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>>Costa Rica News Digest<<
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TODAY'S CONTENTS
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*News Digest

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LUXURY OFFICES FOR RENT IN SAN PEDRO!
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TWo small luxury offices are available for immediate occupancy in
the finest office building in San Pedro Montes de Oca. High speed
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porongo@safe-mail.net for full details and to make arrangements to
talk to the listing agent.

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FEATURE ARTICLE
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WHAT'S NEW AT THE COSTA RICA PAGE!
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Our real estate section has just been totally updated with lots of
new listings, mostly in the residential real estate section, but also
we have a new rental on the rental page and some new additions to the
land for sale section.

http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/costa-rica/real.htm

We are adding new things every day, and when our merger comes with
COSTARICACENTER.COM, we will have a fully operational Mercado Central
for you to buy Costa Rican products over the internet from local merchants
[if you have a reputable business here, and want to sell through the
Mercado, just let us know. We can help you to accept credit cards and
all the major e-currencies on the net! We break through the Great Barrier
that many Costa Rican merchants face getting their products on the net!].

Hotels and tourist businesses will be able to add their own links, and you
will be able to place your own online classifieds and MUCH MUCH MORE!

Watch this newsletter for our official launch, coming soon!

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DISCUSSION
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Please send your discussion topics to

costarica@destiny-worldwide.net

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NEWS DIGEST
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*AGRICULTURE: COSTA RICA PROPOSES ACTION ON TROPICAL PRODUCTS

WTO Members are in the midst of agriculture negotiations during the second

"agriculture week" following agreement on a July Package for moving the Doha

Round forward (WT/L/579). Delegates have convened in informal meetings from

Monday, 15 November through Wednesday, 17 November. They are set to meet in a

regular session of the Committee on Agriculture (CoA) on 18 October, wrapping

up their "agriculture week" with a formal meeting of the CoA special

(negotiating) session on Friday, 19 November.

Costa Rica presents proposal on tropical products

Among other developments in the informal meetings, Costa Rica, on behalf of

Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua,

Panama, Peru and Venezuela, presented a proposal on tropical products and

products providing an alternative to illicit narcotic crops. According to the

proposal, addressing tropical products was first brought up during the

Uruguay Round, and the issue is firmly grounded in the July Package, which

states that "full implementation of the long-standing commitment to achieve

the fullest liberalisation of trade in tropical agricultural products and for

products of particular importance to the diversification of production from

the growing of illicit narcotic crops is overdue and will be addressed

effectively in the market access negotiations". Therefore, the proposal

stresses that it is time to deliver on this mandate, which will also help

Members operationalise of the development dimension of the Doha Round.

The proposal notes that full liberalisation of markets for tropical products

would provide significant development benefits to countries, including in

terms of job creation. Under such a scenario countries would be able to

better address their external debt issues -- especially given that in a

number of developing countries, tropical agricultural goods account for over

50 percent of exports. Benefits in the form of lower prices would also flow

to consumers in developed countries.

The submission therefore proposes bringing down tariffs on these products,

removing tariff peaks, abolishing quotas on the products, addressing

non-tariff barriers and providing most-favoured nation (MFN) treatment. The

measures should be permanent, and without conditionalities. The submission

further notes that Members should not be able to designate tropical goods as

"sensitive products" -- shielding them from full liberalisation -- in the

overall agriculture negotiations.

A number of developing countries responded positively to the proposal, and

Peru, one of the co-sponsors, pointed out that it sought to show how special

and differential (S&D) treatment could be operationalised in the Doha Round

in a way that is positive and offensive, rather than defensive in providing

developing countries with longer time periods for implementing agreements.


*SOULFUL YOGA RETREAT IN COSTA RICA! Come Reawaken
Publish Date : 11/18/2004 4:32:00 PM Source : Onlypunjab.com Team

Reawaken your spirit, capture your soul, find your rhythm and explore one of

the few unspoiled places left in the world. Join the “African Wellness Diva”

Angelique Shofar from November 11-14, 2004 for the SoulFul Yoga and Nature

Retreat at the Playa Ocotal Resort in Costa Rica.

