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COSTA RICA |
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Costa Rica, European Union Establish
Consultation Mechanism
Representatives of the European Commission
and the government of Costa Rica on
Wednesday signed in Brussels a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) to establish a bilateral
consultation mechanism, the Costa Rican
Foreign Trade Ministry announced Wednesday.
According to the ministry, the agreement
aims to "promote cooperation and common
understanding in all aspects" between Costa
Rica and the European Community.
The consultation mechanism will be
complementary to what is established in the
Association Agreement currently being
negotiated by the Central American countries
and the European Union (EU).
The agreement provides that European and
Costa Ricans senior officials have meetings
at least once a year to work together on the
promotion of democratic values and
sustainable development, according to the
ministry.
"With the signing of this agreement, the
European Commission is recognizing the
achievements and the specific weight of the
oldest democracy in Latin America," said
Costa Rica's Relaciones Exteriores
(Foreign Minister), Bruno Stagno.
The European Commission "regards Costa Rica
as a key player in the region and a partner
to work effectively to meet the challenges
arising from the increasingly complex
international and regional context," he
said.
In addition, he noted, Costa Rica is a main
trading partner of the EU in Central
America.
Stagno and ministro de Comercio Exterior
(Foreign Trade Minister )Marco Vinicio Ruiz,
accompanied by the Costa Rican ambassador to
Brussels, Roberto Echandi, met Wednesday
with EU External Relations Commissioner
Benita Ferrero-Waldner and other European
authorities.
At the meeting, Costa Rican officials
reiterated the need to resume the
association agreement negotiations with the
EU, which have been postponed due to the
June 28 coup in Honduras.
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