Daily Edition: San
José, Costa Rica, December 17, 2003
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Costa Rica to Resume
CAFTA Negotiations in January
In a bold and unexpected move, Costa Rica yesterday announced it would not
be able to conclude negotiations for the Central American Free-Trade
Agreement (CAFTA) this week, as it originally had intended.
(Click for
more)
Record Number of
Dengue Infections in 2003
Costa Rica this year registered the highest annual rate of dengue infections
in the past decade, reporting 18,842 cases of the most common variety of the
illness, according to a Health Ministry report released this week. That's
35.4% more than in 2002, the Ministry said.
(Click for
more)
Bank Plans to Loan Country $350 Million
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) plans to loan Costa Rica $350
million for a competitive development program, according to a release from
the office of President Abel Pacheco.
(Click for
more)
December 17
Celebrate Christmas at the Old Aduana
Tonight is the opening of the exhibit of nativity scenes from around the
world and different parts of Costa Rica. The activity includes music, dance,
prayers, workshops, mass, traditional food and the theatrical musical "Nace
Jesús," with the participation of more than 78 performers, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Entrance is free. The Aduana is on Ca. 23, Av. Ctrl./7 in San José. Info:
221-2154.
Gala Charity Dinner
Get tickets today for tomorrow's dinner, which will benefit the Hogar de la
Esperanza, which provides care for needy people with AIDS, Thursday, Dec.
18, 7 p.m., Costa Rica Country Club. Info: 296-5290.
Editus Presents Latest Release
The celebrated trio will perform the melodies of its newest CD, "Siempre,
Vol. II," at the Jazz Café in San Pedro. The disk includes songs by
recognized composers and singers, such as Joan Manuel Serrat from Spain,
Mexican Armando Manzanero and British song writer John Lennon. Performance
begins at 9 p.m. Info: 253-8933.
Costa Rica to
Resume CAFTA Negotiations in January
By Fabián Borges
fborges@ticotimes.net
In a bold and unexpected move, Costa Rica yesterday
announced it would not be able to conclude negotiations for the Central
American Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA) this week, as it originally had
intended.
Costa Rica's negotiating team expects to resolve remaining issues directly
with their U.S. counterparts during bilateral meetings in January.
During the ninth and final official CAFTA negotiating round, which concluded
yesterday in Washington D.C., U.S. negotiators presented Costa Rica with a
proposal to open the state-owned National Insurance Institute's insurance
monopoly.
"The rest of Central America appears to have concluded negotiations," said
President Abel Pacheco during yesterday's weekly cabinet meeting.
"We have insisted on negotiating a free-trade agreement that would benefit
the country," he said. "We're not going to rush to finish negotiations. In
January, we'll sit down again and negotiate remaining issues. We haven't
finished negotiating yet, but we will."
According to Finance Minister Alberto Dent, negotiations with the United
States will center on four critical unresolved issues -- sensitive
agricultural products (rice, basic grains, sugar, dairy products, onions,
potatoes, chicken, beef and pork), textiles, telecommunications and
insurance.
Pacheco said yesterday he is willing to negotiating the "partial, gradual
and regulated" opening of the country's insurance market. He said he is
confident Costa Rica will benefit from the decision.
"My position is the same as it always has been. I'm against privatizing
government institutions," the President said. "However, I am in favor of
opening certain sectors of the market in a way that benefits Costa Rican
consumers.
"I'm not afraid of opening the market to private competition," he added. "I
trust Costa Rica and its institutions. We have nothing to fear."
Record Number of Dengue Infections in 2003
Costa Rica this year registered the highest annual rate of dengue infections
in the past decade, reporting 18,842 cases of the most common variety of the
illness, according to a Health Ministry report released this week. That's
35.4% more than in 2002, the Ministry said.
Sixty-seven cases of potentially fatal hemorrhagic dengue were reported this
year, including the infection of four children younger than five years old,
which is the age group most vulnerable to the illness.
Health officials claimed some success in the fight against dengue because no
deaths occurred from the disease this year, and because the Central Valley,
the most populous region of the country, did not experience an epidemic of
the illness.
The country's lower elevations were affected the most, especially the
Pacific coastal region.
The Health Ministry spent $700,000 this year on efforts to eradicate the
mosquito that transmits dengue and nearly $2.4 million to treat patients
infected with the disease.
Next year, the ministry plans to strengthen epidemiological vigilance,
improve laboratory diagnostics and speed up reporting cases of infection, as
well as ask for help from the Pan-American Health Organization to study the
mosquito's resistance to insecticides.
--AFP
Bank Plans to Loan Country $350 Million
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) plans to loan
Costa Rica $350 million for a competitive development program, according to
a release from the office of President Abel Pacheco.
One hundred million dollars will be forwarded initially to help reduce the
country's fiscal debt. The remaining $250 million will be used for
education, infrastructure and the ministries of Finance, Science and
Technology, Foreign Trade and Economy, according to the release.
Finance Minister Alberto Dent said he hopes the Legislative Assembly will
approve the loan by April 2004.
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Wednesday October 26, 2005