EMBASSY HIGHLIGHTS

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The Embassy alerts Americans traveling or living in Costa Rica that Costa Rica continues to experience numerous aftershocks from the January 8th earthquake.  The Embassy encourages all American citizens in Costa Rica to contact their families and friends to update them on their welfare and whereabouts. (more information)

Costa Rican rescue workers board U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopters, transporting them to the epicenter to assist earthquake victims

The United States joins search and rescue efforts to aid earthquake victims

Near the Poas Volcano, January 11, 2008

Personnel and equipment from the U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Task Forces Bravo (JTF Bravo), based in Soto Cano, Honduras, joined the U.S. Embassy’s Office of the Defense Representative and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) to support efforts mounted by Costa Rica’s National Emergency Commission (CNE) to aid victims of the January 11 earthquake near the Poas Volcano.
With the assistance of four helicopters – three Blackhawk and one Chinook – the United States collaborated in the search and rescue of victims, and were key in transporting rescue teams to the disaster site.
Even before the arrival of the military helicopters, the U.S. was the first country to offer aid, with Ambassador Cianchette authorizing $50,000 to the CNE for the rental of helicopters and the purchase of fuel for earthquake victims.

Latest Headlines From the Embassy

(L to R) Mary Lou Valdez, Associate Commissioner for International Programs (HHS/FDA); Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner HHS/FDA; Ambassador Peter Cianchette; Secretary Leavitt; Costa Rica’s Vice Minister of Health Ana Cecilia Morice; and Paul Seligman, Director of HHS/FDA Latin America Office

Department of Health Opens Regional FDA Office in Costa Rica

San Jose, January 7, 2008

The United States Department of Health and Human Services marked the opening of the new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Regional Office for Latin America with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the U.S. Embassy.

The ceremony was led by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt, accompanied by FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, the Costa Rican Vice-minister of Health Ana Morice, and U.S. Ambassador Peter Cianchette.

In his remarks, Secretary Leavitt noted that “ensuring the safety of imported products is important to all our nations. In recent months, we have begun to open similar offices in China, India and Europe and now Central America. This office is an important step that helps us continue to build quality and safety into the import process.” (photo gallery)

Ambassador Cianchette and US Marines Deliver Toys to Children During the Holidays

San Jose, December 19, 2008

Over 300 toys were collected by US Embassy personnel and the US Marine Corps as part of the 2008 Toys for Tots Program. Toys collected were given as gifts to underprivileged children in San Jose and the interior of the country including three orphanages, the Costa Rican Humanitarian Organization and two NGOs including Educacion Plus and the RAHAB Foundation.  The Toys for Tots Program began in 1947 and is supported in the United States and throughout the world.   

Letter of appreciation presented to Director General of Immigration by the Department of Homeland Security

Mario Zamora, Director General of Immigration was presented a letter of appreciation by the Department of Homeland Security for his sustained and outstanding service and determined leadership to advance shared security interests in Costa Rica and the United States as the Director General of Costa Rican Immigration from 2006-2008.  Under Zamora’s leadership and guidance, the Costa Rican Immigration Directorate became significantly more effective which not only directly enhanced border security and immigration control in Costa Rica, but also indirectly improved border security in Central America and the United States.

International Human Rights Day

San Jose-December 10, 2008

Today marks the 60th Anniversary of the adoption of the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that affirms the inherent rights of people everywhere and enshrines basic freedoms of thought, expression, peaceful assembly, religion, and association.  In observing International Human Rights Day and Week, we recognize the noble work of human rights defenders around the world who risk harassment, beatings, arrest and even death for seeking to secure the rights of their fellow citizens.  We applaud the hard-won gains for human rights and democratic government that have been made in recent decades.  We also recognize that in every region of the world, there are governments that respond to growing demands for fundamental freedoms and democratic rights by oppressing human rights and democracy activists, civil society organizations, journalists, and others who are peacefully advocating for them.  As we mark the 60th anniversary, we recommit ourselves to supporting those who struggle for freedom from tyranny and fear and for the right to hold their government accountable (EJournal Sixty Years: Celebrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights).

US Demonstrates its Solidarity to Costa Rica with Disaster Relief Assistance Provided to Flood Victims in Limon

San Jose-December 4, 2008

Colonel Richard Juergens from JTF-Bravo met with Rodrigo Arias at Casa Presidencial on Thursday, December 4, 2008 after spending the last week  providing humanitarian assistance in Limon.  The US Government provided 50,000 USD to the National Emergency Commission to buy supplies including food and medicine and support search and rescue efforts.  In addition, JTF-Bravo provided five helicopters to assist with evacuations of flood victims and transport 100,000 pounds of materials to the most impacted zones affected by the recent floods.  More than 68 US and Costa Rican personnel supported the mission which cost more than 1 million dollars in total. (photo gallery)

Photo Gallery: U.S. Humanitarian Relief for Panama and Costa Rica

Ambassador Cianchette & Team San Jose Participate in Special Olympics Torch Run

San Jose-November 25, 2008

Ambassador Cianchette and Team San Jose, including Marines and other Embassy runners, proudly participated in the Special Olympics torch run with Special Olympics athletes and San Jose Police Officers. On arrival, the Embassy community joined in the celebration, lining the sidewalk to welcome the torch and participating in a brief ceremony in which the Ambassador honored the Special Olympics history and creed, and the dedication of the athletes. Following the ceremony, the Embassy community once again lined the departure route of the torch, taking advantage of the unique opportunity to touch a piece of Olympic history as it continued its way to the National Stadium for the first ever Central American and Caribbean regional games.

Latest News from Washington

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  The Bush administration will pass on to President-elect Barack Obama and his foreign policy and national security teams a legacy of a greatly strengthened U.S. partnership with the Americas says State Department’s Thomas Shannon, adding, "These and other successes have created a very strong and enduring base that will really allow the United States to enhance our relationship." 12/03/08
• U.S.-Mexico Talks Aimed at Reducing Drug Trafficking
  The United States and Mexico continue to look for ways to break the power and impunity of drug-trafficking criminals that plague both sides of the border, Secretary of State Rice says. Drug trafficking is a joint problem and a joint responsibility, Rice says at a briefing at the State Department.12/19/08
  
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  Mountain villages of Ecuador, where firewood can be difficult to find, would benefit from a low-cost cookstove that uses animal and food waste as an energy source. Fort Lewis College students, backed by an Environmental Protection Agency grant, are developing just such a stove.12/17/08
  
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