Today, the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Argentine Republic, Ambassador Pedro Villagra Delgado, received his counterpart from the Republic of Costa Rica, Alejandro Solano Ortiz, for a work meeting.
On the occasion, both officials reviewed the excellent state of bilateral relations, and agreed on the convenience of continuing work on the development of opportunities to strengthen bonds in all aspects of the bilateral relationship.
The Argentine Deputy Foreign Minister expressed his gratitude for Costa Rica's historical and sustained support for the legitimate rights of the Argentine Republic in the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas, in addition to Costa Rica’s support at international organizations so that the Governments of the Argentine Republic and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland resume negotiations with a view to finding a peaceful and definitive solution to the dispute as soon as possible.
Progress was made on important matters on the bilateral agenda, on the subjects of policy, cooperation, economy and trade. Moreover, positions were aligned on issues of mutual interest in multilateral and regional integration fora. Among the issues addressed at the meeting were the promotion of human rights, security, the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime, migrations, cultural and educational cooperation, trade promotion, humanitarian assistance and environmental protection. Disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the Arms Trade Treaty were also discussed.
Deputy Foreign Minister Solano Ortiz, on his part, conveyed the interest of the Costa Rican Foreign Minister, Manuel González Sanz, in visiting Argentina to meet with Foreign Minister Malcorra in the context of the Mechanism of Political Consultation between both countries, on a date to be set through diplomatic channels. Such visit could prove propitious to sign the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and the Extradition Treaty, in addition to the Agreement on Recognition of Academic Degrees and Certificates of Preschool and Basic Education, should the negotiation of the text be completed.
The Deputy Foreign Ministers also welcomed the 3rd Meeting of the Joint Committee on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, during which the 3rd Bilateral Programme for Technical Cooperation 2016-2019 was agreed upon, composed of seven projects on health, environment and climate change, productive innovation, and agricultural and rural development.
Finally, Deputy Minister Ortiz expressed his gratitude for the hospitality extended by the Government of the Argentine Republic on the occasion of his visit.
Press release No. 065/17
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