The SoulFul Yoga and Nature Retreat creates an atmosphere that allows the

awakening and healing of the mind, body and spirit, while participants find

true liberation and a deeper ancestral connection. The word “Soul” invokes

passion, aliveness and a tantalizing fusion and stirring of the senses. This

new style of Yoga, created by Angelique Shofar, encourages full expression

and reverence for the diverse African culture and speaks to the heart and

encourages people of color to experience the healing powers of this ancient

tradition.

This four day, 3 night experience will begin and end each day with a yoga

session. The retreat package includes single accommodations & breakfast, two

yoga sessions per day, a spa package at Fusion Natural Spa, a wellness

workshop and airport transfers from Liberia International Airport. There is

also a choice of nature tours to choose from. Deadline for registration is

September 15, 2004.

“More people are seeking retreats as a way to relax, regroup, revitalize and

rejoice in celebrating themselves through acts of self-love and

self-recognition, says Shofar. Venturing out of everyday environment allows

for a fresh perspective – a way to step outside the comfort zone and

experience other cultures.”

Angelique Shofar is a holistic health consultant, a certified yoga teacher,

African healer, body worker and body educator. The SoulFul Yoga and Nature

Retreat permits freedom to deepen the experience of natural, wholesome and

conscious living through the blending of both travel and retreat.

Playa Ocotal is the gate to the Gulf of Papagayo, a small beach protected by

hills and cliffs of sedimentary metamorphic rocks of 80 million years of age.

It is centrally located to several national parks, volcanoes, waterfalls,

caves and stunning beaches. The sea air is tinged with a whitish mist that

many healers believe to be rich in negative ions, small particles charged

with electricity that have beneficial effects on people, animals and plants.


*Cuba protests opening of Cuban democracy forum in Costa Rica
11/18/2004 -- 14:16(GMT+7)


Havana (VNA) - The Cuban Foreign Ministry has issued a statement protesting

the planned opening of a so-called "international forum for democracy in

Cuba" in Costa Rica on the eve of the 14th summit of Spanish and

Portuguese-speaking countries to be held in this country soon.

In the statement, the Cuban government demanded that the Costa Rican

administration prevent the forum, calling it a provocative and hostile act

which intervenes in Cuba's internal affairs.

If the Costa Rica does not act to prevent the forum, it could threaten the

summit's success, the statement said.

COMMENT: The Costa Rican government has responded that Costa Rica is a free
and democratic country, and the government has no power or desire to

intervene in private meetings. We concur. Totalitarian dictatorships hate
free debate and excahnge of ideas that they don't like. Too bad the Cuban
government is neither free nor democratic, but an aging dictatorship.



*Mining scandal involves Canadian authorities in Costa Rica
Publish Date : 11/18/2004 10:30:00 AM Source : Canada News Onlypunjab.com

In a recent press release the Costa Rican organization Ceus del Golfo pointed

to Canadian mining companies as direct collaborators in the corruption

scandal and payment of bribes that has shocked Costa Rica. Two former Costa

Rican presidents, as well as former Members of its parliament and several

public officials of Miguel Angel Rodriguez’ government (1998 - 2002), former

president of the country, as well as the former secretary of OEA who have

been incarcerated under accusations of taking bribes, are involved in this

scandal. Regarding former president Rafael Angel Calderon, he will be serving

nine months of preventive custody for his alleged connection in this same

scandal.

The extent of this corruption and the bribes have led ecological

organizations to ask for the immediate investigation of the exploitation

permits granted to the Canadian mining companies Glencairn Gold Corporation

and Vanessa Ventures in Costa Rica.

