Costa Rica, Panama to discuss border issues

Costa Rica’s Foreign Ministry announced Monday that the government will send a high-level delegation to Panama this week to seek solutions to a dispute arising from the presence of several Panamanian vehicles in Costa Rica without proper registration.

The Presidency Ministry also formed a working group involving representatives of various institutions to discuss several border issues. The group includes officials from the public security, immigration, foreign and finance ministries.

Officials from the two countries held talks on Sept. 17, and a follow-up meeting is scheduled for Oct. 23. Among the topics to be discussed are immigration, security, territorial disputes, borders, drug trafficking, smuggling and social development, among others.

According to a press release by the Foreign Ministry, Costa Rica and Panama “maintain excellent bilateral relations, and any situation will be addressed through friendly conversations.”