OAS Deploys Electoral
Observers to Costa Rica
The Mission of Electoral Observation of the
Organization of American States ( known as
MOE/OEA for its Spanish acronym ) that will
accompany the General Elections of Sunday,
February 7, in Costa Rica, has begun the
deployment of its 52 observers from 18
Member States of the OAS, as well as from
China, Spain and France.
The Mission observers will be present in all
Costa Rican provinces to follow the
development of electoral organization and
administration, as well as of the political
campaign.
OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza
designated former Colombian Foreign Minister
María Emma Mejía as Chief of the Mission.
Mejía also has been her country’s Minister
of Education and of Foreign Relations, and
Vice Presidential candidate with Horacio
Serpa Uribe. In 2008, Mejía led the OAS
Mission of Electoral Observation to
Paraguay.
The Mission Chief has met Costa Rican
president, Oscar Arias, as well as its
Minister of Foreign Relations, Bruno Stagno
and Communications Minister Mayi Antillón.
Following their meeting, Mejía said: “Latin
America has much to learn from a country
like Costa Rica, of its political situation
and democratic strength. Truly, we wish to
admire the process being carried out here.
We hope it will once again ratify its
democracy.”
Furthermore, Mejía met with the country’s
Supreme Electoral Court, and will meet the
candidates for the Presidency of the
Republic as well as pay visit to the
authorities of the Supreme Electoral Court’s
offices in Limón, Cartago and Alajuela.
The Mission will continue to attend various
scheduled activities in the electoral
calendar, especially those related to
electoral organization, the development of
the political campaign, electoral
technology, and efforts being conducted to
promote the electoral vote.
Once the official election results have been
announced, the Mission will release its
observations and recommendations with
respect to the various aspects of the
electoral process in a report to be
presented before the OAS Permanent Council.
Finally, the Mission wishes to highlight the
importance of Costa Rican citizens becoming
actively involved in this election and
exercising their right to vote. In this way,
they will contribute to maintain the
democratic tradition that characterizes
Costa Rica.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
