The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, September 5, 2003

PURA VIDA, ANGOLA: Some Angolans are upset that their country's new flag, chosen last week by the National Assembly's Constitutional Commission, looks very similar to the Costa Rican flag.

NGOs Criticize C.R. Mission to U.S.
A conglomeration of civil-society groups, called the Institutional Defense Council, questioned yesterday a Costa Rican mission of businessmen and government representatives sent to Washington, D.C. to explain their proposed version of the eventual free-trade agreement between Central America and the United States (CAFTA).
(Click for more)

Health Officials
Dismiss Diarrhea Outbreak
A team of doctors and health officials sent to the southern Caribbean indigenous community of Talamanca earlier this week to investigate an alleged outbreak of dysentery reported yesterday that the there was no outbreak and that the young girl who died of diarrhea was an isolated case, according to a Health Ministry release.
(Click for more)

C.A. Presidents Call for Arms Control
Presidents from Central America and Panama met yesterday in Belize and signed an "urgent plan" to control arms in the region and achieve a "reasonable balance" of military forces, to be determined by the Central American Security Commission.
(Click for more)

September 5

Sele Vrs. China
Costa Rica's National Soccer Team takes on China Sunday at 4 p.m. ( Costa Rica time). The game will be on Teletica 7 and Repretel 6

Charlie Garcia in Concert
Acclaimed Spanish rock singer, Sat, Sept. 6, 9 p.m., Planet Mall, tickets at PK 2 and Studio Store, San Pedro Mall. Info: 280-4693, 283-8234.

Love Marathon
A series of activities for children and adults to benefit the Palliative Care Unit of the Children’s Hospital, Sun., Sept. 7, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., National Auditorium, Children’s Hospital, Ca. 4, Av. 9, donations BNCR account #198275-0, BCR account # 001-0220701-0.

Terry Fox Fun Run
Benefits are for the Asociación Contra Cancer Infantil, 4.2 km, walk or run, Sun., Sept. 7, 8:30 p.m., around the Sabana Park. Today the registration is at the Canadian Embassy, South Sabana Park, Oficentro La Sabana, building 5, 3rd floor. Though, people are also welcome to register since 7 a.m. at the west- north corner of the National Gym at the Sabana Park. 242-4433.

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NGOs Criticize C.R. Mission to U.S.
By The Tico Times Staff and AFP wire services

Rodrigo Carazo
AFP

A conglomeration of civil-society groups, called the Institutional Defense Council, questioned yesterday a Costa Rican mission of businessmen and government representatives sent to Washington, D.C. to explain their proposed version of the eventual free-trade agreement between Central America and the United States (CAFTA).

"The business sectors represented in the mission have their own version of a trade agreement, which we respect," said Council leader and former President Rodrigo Carazo. "But this vision is not representative of the country's position."

Led by Foreign Trade Minister Alberto Trejos and Costa Rican trade negotiator Anabel González, the Tico delegation, which included business chamber leaders Samuel Yankelewitz and Rafael Carrillo, left for Washington yesterday on a two-day trip.

"The objective of the mission is to reiterate to U.S. authorities and congressional leaders our support for the free-trade agreement being negotiated with the U.S," reads a press release from the Foreign Trade Ministry.

However, Carazo countered, it is inappropriate for the Foreign Trade Ministry, a public institution, to bring only business leaders on the mission, while excluding other sectors of Costa Rican society.

"The point of view represented by this mission is that of a minority," Carazo said. "There are important sectors of society that are worried about how the trade negotiations are developing and think that reforms need to be made to the content of the trade agreement.

Meanwhile, the negotiating teams of the five Central American countries last week finished their seventh preparation round of discussing and drafting the Central American Trade Proposal to be presented during the seventh round of negotiations in Managua, Nicaragua Sept. 15-19.

"During the last five days, the negotiating groups intensely worked to prepare and revise proposals and counter-proposals that reflect the needs of each country and will help us negotiate and accomplish our strategic objectives," said Tico trade negotiator González.

Market access negotiators continued to iron out the region's final proposals on safeguard measures, plant and animal health and safety regulations, and textile access. Negotiators spent two days drafting a liberalization of tariff proposal that was presented to U.S. officials this week.

Negotiators were able to reach an agreement that will harmonize the rules of origin customs regulations for the entire region. Intellectual property rights negotiators strengthened their position to protect the right of Central American countries to produce and sell their own generic medications.

Central America was also able to agree on a counter-proposal to the environmental protection requirements the U.S. had requested during the last round of negotiations.

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Health Officials Dismiss Diarrhea Outbreak

A team of doctors and health officials sent to the southern Caribbean indigenous community of Talamanca earlier this week to investigate an alleged outbreak of dysentery reported yesterday that the there was no outbreak and that the young girl who died of diarrhea was an isolated case, according to a Health Ministry release.

Health Minister Rocío Sáenz announced Tuesday that a three-month-old girl had died Aug. 28 of dysentery in a rural area of the Talamanaca Mountains. The Health Minister sent a delegation to investigate reports of a full-blown outbreak of dysentery (TT Daily Page, Sept. 3)

The health team visited the communities of San José Cabecar and Bajo Bley and found no outbreak. The young girl who died from dysentery from Shigella lived far from the other communities that were reportedly affected. Her isolation kept the bacteria from spreading, according to the health report.

The medics reportedly found only one other person infected with dysentery: the one-year-old sister of the girl who died. She was treated by doctors and reportedly has recovered.

The doctors reportedly treated 160 patients for respiratory illnesses, parasites and other minor afflictions. Children under 10 were given vaccines.

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C.A. Presidents Call for Arms Control

WELCOME TO BELIZE: Belize's Foreign Minister Godfryed Smith (L) welcomes President Abel Pacheco, followed by Security Minister Rogelio Ramos, Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar (hidden) and Casa Presidencial press chief Alejandor Brokke.

Presidents from Central America and Panama met yesterday in Belize and signed an "urgent plan" to control arms in the region and achieve a "reasonable balance" of military forces, to be determined by the Central American Security Commission.

"With this accord we look to establish a reasonable balance of armed forces in each country," said Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños. "This theme of arms control is very complicated and technical; it is something the experts will need to define."

Bolaños said that the Presidents are not experts on the issue, but can provide the political will to get it done.

"The Central American Security Commission (made up of the seven countries Foreign, Security and Defense Ministers) will study the mechanisms to implement the accord in a reasonable amount of time," said Belize's Prime Minister Said Musa.

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