LATIN AMERICA CORNER
India and Costa Rica are two very diverse countries in
size and customs, but at the same time, very similar in ideals
of democracy, peace and environment. This visit served
to strengthen the bonds between both nations and created
a joint agenda for the exchange of experiences in various
areas. Below, we will present the details of the visit and its
objectives.
Brief review of the diplomacy between India and Costa
Rica
The diplomatic history between both countries dates back
almost 50 years. The relations between Costa Rica and India
were established in 1970, from the period of 1990 to 2010,
both countries have counted with honorary Consulates and
it is from April 20, 2010, that the Costa Rican Embassy in
New Delhi opens.
Currently, the Chief of the Costa Rican Mission in India
is the career diplomat Eduardo Salgado Retana, who is the
Chargé d’Aff aires a.i. and previously worked as a diplomat
in New York, USA and Colombia. Retana made a formal
farewell to Vice President Naidu and the distinguished
delegation that accompanied him on March 4, 2019.
jointly by the Ambassador of India in Panama and the
Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica. India does not
have an Embassy in Costa Rica, which is why the Embassy
is located in Panama.
The next day, on Friday, March 8, the agenda consisted
of a visit to the University for Peace (UPAZ), where he was
received by the rector of said university and by the Minister
of Foreign Aff airs a.i. The University for Peace (UPAZ) is
an academic institution dependent on the United Nations
Organization. It was created in 1980 by the General Assembly
of the UN through its Resolution A / 35-35 and is based in
Ciudad Colón, Costa Rica. Currently, UPAZ has 124 students
from 47 diff erent countries, making it one of the most diverse
universities worldwide for its size. UPEACE is the only UN
institute authorized to grant Masters and Doctorates.
In recognition of his work in favor of democracy,
sustainable development and world peace, UPEACE awarded
the Doctorate Honoris Causa to Vice President Naidu; For
his part, Vice President Naidu paid tribute to the memory of
Mahatma Gandhi, by placing a wreath before his bust that
is located in a garden of the UPAZ, where sculptures of the
most prominent world peace leaders are grouped.
Eduardo Salgado and Vice President Naidu
The historic visit begins
A distance of 16,138 km was what Vice President
Naidu had to go through to arrive in Costa Rica on March
7 in the afternoon. When he arrived at the Juan Santamaría
International Airport in Alajuela, Costa Rica, he was received
by the Minister of the Presidency, Rodolfo Piza and the
Minister of Foreign Aff airs a.i., Lorena Aguilar, as well as the
Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs.
That same afternoon, the Vice President, together with
members of his delegation, among whom was the Minister
of State for Tourism, KJ Alphons, shared a reception off ered
Vice President pays fl oral tributes at
the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in the
University of Peace, San Jose during his
visit to Costa Rica
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 4 • April-May 2019, Noida • 57