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Spanish Film Festival
“NICA/ragüense,” by Julia Fleming, July 26, 7 p.m., Spanish Cultural Center.

Watercolor Contest “Acuarela al Extremo”
Maximum three works by participant, deadline July 26 for selection with no frames at the National Gallery. For further information, write to costacuarela@hotmail.com.

“Don Quijote”
Play sponsored by the International Baccalaureate Association (Asobitico), coproduced by Terruño Espressivo and England's TNT Theatre, community tour, July 26, 9 a.m., Colegio Técnico, Pococí, Limón; July 27, 9 a.m., Liceo de Cariari, Cariari, Limón.

On a multi-day visit through Mexico and Central America, Colombia's President-elect Juan Manuel Santos avoided questions on the emerging conflict between his country and Venezuela.

When he touched down in Costa Rica, he spoke about coffee and tourism, and how he wanted to maintain the same positive relationship with the Central American country as his predecessor, Alvaro Uribe.

“I hope our past experience with Costa Rica will multiply,” Santos said in a press conference on Friday night. “There are many issues on which we can work together, such as the environment … economic activation, security. I hope that in the next few years we can continue to work hand-in-hand.”

But back home, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had just severed ties with Colombia, demanding that its diplomats leave his country.

Chavez had taken offense to a request submitted by Colombia to the Organization of American States (OAS) to prevent anti-government Colombian guerillas from circulating on the Venezuelan side of the border.

Venezuela's fiery head of state resisted the request and called Uribe, his presidential counterpart in Colombia, “full of hatred” and a puppet manipulated by the United States government. He said he would put the Venezuelan military on “high alert” along the border and threatened to cut off oil exports to the United States.

The Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza, urged dialogue and a “calming of spirits.”

“I believe our countries have common objectives, and the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism is one of them, and the peaceful coexistence between our countries is another,” he said.

U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said, “We think that it's important for both countries to work to reduce mutual suspicion and to fully implement their commitments under applicable anti-terrorist treaties and resolutions of the UN and OAS. I don't think that severing ties or communication is the proper way to achieve that end.”

But Santos, who is due to take office on Aug. 7, has ducked insistent questions from reporters on the topic. He inherits the prickly task of balancing relations with Colombia's neighbor, Venezuela, as well as with his country's principal financial backer in the fight against drugs, the United States.

On July 21, Costa Rica presented an amicus curiae brief in the U.S. District Court of Arizona, with the aim of protecting “the civil and human rights of Costa Rican citizens while in the United States.”

The move allows the Central American country to enter an opinion into the record, without being formally solicited by the parties directly involved. The court is reviewing the constitutionality of the law, which is due to take effect July 29.

Since Arizona´s governor signed the law in April, it has drawn loud criticism from immigrant rights groups who fear widespread racial profiling and increased discrimination. Meanwhile, the law's supporters argue it will effectively address the long-standing and expensive problem of illegal immigration, which has led to violence in Arizona's southern border region and caused a drain on the state's budget.

On Wednesday, Costa Rica added its voice to that of Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador and Nicaragua in denouncing Arizona's new law.

“Faithful to its tradition of promoting and defending human rights, Costa Rica has raised its voice against discrimination against immigrants in the United States,” the Costa Rican foreign ministry wrote in a press release. “We want to express our considerable and fundamental interest in ensuring that Costa Rican citizens enjoy their civil and human rights while they are in the United States of America.”

Under a new immigration law in Costa Rica, every hotel and lodging facility must keep a record of its foreign guests. Foreigners are required to carry a passport or a copy of their passport at all times. If they fail to present it upon request, they can be detained for up to 24 hours.

Costa Rica's Second Vice President Luis Liberman announced Saturday that $1.5 million will be spent to build a new two-kilometer road in the northwestern province of Guanacaste.

The proposed road will connect Playa Panama with route 159, the roadway that links the coast with the provincial capital of Liberia farther inland. The project was announced in Liberia during the weekend celebration to commemorate the 186th anniversary of the annexation of the province to Costa Rica.

According to the Public Works and Transportation Ministry (MOPT), the new roadway project will be built in two stages. The first will connect the principal street of the town of Panama to Route 159 in Playa Arenilla, while the second stage will connect Route 159 with Playa Buena. MOPT also said the project will include improvement of some of the side roads and bridges in the area, as well as the creation of new bus stops. The projects are expected to be completed during the next three months.

“This is an important development both for tourism and the people of these communities,” Liberman said. “We want to provide tourists more access to these communities, which will generate employment and financial opportunities for their residents.”

The project, which will be implemented by MECO, a private contractor, will also improve the bridge over Quebrada La Pita. The one lane bridge will be expanded to two lanes and an additional support beam will be added to the bridge's base.