Horn
14th April 2014, 03:46 PM
April 10th, 2014 (InsideCostaRica.com) The US Embassy in San José responded yesterday to a television interview broadcast by Russian global broadcaster, RT, on April 8th in which president-elect Luis Guillermo Solis criticized the Free Trade Agreement between Costa Rica and the United States, known as CAFTA.
In the 22-minute interview, Solis said he has been a long-time opponent of the agreement (http://insidecostarica.com/2014/04/10/us-embassy-responds-solis-criticism-cafta-russian-tv/April%2010th,%202014%20(InsideCostaRica.com)%20The %20US%20Embassy%20in%20San%20Jos%C3%A9%20responded %20yesterday%20to%20a%20television%20interview%20b roadcast%20by%20Russian%20global%20broadcaster,%20 RT,%20on%20April%208th%20in%20which%20president-elect%20Luis%20Guillermo%20Solis%20criticized%20th e%20Free%20Trade%20Agreement%20between%20Costa%20R ica%20and%20the%20United%20States,%20known%20as%20 CAFTA.%20%20In%20the%20interview,%20Solis%20said%2 0he%20has%20been%20a%20long-time%20opponent%20of%20the%20agreement,%20which%20 he%20said,%20%E2%80%9CHas%20not%20provided%20Costa %20Rica%20any%20benefit.%E2%80%9D%20%20Solis%20sai d%20he%20believed%20the%20agreement%20damaged%20th e%20agricultural%20sector%20and%20other%20sectors% 20of%20Costa%20Rica%E2%80%99s%20economy.%20%20Resp onding%20to%20a%20request%20from%20Inside%20Costa% 20Rica,%20US%20Embassy%20public%20affairs%20offici al,%20Eric%20Turner%20disagreed,%20saying,%20%E2%8 0%9CThe%20benefits%20of%20CAFTA%20are%20clear.%E2% 80%9D%20%20%E2%80%9CThe%20Embassy%20has%20consiste ntly%20made%20the%20point%20that%20U.S./Costa%20Rican%20trade%20has%20continued%20to%20gro w,%20despite%20the%20negative%20effects%20of%20the %202008%20downtown.%20%20New%20markets%20for%20Cos ta%20Rican%20goods%20have%20been%20opened%20in%20t he%20United%20States.%20In%20addition,%20CAFTA%20l ed%20directly%20to%20the%20deregulation%20of%20the %20telecommunication%20sector,%20which%20has%20bro ught%20profound%20benefits%20to%20Costa%20Rica,%20 including%20significant%20direct%20foreign%20inves tment,%20jobs,%20improved%20service%20and%20custom er%20choice%20for%20Costa%20Ricans,%20who%20can%20 now%20run%20a%20small%20business%20through%20the%2 0latest%20smart%20phone%20where%20they%20used%20to %20wait%20in%20lines%20for%20outdated%20technology ,%E2%80%9D%20Turner%20said%20in%20a%20statement%20 to%20Inside%20Costa%20Rica.%20%20%E2%80%9CA%20rece nt%20report%20by%20the%20World%20Bank%20found%20th at%20%E2%80%93%20while%20some%20beneficial%20impac ts%20of%20CAFTA%20have%20lagged%20because%20of%20t he%20slow%20pace%20at%20which%20tariffs%20are%20be ing%20removed%20%E2%80%93%20CAFTA%20has,%20over%20 its%20first%20five%20years,%20brought%20significan t%20positive%20changes%20to%20Costa%20Rica%20and%2 0its%20economy,%E2%80%9D%20Turner%20said,%20adding :%20%20%E2%80%9CThe%20U.S.%20government%20is%20loo king%20forward%20to%20working%20closely%20with%20t he%20Solis%20administration%20in%20our%20areas%20o f%20common%20interest,%20which%20include%20trade%2 0and%20economic%20ties,%20energy,%20citizen%20secu rity%20and%20more.%20%20The%20United%20States%20is %20Costa%20Rica%E2%80%99s%20largest%20export%20mar ket,%20but%20over%20recent%20years,%20Costa%20Rica %20has%20done%20a%20lot%20to%20expand%20its%20comm ercial%20ties%20with%20Europe%20and%20other%20mark ets%20and%20to%20further%20diversify%20its%20econo my%20to%20mitigate%20the%20effect%20of%20shocks,%2 0like%20the%202008%20recession.%E2%80%9D), which he said, “Has not provided Costa Rica any benefit.” Solis said he believed the agreement damaged the agricultural sector and other sectors of Costa Rica’s economy.
Solis also said that a “monogamous marriage” with the United States is not beneficial for foreign trade, adding that stronger ties between Russia and Central America could be “very helpful,” in terms of political dialogue and other areas.
Responding to a request from Inside Costa Rica, US Embassy public affairs official, Eric Turner disagreed, saying, “The benefits of CAFTA are clear.”