The involvement of so many foreign companies in this bribery has reached

peaks previously unheard of, not only in Costa Rica, but also in South

America. In Canada, the federal government has passed laws and established

parliamentary norms and administrative dispositions to prevent and prohibit

corruption. The Canadian Criminal Code includes misdemeanors related to the

corruption of public officials, government fraud, and trafficking of

influence, abuse of confidence by public officials, corruption in municipal

matters, the purchase and selling of cargo, the attempt to influence public

appointments, possession of goods illegally obtained, fraud, recycling of

criminally obtained products and secret commissions. Glencairn Gold

Corporation is a Canadian registered corporation and falls within the reach

of this law, and as it was pointed out by ecologists in Costa Rica, they must

explain whether or not they were involved in this scandal.

On the other hand, what seems somewhat peculiar is the apparent participation

of the Canadian ambassador to Costa Rica, Louise Léger in the activities of a

mining company that could be implicated in the bribery cases. On the web site

of the mining company, Industrias Infinito, a branch of the Canadian company,

Vanessa Ventures (VVV.V), we can see the Canadian ambassador in two pictures

taken during an information session for a mining project.


*Legislature moves to correct car-import glitch

A legislative committee has approved unanimously a change in the vehicle

importation law that will let owners get an inspection here.

The current law, termed odious by members of the committee, required

importers of used cars to present an official certification of emissions from

the country of origin. The problem was that many U.S. states do not have

official inspection programs.

Consequently thousands of vehicles were impounded because customs officials

would not accept certificates obtained here.

Under the proposal approved by the committee, vehicles only will need to pass

the Costa Rican inspection program.

Rodrigo Alberto Carazo a committee member representing the Partido Acción

Ciudadana, called the current section of the Ley de Tránsito "discriminatory,

inoperable and malicious."

The current law that places a major burden on importers also generated

allegations that some Costa Rican diplomats in the United States were faking

the documents that showed the vehicle had been inspected.

The tax police and others are investigating these allegations.


*Computer woes hamper summit registrations

The nation’s efforts to stage a smooth summit of Latin American leaders got

off to a bad start Wednesday when aides were unable to process credentials

for visiting news people.

The glitch caused some hot tempers to flare at the Hotel Herradura, which

will be the administrative site for the summit.

The Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto is in charge of the event.

But the computer used to store data for visitors and their credentials just

would not work. Some 800 visiting news people are expected.

The XIV Cumbre or summit of the Iberoamerican nations has a formal opening

Friday, but diplomats and support personnel already are arriving in the

Central Valley.

All those associated with the summit had been asked to provide extensive

information in order to obtain credentials. Ministry officials promised that

those for news people would be ready today.

In addition to the press, radio and television technicians, some 3,000

diplomats and employees of international agencies are expected.

The event kickoff Friday night at the Teatro Nacional will prompt the closing

of Paseo Colón and Avenida 2 that day and evening, officials said.



*Preventative detention upheld for Elca trio

The president of the failed Banco Elca and two key employees have lost their

appeal to be let out of jail.

The trio have been in jail since Oct. 22 when preventative detention was

ordered by a judge. Now the Tribunal de Juicio del II Circuito Judicial de

San José has confirmed the order, according to a spokesperson for the Poder

Judicial.

The three are Carlos Alvarado, the bank president, and Javier Filloy and

Hernán González.

Regulators took over the institution, correctly called Corporación Elca

S.A., in June when the bank’s reserve margins fell below legal requirements.

Smaller depositors have received their money back, but those with more than

$10,000 on the bank’s books have not. A U.S. bank is believed to be

interested in purchasing the company.


*Students in Chile protest visit there by George Bush

SANTIAGO, Chile — Police here have fired tear gas and water cannon at

hundreds of students protesting the arrival of President George Bush later

this week at an economic summit in this, the Chilean capital.

Street clashes erupted Wednesday, just before foreign and trade ministers

from the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation opened two days of talks

on free trade and other issues.

