Organization of American States to Visit Costa Rica/Nicaragua Border

Secretary General of the Organization of American States José Miguel Insulza has decided to visit San José and Managua as part of a fact finding mission relating to the ongoing conflict at Río San Juan.

According to Costa Rica’s Foreign Ministry, the mission will also tour the border region where Nicaraguan troops and Costa Rican police forces have been stationed over the past week.

Tension on the border has escalated following reports of trespassing and environmental destruction during the dredging of the Río San Juan. In the process of deepening the river to facilitate easier transit, Nicaragua has allegedly raised its flag on Costa Rican soil and threatened Costa Rican farmers.

The Costa Rican government presented its concerns before the Organization of American States on Wednesday.

Following Insulza’s decision to visit, Foreign Minister René Castro expressed his satisfaction via press release.

“We have been heard,” he said.

The commission of the OAS will reconvene in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, following Insulza’s visit.