Remarks by
Ambassador Peter Cianchette
Reception in honor of Independence Day
July 3, 2008
Marriot Hotel
 Excelentísimo señor Francisco Antonio Pacheco, Presidente de la Asamblea Legislativa
Excelentísima señora Laura Chinchilla, Primera Vicepresidenta de la República
Excelentísimo señor Bruno Stagno, Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores y señora
Excelentísimos Señores Ministros y Ministras de Estado.
Excelentísimo y Reverendísimo Monseñor Pierre Nguyen Van Tot, Nuncio Apostólico de Su Santidad.
Excelentísimos y Honorables Jefes de las Misiones Diplomáticas y Organismos Internacionales.
Honorables Diputados y Diputadas de la Asamblea Legislativa.
Honorables Magistrados y Magistradas
Señores Altos Representantes del Gobierno de Costa Rica.
Distinguidos invitados:
¡Muy buenas tardes!
Estoy muy complacido de estar en esta celebración. Para mi esposa Carolyn, nuestros hijos Evan y María y para mí, es un gran honor compartir este gran día con todos ustedes. Ahora voy a hablar en inglés pues mi español todavía no es muy bueno. Evelyn, de la sección de prensa de la embajada, va a traducir mis palabras para que sea más fácil para todos.
Before starting my prepared remarks, I’d like to deviate from the script a bit on this day of celebration of liberty, to recognize an extraordinary event that took place in Colombia yesterday: the liberation of 15 human beings – including 11 Colombian citizens, Ingrid Betancourt, and three of my countrymen -- from the inhumane grip of a terrorist organization that has held the freedom-loving country of Colombia hostage for many, many years.
Our congratulations and profound respect go to President Uribe, the Ambassador of Colombia (here with us today), and especially to the people of Colombia for this highly-significant victory in their fight for liberty, democracy and human rights in Colombia, and in this hemisphere. I think I speak for all of us when I say "Hoy somos todos Colombianos". I hope that this will mark the beginning of the liberation of the hundreds of Colombian citizens who remain brutally and senselessly kidnapped by the FARC in Colombia, and that Colombia will finally be able to live in the peace and tranquility that it has long aspired to.
I would also like to take a brief moment to recognize the life and accomplishments of one of my predecessors – a six-time U.S. Ambassador, a great friend of Costa Rica and many of you, and a champion of democracy – Peter de Vos. We received the sad news yesterday that Ambassador De Vos passed away at his home on June 9. He will be missed.
Today we celebrate a special day in our history. On July 4th, 1776, the day that our forefathers were signing the Declaration of Independence, King George III of England wrote in his diary: “Nothing happened today”… Well, here we are, 232 years later, commemorating yet one more anniversary of that unremarkable and uneventful day!
And what an honor it is to be doing so as the 56th Ambassador to this beautiful country. This is an assignment that fills me with pride and a sense of adventure, as well as a strong commitment to my country and to my fellow citizens. I will do everything in my power to take the long and solid relations between our two countries to new levels of cooperation, based on our mutual respect and common interest.
Last year at this time, we looked forward to a national referendum on the Central American Free Trade Agreement, CAFTA. Today, work remains; CAFTA is not quite finished. But, we are “casi, casi” there! We have faith in the ability of all the key participants to translate the will of the Costa Rican people into a reality that promotes economic growth and prosperity. The U.S. stands ready to help Costa Rica join CAFTA, so that jobs, investment, and trade may grow and benefit the people of Costa Rica, as they have grown and benefited the other CAFTA member states.
And, we are also pleased to highlight the recent passage of the Merida Initiative legislation in the United States. The Merida Initiative promises a new level of cooperation that dramatically increases our joint efforts with Costa Rica, the other governments of Central America, and Mexico, to fight organized crime and drug-trafficking that endangers the future of the good people of the Americas. We look forward to working with the Government of Costa Rica and the U.S. Congress to take full advantage of this partnership in the battle against the scourge of drugs and crime in our region.
To my right is a flag that serves as a historical reminder of the longstanding relationship between the United States and Costa Rica. This 48-star flag represents a time when Alaska and Hawaii were not yet part of the United States of America. It found its way into our hands when the Director of the Escuela Centro San Jose of Golfito, Ms. Ana Cecilia Solano, presented it to a group of officers from the U.S. Coast Guard. She wanted to give them a token of her appreciation for the humanitarian aid they provided to her school earlier this year. The flag had been left behind by a U.S. company that once owned the land where the school is now located.
This flag is reminiscent of times past… It is also a symbol of how relations between two nations, between corporations and their host communities, and between individuals from different backgrounds can blossom, change, and more significantly, last the test of time.
Costa Rica is a nation of great aspirations. With its rich tradition of individualism, peace, democracy and economic growth, this nation has been a model for other countries in the region for many decades. Today, we live in a complex world, and both the United States and Costa Rica face shared challenges that must be addressed jointly, creatively and with perseverance.
Government to government collaboration is one important element of this task. I believe our diplomatic Mission to Costa Rica understands this well. Every year, we have the privilege of working with our Costa Rican counterparts on a variety of issues and causes. Last year alone, we organized training programs for local police and judicial personnel; promoted environmental and agricultural research; and offered scholarship programs and educational exchanges.
We also developed joint emergency and volunteer programs, such as the Medical Readiness Training Exercise in December where the U.S. provided medical care to remote indigenous populations in Talamanca, demonstrating the good that can be accomplished when we work together.
These partnerships address our common interests and the well-being of Americans and Costa Ricans alike.
One powerful example of our governments working together that has caught my attention for its far-reaching objectives of environmental protection and sustainable development is the recent Debt for Nature Swap Agreement between Costa Rica and the United States. This initiative allowed the U.S. to reduce Costa Rica’s debt payments to the U.S. by $26 million over the next 16 years, with the funds invested instead in the conservation of Costa Rica’s important tropical forest resources. I commend everyone involved!
I truly believe that official relations between governments must be complemented by people to people partnerships. Thankfully, more and more businesses today understand the importance of community involvement and the positive impact they can cause in their communities.
I hope you will take the opportunity to view some of those impressive projects by visiting the booths outside this hall. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to do so. These companies are a shining example of the important role that the private sector is playing in promoting and supporting their local communities. I want to personally thank each corporation represented here for their contribution to our celebration today and, more importantly, for the work they do every day.
I also want to take this opportunity to publicly acknowledge the great work of U.S. Embassy San José, and to thank them all for making my transition to the diplomatic world smooth and – I hope - successful. I want to thank our Marine Security Guard Detachment for their commitment and hard work. A special thanks goes to our team at the Embassy that put this wonderful event together. And, a special tribute to the University of Texas Butler Opera Center for their exquisite rendition of the U.S. and Costa Rican National Anthems.
Today, as we celebrate the 232nd anniversary of that historical day, let us remember that remarkable changes can only happen when the will of many are united under a common cause. Let us celebrate not only the deeds of the past, but also the great accomplishments that await us in the future.
I would like to propose a toast to the longstanding friendship and valued partnership between Costa Rica and the United States of America. May we always work together for the benefit of the people of our two great nations. ¡Salud!
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