The emir and Óscar Arias shake hands while the emir's  
 principal wife, Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Misnned watches.



Costa Rica will open an embassy in Qatar, and that country will do the same here. That was the concrete development from a meeting Monday between President Óscar Arias Sánchez and the leader of the Persian Gulf state who is visiting in Papagayo.

The visitor is Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who heads the oil-rich nation.  The Costa Rican embassy will be based in the capital of Dohar, said Casa Presidencial.

Arias called the decision a window to the Arab world. In addition he said that a minister from Qatar will head a delegation to Costa Rica to study the possibility of investments here.

The two men also signed an agreement that protects those who make investments in the other country. Among other aspects the agreement calls for international arbitration of disputes and allows investors to freely transmit their money to the home country.

Women's Club will mark
70 years of service here


The Women’s Club of Costa Rica, one of the oldest, continuously-operating service organizations in the country, will celebrate its 70 years at a luncheon Feb. 10 at the Aurola Holiday Inn. A specially-produced documentary will chronicle seven decades of the club’s good times and good works, the organization said.

The club gave this summary of its history:

Through 19 administrations, from Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia to Óscar Arias Sánchez, the Women’s Club has grown and served.  What began as a small social club quickly turned to more serious projects with the advent of World War II, helping to establish first aid stations and air raid shelters.  The stories are legend as we view seven decades of dedication and contribution well in excess of a half million dollars to hospital equipment, nursing grants, rehabilitation centers, scholarships, library programs and much more. 

Two of the Women’s Club’s proudest achievements were in 1980, raising $50,000 to bring the first mammogram to the country, and in 2000, sponsoring production of an award-winning radio novela on the subject of domestic abuse which since has been aired in 25 countries.

The Women’s Club boasts a membership of 250 women, from 20-somethings to age 95. The English-speaking women hail from all corners of the globe: Central and South America, North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.  The club is a virtual melting pot of nations, all drawn together by the motto of "Friendship Through Service."   

Nor have men been forgotten.  The year 2009 saw initiation of an auxiliary group called Amigos Asociados to recognize and thank those men who provide substantial support year-round to the club’s fund-raising endeavors.  

The public and members are welcome to join in the celebratory luncheon to be held at 11 a.m.  Feb. 10, on the 17th floor in the Salón Augusto el Grande of the hotel which is at Calle 5 and Avenida 5, in San José.   Advance purchase of tickets, at ¢10,000 each, are required from 2268-3748 or 2249-2345.

Monthly meetings of the Women’s Club of Costa Rica, with guest speakers, are held the second Wednesday of each month.  Further information can be found at www.wccr.org

Phone and Internet work planned


Telephone and broadband Internet customers will be facing interruptions in Zapote and San Pedro through Wednesday, said the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad. The telecom company said its technicians would be working from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The company said that the work would improve service.

Autopista del Sol graphic