HANDING Over a Historic Decree: Legislative Assembly President Francisco Pacheco (left) yesterday presented TSE interim president Luis Antonio Sobrado a decree calling for a nationwide referendum on the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA). Though the time frame for the public vote is still unclear – depending on TSE magistrates' interpretation of the Referendum Law, it could take place as soon as August or as late as July 2008 – Sobrado says the tribunal will reach a decision and announce it within two weeks.

Cuban Consul in Costa Rica Jorge Rodríguez commented yesterday on a popular topic around the world – the health of 81-year-old Cuban President Fidel Castro. This famous leader is “very recuperated” from his recent health problems, Rodríguez said.

Expo Decoration 2007
With decor for office and home, today through Sunday, International Mall, Alajuela, northwest of San José. Info: 364-9354. 

Jazz, Wine and Bocas Night
To benefit Nature Kids Foundation, jazz music by Sasha Campbell, 6-9 p.m., Hotel Alta, Santa Ana, west of San Jose. Info: 299-6079.

Palimpsest Ensemble and National Dance Company
Performing “Stalking the Sublime,” today and tomorrow, 8 p.m., Teatro de la Danza, National Culture Center (CENAC), San José, Ave. 3/5, Calles 11/15. Info: 221-2154. 

A Todo Swing
Performance of songs by the group Son de Tikizia on the new CD “ A Todo Swing,” a compilation CD from Papaya Music, today and tomorrow, 9 p.m., Jazz Café, San Pedro, east of San José.

By Katherine Stanley
Tico Times Staff | kstanley@ticotimes.net

Women from throughout Central America and beyond will gather at the University for International Cooperation (UCI) in San José this weekend to discuss an ambitious goal: the abolition of all Central America's armies by the year 2020.

“The history of war has been written by men, and now we want women to take a turn and write the history of peace,” said organizer Sandra Ribas. “We are very tender… but at the same time we know how to be fierce to defend our principles.”

Between 60-80 women are expected to participate in lectures, round-table discussions and group work with the goal of forming proposals to present to diplomats and government leaders of Central American countries.

At a press conference yesterday, members of the Costa Rican Initiative of the international nonprofit organization A World Without Armies, which organized the conference, said one of their goals is to allow women from Costa Rica and Panama, the two countries without armies in the region, to share their experiences with women from other nations.

Participants will kick off the conference on Friday at the National Culture Center (CENAC) with an exhibition of artwork on the theme of peace by children in seven nations – from Tibet to Germany to Costa Rica – from 3-4:30 p.m., and an inauguration ceremony from 5-7 p.m.

On Saturday and Sunday, the conference will take place at the UCI campus in nearby Barrio Escalante from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more information, call 234-5928 or visit www.abolicion2020.org

Costa Rican business leaders are being given a chance to opine on an association agreement between Central American and the European Union before these two regions begin negotiating the agreement in Brussels, Belgium, in June.

The idea behind this “internal consulting” period, which began yesterday, is to develop a “solid and articulated national position” on the agreement, which would include a free-trade agreement and increased political cooperation, said President Oscar Arias, according to a statement from Casa Presidencial.

“Today we initiate a broad and participatory process of consultation and gathering information from the productive sector and civil society for an agreement that, without a doubt, has the potential to influence the generation of better living conditions for our population,” Arias said, explaining that Roberto Echandi, Costa Rica's chief negotiator for the agreement, will be listening to “different points of views and positions” during the consultation phase.

The decision to begin negotiating the agreement in June was announced this week at a meeting between representatives of the two regions in Guatemala, according to Costa Rica's Foreign Trade Ministry.

After months of controversy, the Presidents of Central America announced that each country would have its own negotiator for the negotiations, who will take turns selecting the regional representative at each round of talks. That decision was a victory of sorts for President Oscar Arias, who insisted that Costa Rica should have its own negotiator, instead of relying on one regional negotiator (TT, Dec. 26, 2006).

Echandi, who was involved in negotiations for the controversial Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA), will head the Costa Rican delegation in Brussels. The negotiation team is also made of Foreign Vice-Minister Edgar Ugalde and Foreign Trade Vice-Minister Amparo Pacheco.

-Tico Times

Cuban Consul in Costa Rica Jorge Rodríguez commented yesterday on a popular topic around the world – the health of 81-year-old Cuban President Fidel Castro. This famous leader is “very recuperated” from his recent health problems, Rodríguez said.

However, no date has been set for Castro to resume the responsibilities he handed over to his brother Raúl Castro before he had major surgery in late July, he said.

“It is a general opinion that his appearance is much better... Fidel in reality has been recuperating and is participating more in a lot of things,” Rodríguez told the wire service ACAN-EFE.

Fidel resuming his presidential duties depends on his “recuperation, determination” and the recommendations of doctors, he said.

Fidel “has no reason to rush. The world has seen that the country has continued to function normally and he has continued working toward his recuperation, even in his most critical moments when he had recently been operated on,” he said.

The diplomat said that at one point the President was “very thin” after losing more than 46 kilograms in one month, but that he has since gotten stronger and is likely to recover completely, he said.

Fidel was last seen in public on July 26, 2006, and since then rumors have circulated about his health.

Photos of him receiving Wu Guanzheng, secretary of the Central Disciplinary Control Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, were posted Friday on the Web site of Granma, the Cuban government's daily.

The President, dressed in a sweatsuit, is standing and shaking the leader's hand.