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North & Central America and Caribbean
Costa Rica |
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Last reviewed: 18 August 2009 |
Country information
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Relations with Neighbours
In recent years Costa Rica has been trying to improve its relationship with its northern neighbour Nicaragua. The number of Nicaraguans living and working in Costa Rica (mainly illegally) is estimated at about 500,000 (but some say it may be closer to 1 million). The relationship has been strained because of the territorial dispute over the right to free navigation of the San Juan River and in particular, the right of Costa Rican patrols to carry arms (a number of Costa Rican communities are only accessible from the river). The disagreement had been put on hold by the 2 governments and the case sent to the International Court of Justice in The Hague for arbitration, who ruled in July 2009 that Costa Rica did have navigational rights but their police forces were not allowed to carry arms. The outcome was deemed a success by both sides and this may help improve relations between the two countries. Costa Rica is an active member of the Central American Integration System (SICA) but continues to play no part in the Central American Parliament –(PARLACEN). The recently established Central American Customs Union is progressing well with Costa Rican participation. Negotiations to join the US CAFTA were completed in January 2004 and the Agreement entered into force between the US and Costa Rica in January 2009.
An FTA between Costa Rica and Caribbean Countries (CARICOM) was agreed in 2004 and ratified in 2005. DR-CAFTA (including the Dominican Republic) faced more opposition but was ratified in Costa Rica through a national referendum in October 2007. Costa Rica is currently negotiating FTAs with Singapore, China and is leading the negotiations for an Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union. Costa Rica also acts as the depository for a Maritime Co-operation Agreement with the Caribbean countries and others to control drug trafficking.
Relations with the International Community
Costa Rica is an active member of the international community and supports efforts to protect the environment; promotes human rights and sustainable development, and advocates peaceful settlement of disputes. Costa Rica is host to a number of international institutions, including the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the UN University for Peace.
Negotiations on an Association Agreement with the European Union began in June 2007 in Costa Rica and have continued with subsequent rounds in Belgium and El Salvador. The sixth round of negotiations were held in Brussels, Belgium from 26th to the 30th of January 2009 and as of the 24th April 2009 are set to continue. However negotiations are currently suspended because of the constitutional crisis in Honduras.
Costa Rica joined the Coalition on Iraq in 2003 but withdrew in September 2004 after the Constitutional Court ruled that decision was unconstitutional. Nevertheless the Foreign Ministry reconfirmed that Costa Rica remains committed to the fight against terrorism.
Costa Rica has been an active member of the United Nations Security Council since January 2008 and ends its tenure after the 31st December 2009.
Relations with the UK
Bilateral relations were established over 150 years ago and have always been good. The UK helped to develop the market for Costa Rican coffee and the UK firm, Northern Railway, ran the railway service from the coast.
There have been high level visits in both directions. The most recent Ministerial visit was by the then Minister for Latin American Affairs in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Dr Denis MacShane, for the inauguration of President Pacheco in May 2002. The UK's Ambassador to Costa Rica attended the inauguration of President Oscar Arias in May 2006.
Cultural Relations with the UK
At least 1 Chevening scholarship is awarded every year to Costa Rican students for study at postgraduate level at institutes of higher education in the UK. (See Chevening Scholarships: Costa Rica) A private institution called the British Institute in San Jose offers courses and examinations of British educational Boards. For more information, see the Instituto Britanico. There is a privately-run British school in San Jose at which pupils sit GCSE examinations - British School of Costa Rica. The British Council in Mexico City has a watching brief in Costa Rica. For more information, see the British Council website:
British Council
Several prominent Costa Rican figures, including President Oscar Arias Sanchez, Kevin Casas and 2006 Presidential candidate Otton Solis, are ex-scholars of British Universities.
Recent Inward Visits
Various Costa Rican ministers and government officials visited the UK in 2006.
President Arias visited the UK in 2008 and met HRH The Prince of Wales at Balmoral to discuss climate change related issues.
Recent Outward Visits
Prince Michael of Kent visited Costa Rica in 2006.