“The Embassy has consistently made the point that U.S./Costa Rican trade has continued to grow, despite the negative effects of the 2008 downtown. New markets for Costa Rican goods have been opened in the United States. In addition, CAFTA led directly to the deregulation of the telecommunication sector, which has brought profound benefits to Costa Rica, including significant direct foreign investment, jobs, improved service and customer choice for Costa Ricans, who can now run a small business through the latest smart phone where they used to wait in lines for outdated technology,” Turner said in a statement to Inside Costa Rica.
“A recent report by the World Bank (http://www.comex.go.cr/CAFTA-DR/DRAFT_Costa%20Rica_Five%20years%20after%20CAFTA-DR_112513.pdf) found that – while some beneficial impacts of CAFTA have lagged because of the slow pace at which tariffs are being removed – CAFTA has, over its first five years, brought significant positive changes to Costa Rica and its economy,” Turner said, adding:
“The U.S. government is looking forward to working closely with the Solis administration in our areas of common interest, which include trade and economic ties, energy, citizen security and more. The United States is Costa Rica’s largest export market, but over recent years, Costa Rica has done a lot to expand its commercial ties with Europe and other markets and to further diversify its economy to mitigate the effect of shocks, like the 2008 recession.”
Solis’ interview was aired on RT on Tuesday, the same day Intel and Bank of America announced they were closing their Costa Rican operations. (http://insidecostarica.com/2014/04/09/costa-rica-dealt-double-blow-bank-america-intel-say-adios-fire-3000-workers/)
http://insidecostarica.com/2014/04/10/us-embassy-responds-solis-criticism-cafta-russian-tv/
In November 2013, the National Assembly of Nicaragua ratified the government’s decision allowing Russian military units, ships and aircraft to visit the republic in the first half of 2014. Their crews have also been given permission to take part in the professional training of Nicaraguan military personnel and to share with them their expertise. The approved document also mentions the naval ships and military aircraft of Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico and the US. In June of this year, Daniel Ortega’s government will reapply to parliament to extend this document for a further six months.
President Daniel Ortega referred to the prospects of Russia’s ‘presence’ on Latin America’s friendly shores in a speech to the Nicaraguan military on 6 April. He said that after the Sandinista government returned to power in 2007, it was willing to cooperate with any country that would help strengthen and modernise the army. The US has not offered the country any kind of hope. Despite the previously close ties between Washington and Nicaragua’s right-wing governments, the Pentagon has not made any real attempts to equip the Nicaraguan army with modern weapons.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/cold-war-proporaganda-russias-secret-military-bases-in-the-western-hemisphere/5377690
In the 22-minute interview, Solis said he has been a long-time opponent of the agreement (http://insidecostarica.com/2014/04/10/us-embassy-responds-solis-criticism-cafta-russian-tv/April%2010th,%202014%20(InsideCostaRica.com)%20The %20US%20Embassy%20in%20San%20Jos%C3%A9%20responded %20yesterday%20to%20a%20television%20interview%20b roadcast%20by%20Russian%20global%20broadcaster,%20 RT,%20on%20April%208th%20in%20which%20president-elect%20Luis%20Guillermo%20Solis%20criticized%20th e%20Free%20Trade%20Agreement%20between%20Costa%20R ica%20and%20the%20United%20States,%20known%20as%20 CAFTA.%20%20In%20the%20interview,%20Solis%20said%2 0he%20has%20been%20a%20long-time%20opponent%20of%20the%20agreement,%20which%20 he%20said,%20%E2%80%9CHas%20not%20provided%20Costa %20Rica%20any%20benefit.%E2%80%9D%20%20Solis%20sai d%20he%20believed%20the%20agreement%20damaged%20th e%20agricultural%20sector%20and%20other%20sectors% 20of%20Costa%20Rica%E2%80%99s%20economy.%20%20Resp onding%20to%20a%20request%20from%20Inside%20Costa% 20Rica,%20US%20Embassy%20public%20affairs%20offici al,%20Eric%20Turner%20disagreed,%20saying,%20%E2%8 0%9CThe%20benefits%20of%20CAFTA%20are%20clear.%E2% 80%9D%20%20%E2%80%9CThe%20Embassy%20has%20consiste ntly%20made%20the%20point%20that%20U.S./Costa%20Rican%20trade%20has%20continued%20to%20gro w,%20despite%20the%20negative%20effects%20of%20the %202008%20downtown.%20%20New%20markets%20for%20Cos ta%20Rican%20goods%20have%20been%20opened%20in%20t he%20United%20States.%20In%20addition,%20CAFTA%20l ed%20directly%20to%20the%20deregulation%20of%20the %20telecommunication%20sector,%20which%20has%20bro ught%20profound%20benefits%20to%20Costa%20Rica,%20 including%20significant%20direct%20foreign%20inves tment,%20jobs,%20improved%20service%20and%20custom er%20choice%20for%20Costa%20Ricans,%20who%20can%20 now%20run%20a%20small%20business%20through%20the%2 0latest%20smart%20phone%20where%20they%20used%20to %20wait%20in%20lines%20for%20outdated%20technology ,%E2%80%9D%20Turner%20said%20in%20a%20statement%20 to%20Inside%20Costa%20Rica.