Campabadal was told.
Some 130 guests are expected to enjoy some 550 dishes, including the first course, two main courses, and dessert, which will be fixed by 40 cooks, 22 waiters, and 18 people in charge of setting up the dishes.
Everybody is under close watch. “I suppose they know even the minutest detail about all of us,” Chef Campabadal added and pointed out she even had to send a list of her suppliers to White House officials.
The presidents will eat in the foyer of the National Theater, a hall located on the second floor where people use to wait for performances to start.
There they will be surrounded by the tropical decoration designed by the firms Eventos Carlos Gil. Abundant foliage, with ferns and bromeliads, will be the way to represent the tropic. They will pay particular attention to the spaces where President Obama will pose for photos with his peers, Mrs. Maria Cristina Gil reported.
Source: La Nacion
Click here for more on the Obama Visit Costa Rica 2013
No Costa Rican official has dared to say it as clear as this, but the total of security provisions make it possible to make a direct recommendation for the afternoon of May 3rd, when President Barack Obama arrives: It is better to think that General Canas Highway and downtown San Jose do not exist.
Maybe the only one who has stated it clearly has been Counselor-Minister Eric Nelson, from the US Embassy in San Jose, who suggested following President Obama’s visit on television or on Twitter, far from the capital city.
There is a reason why the Government decreed a day off for public workers in San Jose and six other cantons. Public employees will not need to mix themselves with hundreds of police officers. And workers in the private sector may not either, if their bosses realize the obstacles to move through San Jose.
The highway between Juan Santamaria Airport and San Jose will have sudden closes of almost one hour starting at noon, which will force drivers to turn off the car and make believe there is work on the road, as Traffic Police Assistant Director Huanelgue Gutierrez suggested.
This is so because of the transit of President Obama’s caravan and those of six other Central American heads of state.
Only for President Obama, the measure of cancelling the flight of other planes in the Costa Rican air space 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after Air Force 1 lands will be enforced. Tobias Bolanos Airport will be closed for 25 hours starting at noon on May 3rd.
Downtown San Jose, streets will also be temporarily closed. Also, access to the places of the meetings will be denied, except to residents or workers who have been registered in advance.
According to Minister of Security Mario Zamora, the measures are the “minimum necessary” for this “civic festivity”.
Para el ministro de Seguridad, Mario Zamora, las disposiciones son las “mínimas necesarias” para esta “fiesta cívica”.
