"Yes, I Swear"
Nobel Peace Prize winner and former president of Costa Rica, Oscar Árias Sanchez, was sworn in as president of Costa Rica yesterday in front of thousands who braved the strong morning sun and tens of thousands who stayed home to watch the events on television.

Arias is hoping to use his skills as a mediator to unite a country sharply divided, among many things, the free trade agreement with the United States.

The 65-year-old Arias, made his way from his home in Rohrmoser on foot, walking the four blocks to the Estadio Nacional, mobbed as is security team did their best to citizens contact with the president, and at the same time keep him from any possible harm.

Arias, before being inaugurated, stopped at the Nunicatura, which is mid-way from his home to the Parque La Sabana, to receive the blessing of the church for his next four years

Accompanied by his soon to be ministers that form the new government, the president-elect made his way to podium of the national stadium, the same place where he was inaugurated 20 years ago, to swear his oath to office.

On hand for the ceremony were nine heads of state, including Mexican president,Vicente Fox, Colombian president, Alvaro Uribe and Nicaraguan president, Enrique Bolaños and the Spanish crown pricnc, Príncipe de Asturias, Felipe de Borbón. The United States was represented by first lady Laura Bush.

Other Nobel Prize winners  Rigoberta Menchú (Guatemala), Betty Williams (Ireland), andLech Walesa (Poland) were also in attendance to celebrate the event.

The presence of  Bolaños was important as the two countries are involved in dispute over navigational rights of the San Juan river, which dispute will be settled by the international court at the Hague.

Noticeably missing from the day was Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, who the day earlier announced on Venezuelan radio and television that he "was to busy" to attend. Arias, when asked of the reasons for the Chavez snub, said diplomatically that he was sure that the man had good reasons for not coming.

Absent from the podium where also former presidents Miguel Angel Rodriguez PUSC) ,Rafael Angel Calderon (PUSC) and Jose Maria Figueres Olsen (PLN). The three former president have been embroiled in corruption scandals. Missing also was former president Alberto Monge (PLN) who was an actively against changing the constitution that allowed the re-election of Arias.

Abel Pacheco, with his wife on his side, seemed relieved to have the burden removed. While there was a frenzy of activity in front of the Arias home before the inauguration, the scene was calm and relaxed at the Pacheco home, only 1/2 kilometre away. Pacheco rode to the ceremony in his own personal vehicle, with the usual presidential escort, and not in the presidential limousine as he was been accustomed to for the last four years.

President Arias addressed the crowd for 40 minutes after being sworn in.

"I haven't arrived at this post to please any particular group, but to defend the interest of Costa Rican society as a whole,'" Arias promised in his inauguration speech.

"Costa Rica's democracy shows every country that if you have strong, democratic institutions, it leads to the best for the people of that country,'' Laura Bush told reporters after the inauguration. Earlier, Arias had said that her presence at the ceremony was "an important gesture'' by Washington.

Arias is a strong supporter of the Tratado Libre de Comercio (TLC) - the free trade agreement with the United States - that nearly cost him his bid to return to the presidency. He argued in his campaign that the trade deal will help revitalize the country's stagnant economy.

Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic already have joined. Costa Rica is the only signatory country that has yet to ratify the trade deal.

Following the inauguration, some of the presidents, like Fox of Mexico, headed home, while others were wined and dined, causing massive traffic disruptions in the downtown core as Transit police and members of the Fuerza Pública (police) ensured security.

The mid-day sun and heat was quickly replaced by heavy rain and thunderstorms, ushering the arrival of the rainy season.

This morning, with dark clouds in the sky and no traditional morning sun, Oscar Arias Sanchez begins his fist day in the presidential chair after a 20 year absence.