San Jose - The presidents of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solis, and US'' Barack Obama met in the White House and strengthened Washington''s help to this nation to combat drug and human trafficking.
'One-day visit, scheduled for several months, aimed to strengthen relations between the United States and Costa Rica', highlights a statement from the Costa Rican presidency, released today in this capital by social networks.
It indicates the United States strengthens cooperation to combat drugs and human trafficking by patrol boats, freighters, Coast Guard stations, biometric equipment to identify undocumented migrants, vehicles and communication equipment, among others.
The meeting was also attended by the American Vice-president Joseph Biden, and Costa Rica Ministers of Foreign Affairs Manuel Gonzalez the Presidency Minister Sergio Alfaro, and the National Security Director Mariano Figueres and Costa Rican Ambassador to the US Román Macaya.
Solis spoke with Obama and Biden on the growing challenges that organized crime and drug trafficking represent for both nations, says the official information, accompanied by pictures of the meeting.
Obama and Biden acknowledged the commitment the government of Costa Rica to fight these scourges and increased the US cooperation, reported Washington sources.
The meeting with Obama and Biden increases as never before bilateral cooperation in the fight against organized crime, said Solis.
He declares that the issues have a close relationship with situations that we must look from the perspective of human rights such as migration, economic empowerment and education of women.
On the other hand, an official statement from the US Embassy in this country asserts that as good partners in the fight against transnational crime, they are working to provide equipment, train the authorities of Costa Rica, and believe that their joint efforts will result in a transformation of Costa Rican capabilities.
On migration, the Costa Rican president stressed 'the diligent and tireless humanitarian work that the authorities of Costa Rica and civil society conducted daily and with limited resources, facing the growing and disturbing arrival of irregular migrants both in the American continent and around the world and whose final destination is the United States of America'.
Regarding the issue of energy, the parties discussed the importance of energy security and access to clean and renewable energy, which generate economic development and reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases, says the official text.
The information adds that Solis and his hosts also discussed extensively on programs and policies aimed at empowering women, and an offer of scholarships for more than 2,000 young Costa Rican people at risk to provide job skills and entrepreneurship.
In addition, Solis used the meeting to seek US support for the candidacy of Christiana Figuereres as the next Secretary General of the United Nations.
