New York, 19 September 2023 (TDI): The Costa Rican Foreign Minister, Arnoldo Andre, on September 18, engaged in a meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, as part of the high-level week of the 78th UNGA in New York, United States of America.
The Secretary-General initiated the conversation by commending Costa Rica as a global example in various areas, including climate change, disarmament, and human rights, all of which align with the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 agenda for development.
Moreover, the Secretary-General acknowledged Costa Rica’s reception of migrant flows, expressing solidarity with the nations regarding the challenges they face in providing support.
The Secretary-General emphasized the necessity for financial reforms to ensure increased support for countries dealing with such situations, particularly those like Costa Rica which are categorized as middle-income countries.
The Costa Rican Foreign Minister raised the pressing immigration matter, underscoring that Costa Rica currently faces a backlog of 250,000 refugee applications.
Consequently, Costa Rica seeks assistance or collaboration to effectively manage these displaced populations.
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Minister Andre stressed the fiscal constraints limiting public spending in Costa Rica, emphasizing the necessity for increased international financial support.
Moreover, Minister Andre expressed gratitude to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for their work in the country, while acknowledging that these efforts are not enough.
Minister Andre also mentioned that Costa Rica and Panama are jointly addressing immigration issues, recognizing their impact on both countries.
Similarly, Minister Andre highlighted the unstable situation in various countries in the region, specifically in Nicaragua, and expressed disappointment that there isn’t enough awareness of the severity of the situation, given the ongoing human rights violations faced by Nicaraguans.
In response, the UN Secretary-General acknowledged the concern and stated that he was informed about the challenges faced by populations in Nicaragua and other countries in the region.
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