Lecture by H.E. Mr. Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera, President of Costa Rica, entitled “Camino al Desarrollo: Desarme, Derechos Humanos y Paz en Costa Rica”

Your Excellency Mr. Luis Guillermo Solís, President of Costa Rica,
Honorable Ministers
Excellencies,
Dear Colleagues,

It really is a great honour and pleasure to receive H.E. Luis Guillermo Solís, President of the Republic of Costa Rica, in the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilization Room – bearing in mind your country’s engagement for the respect and promotion of human rights, Mr. President, I am particularly honoured to welcome you in this symbolic place.

As a founding member of the United Nations, Costa Rica is a pioneer and champion of the principles and values of the United Nations since the beginning of its membership. Peace and security, development and human rights continue to be the pillars of Costa Rica’s active engagement across the United Nations system.

2015 marks two important historic events: the 70th anniversary of the United Nations and the 70th anniversary of the membership of Costa Rica in the Organization. Round numbers are always a good occasion to look back on major achievements. Costa Rica has been an engaged and committed Member State and should be proud of its multilateral track-record. Let me highlight some of Costa Rica’s achievement in the past 70 years:

- In the 1960s Costa Rica’s initiative in favour of a High Commissioner in the then Commission of Human Rights led to the creation of today’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
- Under the leadership of President Carazo, Costa Rica initiated the process for the establishment of the University for Peace [1980] which today is located in Costa Rica.
- Costa Rica played a key role in the peace processes in Central America. This exemplary effort was later rewarded with the Nobel Peace Prize to President Oscar Arias. A process, to which you contributed as a junior diplomat, if I remember correctly, President Solís.
- The continuous efforts of Costa Rica to set up norms and guidelines against torture and for the promotion of human rights education and training are to be applauded.
- Costa Rica is actively engaged in the preparations for the Climate Change Conference which will take place later this year in Paris. Your compatriot, and our colleague, Christiana Figueres is doing a fantastic job in leading that process.
- Sustainable development and eco-tourism are important policies of Costa Rica at the national level.

Costa Rica serves as a strong example that development is not possible without peace, and that peace is not possible without development, and has gone a step further to demonstrated that in order to achieve peace and development, both the respect and promotion of human rights are necessary.

In the area of disarmament, Mr. President, your country has set an example. When abolishing the army in 1948, Costa Rica sent out a strong message to the world – a message for a more secure world without arms. As the Secretary-General a.i. of the Conference on Disarmament, I deeply regret that this example has unfortunately not received the attention it deserves. I am however very pleased to continue to count on your country’s support at the Conference on Disarmament, in particular in these difficult times.

Mr. President, your country has a strong voice in the United Nations and in other multilateral settings for the promotion and protection of peace, human rights and the well-being of the world population. These three pillars represent the collective work of International Geneva and your country is very active and contributes constructively to the debates and negotiations here in Geneva. I would like to thank you and through you, the population of Costa Rica for your country’s active role in our collective work.

To conclude, Costa Rica continues to demonstrate that a country with limited resources can make a great difference in international affairs. Commitment, active engagement and solidarity with the international community can indeed free tremendous resources in favour of constructive actions.

Your presence here with us, President Solís Rivera, is proof that Costa Rica is at the forefront of the international community’s search for universal “peace, rights and well-being”.

Sin más, es un honor y un privilegio dar la palabra al Presidente de la República de Costa Rica, Su Excelencia Don Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera.