Statement to the Press Following a Meeting with Laura Chinchilla, President of Costa Rica
San José, 28th October 2013
- Distinguida Presidenta Chinchilla
- Distinguidos Ministros
- Embajadoras y Embajadores
- Señoras y Señores
- Quisiera comenzar expresando a la Presidenta Chinchilla mi profundo aprecio por la cálida bienvenida que nos ha extendido a mi esposa Sabina y a mí, y a nuestra comitiva.
[May I begin by expressing to President Chinchilla my deep appreciation for the warm welcome that has been extended to me and to the Irish delegation.]
- Costa Rica has been a very positive regional role model. You are a great testament to democracy, the rule of law, sustainable development and inclusive growth. Many brave and insightful decisions have contributed to the stability your country now enjoys.
- I congratulate President Chinchilla on her many achievements in further deepening the political, economic and social stability of Costa Rica and wish the President well for her remaining term in office.
- Ireland and Costa Rica are two small countries with much in common. President Chinchilla and I have discussed this morning how we can deepen our bilateral relationship, building on my visit here and on the excellent cooperation which we have already established in multilateral fora, such as the United Nations where we are both like-minded members.
- I particularly welcome our recent reciprocal accreditation of Ambassadors and look forward to further development of our bilateral relations now that this important diplomatic step has been accomplished.
- This morning we spoke of the priorities facing our two countries, in particular that of nurturing sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Together with our Ministers we explored how we could develop our mutual trade and agreed there was considerable potential to do so.
- We also discussed developments in the international economic situation. The President and I had a very interesting exchange of views on our common priorities as small, open economies – such as how best to attract quality investment, and how to support a thriving exports sector.
- We also discussed the interest that we share in availing of developments such as the EU-Central America Association Agreement. It is in the effective implementation of this Association Agreement – whose trade elements have just come into force – that we have the opportunity for meaningful connections, ethical connections which have both economic and societal benefits.
- I also firmly believe in the importance of the wider continental dialogue between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean and was very pleased to partcipate in a high level CELAC-EU Seminar in Santiago last October. I know that Costa Rica will assume the Presidency of CELAC in 2014 and wish you well in this important leadership role.
- Costa Rica is, of course, already a world leader on the question of combating climate change and sustainable development. President Chinchilla and I have discussed Costa Rica’s unique approach to sustainable development from which the world has much to learn.
- I had the opportunity to visit Carara National Park yesterday and I warmly applaud the valuable work that is being done to preserve Costa Rica’s unique natural environment.
- We know that human actions such as deforestation, resource extraction and pollution have exerted devastating pressures on our fragile environment. It is the most marginalised sections of society that are most vulnerable to the effects of these pressures.
- Costa Rica’s recognition of the need to protect its rich biodiversity at a national level, and its leadership voice at an international level, is rooted in the strong sense of social concern and justice which lies at the heart of this democracy.
- President Chinchilla and I have also discussed our cooperation with regard to disarmament and conflict prevention.
- I particularly congratulate Costa Rica on being one of the first States to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty. A robust and comprehensive Arms Trade Treaty has also been a foreign policy priority for Ireland. We are proud to have been among the first States to sign it last June and expect to ratify the Treaty before the end of the year.
- Costa Rica, of course, also hosts the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and I look forward, tomorrow, to addressing the Court on the theme of “Human Rights in the 21st Century, reasons for hope”.
- Alas, one thing our two countries do not share in common are our current fortunes in international soccer. While Ireland will not be among those competing in the World Cup Finals next year, Costa Rica will be represented in Brazil. I congratulate you on this wonderful qualification and assure you of my moral support next summer.
- Presidenta Chinchilla, Señoras y Señores
- Deseo agradecerles la calidez de su recepción del día de hoy y tengan la certeza de mi profunda admiración por su país, que ha sido una fuerza enormemente positiva para la estabilidad y el bienestar de la región de América Central.
- Muchas gracias.
[Thank you for the warmth of your reception today and be assured of the deep admiration that I feel for this country which has been such a positive force for stability and good in the