Insulza to make report
this afternoon on river


The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States hears from its secretary general this afternoon on the border conflict between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, but neither the council nor José Miguel Insulza, the secretary general, are likely to condemn Managua for invasion of the Isla Calero.

Insulza has made it clear during his three days of visits that his goal and the goal of the hemispheric organization is to promote dialogue rather than settle boundary disputes.

Costa Rica said it will not negotiate with Nicaragua until that country's troops leave Tico soil, and that is about the only issue to discuss.

Insulza flew over the disputed island Monday. Unlike security ministry flights in prior weeks, Nicaragua soldiers were not in evidence.

He flew along the Nicaraguan side Sunday.

Nicaraguan newspapers generally see the conflict as a dispute about dredging the Río San Juan. Eden Pastora, the man in charge of the dredging operation, irked Costa Rican officials because the river sediment was dumped on Tico land. However, the real issue is will Nicaragua be able to dredge a new mouth for the river through what most certainly is Costa Rican land. The new river mouth is a high priority for tourism and development in Nicaragua. Costa Rican officials generally have ignored the section of the country along the river.

Nicaragua's intentions were clear from the beginning of the dispute because trees had been cut in anticipation of dredging operations making a new channel. A new mouth would bypass the meandering first 30 kilometers of the river and allow rapid entry of boats from the Caribbean.

Nicaraguan officials know they are working on Costa Rican land. Pastora was overheard admitting that two weeks ago on a marine band discussion with the dredging barge crew. Reports from Managua say that Pastora went on the national radio station Monday to tell the country that two more dredging barges are under construction for use on the river.

Costa Rica's case was bolstered even more Monday when René Castro, the foreign minister, pointed out that a map Nicaragua used in a 2007 World Court case clearly shows that the Isla Calero is Costa Rican.

Nicaragua has made a number of claims, including one that used a Google map as evidence. Google quickly issued a caution and is in the process of correcting the map error.

Castro will be in Washington this afternoon to hear Insulza's report. A Costa Rican newspaper disclosed last week that Venezuela is bankrolling the dredging, so some members of the Permanent Council will support Nicaragua regardless of Insulza's report.

Castro has said the country may take the dispute to the United Nations if a satisfactory resolution cannot be found at the Organization of American States. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said his country will take the case to the International Court of Justice in the Hague, Netherlands.

As if to underscore Costa Rica's commitment to remaining without an army, Centro Cultural e Histórico José Figueres Ferrer announced Monday that it is accepting essays and videos from high schoolers on the topic of “Costa Rica, un país sin Ejército.” Awards will be made Dec. 4, the 62nd anniversary of the army's abolishment. Deadline for works is Nov. 30. This is the 12th year the museum has run the contest.

Some writers of letters
have hit a dead end

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

Regarding Alfred Sites commentary on “Don’t expect First World when living here."

In defense of frustrated folks writing in about their attempts to get things done, I find the advice of “Don’t expect First World when living here” similarly “preaching to the choir.”  It’s clear to me that most writing in with their frustration have no First World expectations whatsoever. In fact, the majority have adjusted their expectations accordingly. 

If one reads carefully, the frustration comes from attempting to follow all of the rules with the Third World expectations imbedded.  The frustration comes from the inability of departments to follow their own guidelines set forth by the country or cantons, while the customer attempts to do their best to follow the proper channels asked of them by the aforementioned places and departments.

Efficiency, to me, is having cable or pipes installed in a fortnight in the First World, the Third World a year or longer, but the end result is that it IS installed.  What writers are stating is the inability to get it done at all, following all of the expectations and guidelines set forth.  Inefficiency should not be confused with inability.

Tell me then, what should folks expect, if at all? Nothing!? I grew up in Monrovia, Liberia West Africa, and am all too familiar with expectations, Third World versus First World and understand things get done differently.  The key thing is that things get done, albeit in a different time frame. 

Most folks writing in have hit dead ends, and appreciate those who write in and offer advice and solutions rather than expectation advice.  I think the majority of expats get that!  It doesn’t matter where you are, if you expect the authorities to know what they are doing, eventually they will. It’s a matter of education.

Find out what the papers said today in Spanish By the A.M. Costa Rica staff Here is the section where you can scan short summaries from the Spanish-language press. If you want to know more, just click on a link and you will see and longer summary and have the opportunity to read the entire news story on the page of the Spanish-language newspaper but translated into English. Translations may be a bit rough, but software is improving every day. When you see the Summary in English of news stories not covered today by A.M. Costa Rica, you will have a chance to comment. This is a new service of A.M. Costa Rica called Costa Rica Report. Editor is Daniel Woodall, and you can contact him HERE!

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