By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The presidents of Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic sign an agreement with the United States at the IV Summit of the Alliance for Development in Democracy.

According to the Ministry of Communications, the goal is to develop an action plan on issues such as regional leadership, migration, refugees, environment, climate change, security, justice, fight against corruption and economic growth.

The Alliance for Development in Democracy was attended by presidents Carlos Alvarado-Quesada from Costa Rica; Laurentino Cortizo-Cohen from Panama and Luis Abinader Corona from the Dominican Republic.

The United States government representatives were José W. Fernández, the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment; Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Bureau and Marcela Escobari, Assistant Administrator of USAID's Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Sustainable and inclusive economic recovery, the fight against climate change, and attention to the health needs of our peoples, must be the lines of action of governments, under the undeniable premise that today's actions will shape the realities of the tomorrow,” stated in the document signed by the presidents.

The agreement includes actions on economic reactivation, creating jobs, and increasing trade flow in the region. As well as establishing strategies with international banks to support countries in times of crisis.

In addition, it was agreed to request Debt Relief lines from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for middle-income countries, to promote debt sustainability.

It was also agreed to create an action plan to strengthen ties between the countries, such as the exchange of knowledge and good practices through training and internships between the countries of members of the alliance.

The summit participants also signed the ADD+USA Business Council agreement, between the four countries to increase foreign investment and economic development.

In addition to this agreement, the country's leaders condemned the use of force and the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine due to the offensive deployed by Russia "which entails a serious threat to international peace and security and contravenes the Charter of the United Nations. as well as United Nations General Assembly resolutions and multilateral agreements," they said.

The members of the summit supported the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, in his call for an end to hostilities and the application of moderation and reason. 

The alliance presidents are in favor of "continuing negotiations, diplomatic dialogue, the promotion of peace and respect for multilateralism should be the axis of actions at this time."

The next summit will be held in September, during the 77th General Assembly of the United Nations.

Last week, during his visit to the country, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, signed an immigration agreement with Costa Rica.                      

This month, the new U.S. ambassador Cynthia Ann Telles began her duties in Costa Rica.

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What other Latin American country should be included in the Alliance? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com