The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, December 16, 2002

SAY THAT AGAIN: Salvadoran President Francisco Flores chats with President Pacheco during summit.
photo/AFP

Russian Sailor Found Dead in Golfito
MOSCOW (AFP)- A Russian man who was attempting to sail around the world alone, in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the first Russian circumnavigation, was found dead Saturday aboard his boat, docked off the southern Pacific port town of Golfito, authorities announced yesterday.
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December 16

Animé Video Presentations
All at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., Mon., Dec. 16, Chobits; Wed., Dec. 18, Final Fantasy Unlimited (For older than 16); Sat.-Sun., Dec. 21-22, Vandread (For older than 13), Children’s Museum, end Ca. 4. Info: 258-4929, ext. 124-125.

Hurry to Buy your Cards and Paintings
Damas Voluntarias of the Asociación de Bienestar Social in Escazú are selling them to support the Cen Cinai Day Care Center, which looks after 100 children of low-income working families. Products are on sale in front of the Red Cross, Escazú (down from the main cemetery). Call 228-0279

Belly Dance Workshop for Beginners
Mon.-Tues. Dec. 16-17 6-8 p.m., Zíngari dance studio, Santa Ana. Info: 282-1127.

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C.A. Leaders Discuss CAFTA, Tourism

The XXII Central American Presidents' Summit -- held here in San José -- concluded Friday with advances made in areas of integration, tourism and preparation for the isthmus' eventual free-trade agreement with the United States -- a trade initiative known as CAFTA.

"Central America will begin its trade negotiations with the U.S. with a strong position of unity, integrity and shared vision," said Salvadoran President Francisco Flores. "Working together, we will negotiate a trade pact that has a preferential option for Central America."

The summit concluded with the signing of a document called the "Declaration of San José," which calls for the creation of the Central American Customs Union to help facilitate the region's entry into CAFTA. The Central American leaders also announced that private business leaders and representatives of agricultural sectors would participate in the free-trade talks with the U.S., which are scheduled to begin next month.

Central American farmers have repeatedly expressed concern about their ability to compete with U.S. agricultural subsidies once the free-trade agreement goes into effect. Yet despite the verbal promise the agricultural sector will be represented in the negotiation rounds, there was no specific mention of Central American farmers' concerns in the 16-point Declaration of San José.

Summit participants also agreed to form the Central American Tourist Promotion Agency (APTC), which will be located in Madrid, Spain, and promote the isthmus as a multi-destination vacation spot, under the slogan "Central America: So Small, Yet So Large."

The regional tourist office will work toward developing a "tourism and cultural corridor" through Central America, and promote sustainable tourism in the region.

Of the seven participating countries (Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic) only three Presidents attended last week's summit: Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco, Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo and Salvadoran President Francisco Flores. Other governments sent Vice Presidents or high-ranking ministers to represent the country's flag.
-AFP

Read Friday's TT print edition for full summit coverage.

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Police Bust Drug Warehouse in Southern Zone

Responding to an anonymous phone tip, the Drug Control Police's Southern Command last Thursday raided a home used as a drug warehouse outside the Pacific port town of Golfito, arrested three men and confiscated 153 kilograms of cocaine, three vehicles, according to a Security Ministry press release.

The confiscated vehicles, two Isuzu 4x4s and a Toyota pickup, were reportedly used to transport the cocaine across the Panamanian border into Costa Rica. Drug-sniffing dogs found traces of cocaine in the back of the pick-up, leading police to a find secret compartment in the rear of the truck.

The three-men arrested -- a Tico and two Guatemalans -- were taken to jail in Golfito, where they will face drug-trafficking charges.

Last week's raid was the first time police have managed to bust a drug warehouse in the Southern Zone, according to the release.

In 2002, Drug Police in the Southern Zone have led 12 operations, arresting 18 suspects (12 of whom are foreigners) and confiscating seven vehicles, 623 kilograms of cocaine, 87 "crack rocks," more than a kilogram of marijuana, 14 kilograms of heroin and more than $100,000, according to Security Ministry statistics.

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Cars stolen in Canada found Here

Police at the Peñas Blancas crossing on the Nicaraguan border last week arrested a Bulgarian man and Austrian citizen who tried to enter the country driving two luxury cars stolen in Canada and allegedly en route to a car auction in San José, police announced Friday.

The 2002 BMWs were stolen by a gang of Russians and Austrian car thieves that operate out of Panama, according to police authorities.

Last Thursday's arrest was the second of an alleged car-theft gang in Costa Rica in two weeks (TT Daily Page, Dec. 2). Police said they were looking into other possible cases here.
-AFP

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Russian Sailor Found Dead in Golfito

MOSCOW (AFP)- A Russian man who was attempting to sail around the world alone, in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the first Russian circumnavigation, was found dead Saturday aboard his boat, docked off the southern Pacific port town of Golfito, authorities announced yesterday.

Zigmas Gilaitis' cause of death has not been established. His body was found by Costa Rican maritime police aboard his yacht "Kamtchatka." Police said there were no apparent signs of violence and all of Gilaitis' documents and personal belongings were still on the boat.

The dead sailor reportedly had only $32 in his wallet, and his boat was out of fuel.

Gilaitis set out on his world tour from Petropavlovsk-Kamtchatski, Russia, in August 2000.

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