USA / COSTA RICA – The Organization of American States (OAS) and the government of Costa Rica agreed to send an Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) to the presidential and legislative elections on February 6 in the Central American country.
The secretary-general of the OAS, Luis Almagro, highlighted the strength of the democratic institutions in Costa Rica and recalled that the first EOM of the OAS was deployed to the Central American country six decades ago.
“Our missions have become wide-ranging professional exercises that support member states in their ongoing efforts to strengthen and update their electoral systems. In the case of Costa Rica, we have been present on 14 occasions,” added secretary-general Almagro, during the signing ceremony of the agreement that was held at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC.
For her part, the Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the OAS, Alejandra Solano, said that her government is “very happy to receive an OAS Electoral Observation Mission to our country” because “its recommendations are very important for our legislation.” Ambassador Solano added that the EOMs “have the support of our government, regardless of party. Our respect for democracy goes beyond political colors.”
The Observation Mission will be headed by ambassador Isabel Saint Malo, former vice president and foreign minister of Panama.
