Remarks With Costa Rican Foreign Minister

Remarks With Costa Rican Foreign Minister Manuel Gonzalez Sanz

Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Treaty Room
Washington, DC
February 20, 2015

SECRETARY KERRY: Good afternoon, folks. I’m really happy to welcome to Washington the foreign minister of Costa Rica, Gonzalez Sanz, who is a good partner with the United States. Costa Rica has been doing a great deal on counterterrorism, great deal particularly on climate change, where they have always been a leader.

I can remember personally visiting Costa Rica in the earliest days when I was in the United States Senate – one of the first places I went. And then they were working hard to help lead the region out of the difficulties of war, and now they’re working hard on a continued basis to lift the region up economically, to try to help us deal with climate change, and they’ve become good partners in our agriculture initiative with respect to climate.

So we have a fair amount to talk about because of the economic and energy challenges in the region. I very much look forward to our conversation, so welcome. Happy to have you here.

FOREIGN MINISTER SANZ: Thank you so much –

SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you.

FOREIGN MINISTER SANZ: -- Mr. Secretary. All to the contrary, I’m the one to thank the United States and Secretary Kerry for having me here today. It’s very meaningful for Costa Rica and the new government to be here today and to strengthen the traditional ties of friendship and cooperation that we have had for many, many, many years. Costa Rica is a friend of the United States, not just in the Central American region, but in the international and multilateral arena, where we share a lot of common values and positions. And we look forward to continuing in that direction and strengthening our ties.

SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you. Muchas gracias. Thank you, my friend. Thank you.

Thank you all very much.

ENDS

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