Presidenta
Chinchilla Warns
Against European
Protectionism
Laura
Chinchilla,
Costa Rica's new
president, is
warning against
European Union
(EU)
protectionism as
she attends a
meeting in
Madrid to sign a
deal for
improved
economic ties
between Europe,
Costa Rica and
Central America.
Chinchilla told
AFP of the
importance of
reaching a final
deal on an
association
agreement
between Central
America and the
European Union,
which has been
in negotiations
for three years.
In the AFP
interview,
Chinchilla
called on the
European Union
to avoid
protectionism in
the face of the
global economic
crisis.
"I hope that
Europe... will
not return to
protectionist
policies that
will not help
them emerge from
this economic
cycle and could
hurt other
countries,
including
developing
nations such as
those in Latin
America," she
said.
This is the
first trip
outside of Costa
Rica for the new
president who
was sworn in
last Saturday
(May 8).
During her visit
Chinchhilla said
she is hoping to
hold talks with
Spanish leader
José Luis
Rodríguez
Zapatero and
with officials
from France,
which been among
the EU members
most reticent
about the
free-trade deal
with Central
America.
"We will
approach whoever
necessary to
explain the
importance of
this agreement,"
she said.
Honduran
President
Porfirio Lobo
meanwhile told
local media he
would attend the
session despite
concerns about a
boycott from
some other Latin
American leaders
if he attends. |
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