Police arrested dozens of demonstrators protesting the U.S.-led war in Iraq

and globalization, which they say widens the gap between rich and poor

nations. No injuries were reported.

In addition to President Bush, outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell,

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi

will attend the talks, which take place this Saturday and Sunday.

Washington sources say that Bush plans to focus on security and trade issues

during the session.

The president also plans to hold several meetings with Asian and Latin

American heads of state while in Chile and Colombia to discuss a wide range

of issues of mutual concern.

A senior Bush administration official said the primary security objective at

the meeting is to get "concrete implementation" of commitments made at the

2003 meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. According to the official, these

commitments primarily focused on eliminating the weapons of mass destruction,

eliminating transnational terrorist groups, and addressing other terrorist

threats.

The meeting in Chile is one reason some heads of state, including Chilean

President Ricardo Lagos, will not be in Costa Rica for the Iberoamerican

summit this weekend


*Ex-President Rodríguez Criticizes Prosecutor's Office

Former Costa Rican President Miguel Angel Rodríguez, who is serving a

preventive prison order while he is investigated for alleged corruption

crimes, yesterday accused the Chief Prosecutor of staging a “circus” and

managing his case through the media, in opposition to the principles of

democracy.

“It is important to resolve this (the accusations against him) within the

judicial strata – that judges take the corresponding decisions, and that each

person stick to his business,” declared the ex-President (1998-2002) to a

local radio station.

“I am not going to defend myself before the media, that would be contrary to

the principles of democracy and I would incur in the same grave errors as the

Chief Prosecutor's Office,” said Rodríguez, who was the Secretary General of

the Organization of American States (OAS) until he resigned Oct. 15, after a

month's service, amid allegations of corruption.

One of Rodríguez's closest collaborators, former Minister of Housing and

Urbanization José Antonio Lobo, accused him of receiving illegal payments in

connection with a government contract with the French telecommunications firm

Alcatel in 2001.

The former President is also under investigation for an alleged $100,000

payment from the Spanish company Abengoa, which he allegedly received through

its Costa Rican subsidiary.

Both European companies were given multimillion-dollar contracts during

Rodríguez's administration.

After returning from Washington D.C. , Rodríguez was arrested at Juan

Santamaría International Airport , handcuffed and transported to the

Prosecutor's Office by judicial police.

A judge ordered six months of preventive detention for Rodríguez, who was

initially under house arrest in a San José apartment, but was later

transferred to a jail.

Besides offering declarations to the press yesterday, Rodríguez filed a

formal complaint with the Supreme Court of Justice for a “grave legal

violation.”

In a letter to the president of the court, Luis Paulino Mora, the former

President accuses the Prosecutor's Office of violating the confidentiality of

his case, to which only those involved should have access.

“This situation is especially grave because it demonstrates the ties that

exist between the media and the Prosecutor's Office, which can manipulate

public opinion and substitute or violate the correct process and the majesty

of the judges,” Rodríguez states in his complaint.

COMMENT: The investors in the Brothers understand exactly what is meant
by the abuse of power by the prosecutor's office and having a circus in
the media. Hopefully Costa Ricans will wake up to these abuses, which
amount to an entirely different form of corruption by public officials.
Wanna bet some of these persecutors want to run for President someday and
think that a nice, juicy "scandal" will give them a leg up on the compe-
tition? Unfortunately, this may be showing some of the "training" Costa
Rican persecutors and law enforcement personnel are receiving from their
USSA counterparts. Persecutors in the USSA, such as the excreble Guilliani
have based their entire politicle careers on such grandstanding tactics.
This is one "import" through "training" and "education" that Costa Rica
can do without. In the good ole USSA Kangaroo Kort system truth and facts
no longer matter. What matters is who can put on the best CIRCUS for
public consumption. Truth is not welcome under the big top or in its
three rings of hell. Sadly, Costa Rican "officials" seem to be learning
the worst lessons their mentors are teaching them.

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