%20%20%E2%80%9CA%20rece nt%20report%20by%20the%20World%20Bank%20found%20th at%20%E2%80%93%20while%20some%20beneficial%20impac ts%20of%20CAFTA%20have%20lagged%20because%20of%20t he%20slow%20pace%20at%20which%20tariffs%20are%20be ing%20removed%20%E2%80%93%20CAFTA%20has,%20over%20 its%20first%20five%20years,%20brought%20significan t%20positive%20changes%20to%20Costa%20Rica%20and%2 0its%20economy,%E2%80%9D%20Turner%20said,%20adding :%20%20%E2%80%9CThe%20U.S.%20government%20is%20loo king%20forward%20to%20working%20closely%20with%20t he%20Solis%20administration%20in%20our%20areas%20o f%20common%20interest,%20which%20include%20trade%2 0and%20economic%20ties,%20energy,%20citizen%20secu rity%20and%20more.%20%20The%20United%20States%20is %20Costa%20Rica%E2%80%99s%20largest%20export%20mar ket,%20but%20over%20recent%20years,%20Costa%20Rica %20has%20done%20a%20lot%20to%20expand%20its%20comm ercial%20ties%20with%20Europe%20and%20other%20mark ets%20and%20to%20further%20diversify%20its%20econo my%20to%20mitigate%20the%20effect%20of%20shocks,%2 0like%20the%202008%20recession.%E2%80%9D), which he said, “Has not provided Costa Rica any benefit.” Solis said he believed the agreement damaged the agricultural sector and other sectors of Costa Rica’s economy.
Solis also said that a “monogamous marriage” with the United States is not beneficial for foreign trade, adding that stronger ties between Russia and Central America could be “very helpful,” in terms of political dialogue and other areas.
Responding to a request from Inside Costa Rica, US Embassy public affairs official, Eric Turner disagreed, saying, “The benefits of CAFTA are clear.”
“The Embassy has consistently made the point that U.S./Costa Rican trade has continued to grow, despite the negative effects of the 2008 downtown. New markets for Costa Rican goods have been opened in the United States. In addition, CAFTA led directly to the deregulation of the telecommunication sector, which has brought profound benefits to Costa Rica, including significant direct foreign investment, jobs, improved service and customer choice for Costa Ricans, who can now run a small business through the latest smart phone where they used to wait in lines for outdated technology,” Turner said in a statement to Inside Costa Rica.
“A recent report by the World Bank (http://www.comex.go.cr/CAFTA-DR/DRAFT_Costa%20Rica_Five%20years%20after%20CAFTA-DR_112513.pdf) found that – while some beneficial impacts of CAFTA have lagged because of the slow pace at which tariffs are being removed – CAFTA has, over its first five years, brought significant positive changes to Costa Rica and its economy,” Turner said, adding:
“The U.S. government is looking forward to working closely with the Solis administration in our areas of common interest, which include trade and economic ties, energy, citizen security and more. The United States is Costa Rica’s largest export market, but over recent years, Costa Rica has done a lot to expand its commercial ties with Europe and other markets and to further diversify its economy to mitigate the effect of shocks, like the 2008 recession.”
Solis’ interview was aired on RT on Tuesday, the same day Intel and Bank of America announced they were closing their Costa Rican operations. (http://insidecostarica.com/2014/04/09/costa-rica-dealt-double-blow-bank-america-intel-say-adios-fire-3000-workers/)
http://insidecostarica.com/2014/04/10/us-embassy-responds-solis-criticism-cafta-russian-tv/
In November 2013, the National Assembly of Nicaragua ratified the government’s decision allowing Russian military units, ships and aircraft to visit the republic in the first half of 2014. Their crews have also been given permission to take part in the professional training of Nicaraguan military personnel and to share with them their expertise. The approved document also mentions the naval ships and military aircraft of Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico and the US. In June of this year, Daniel Ortega’s government will reapply to parliament to extend this document for a further six months.
President Daniel Ortega referred to the prospects of Russia’s ‘presence’ on Latin America’s friendly shores in a speech to the Nicaraguan military on 6 April. He said that after the Sandinista government returned to power in 2007, it was willing to cooperate with any country that would help strengthen and modernise the army. The US has not offered the country any kind of hope. Despite the previously close ties between Washington and Nicaragua’s right-wing governments, the Pentagon has not made any real attempts to equip the Nicaraguan army with modern weapons.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/cold-war-proporaganda-russias-secret-military-bases-in-the-western-hemisphere/5377690