Oscar Arias Sanchez, president of the unarmed state of Costa Rica, called on Wednesday for a global reduction of military spending as a matter of international security.

The Security Council later adopted a non-binding resolution inviting other countries to follow this path.

Oscar Arias Sanchez, president of the unarmed state of Costa Rica, called on Wednesday for a global reduction of military spending as a matter of international security.

China and Costa Rica were to launch free trade talks here Monday in a historic visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao at the start of a Latin America tour including Cuba and Peru.

China has increased diplomacy and investment in the region in recent years, with an eye on natural resources and developing markets for manufactured goods and even arms.

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived Sunday in Costa Rica in the highest-level visit by a Chinese official to the country, just over a year after it gave up six decades of ties with Taiwan.

China has increased diplomacy and investment in Latin America in recent years, with an eye on its natural resources and developing markets for manufactured goods and even arms.

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived Sunday in Costa Rica in the highest-level visit by a Chinese official to the country, just over a year after it gave up six decades of ties with Taiwan.

China has increased diplomacy and investment in Latin America in recent years, with an eye on its natural resources and developing markets for manufactured goods and even arms.

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrives Sunday in Costa Rica in the highest-level visit by a Chinese official to the country, just over a year after it gave up six decades of ties with Taiwan.

SAN JOSE, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) - Costa Rica's President Oscar Arias on Monday will start a landmark visit to China aiming to lure investment and promote exports after San Jose switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in June.

Arias, who was to depart Saturday with a delegation of government and business colleagues, was to meet Wednesday, October 24, with Chinese President Hu Jintao. The two leaders are to sign several cooperation deals.

SAN JOSE, Oct 7, 2007 (AFP) - Costa Rica has backed a free trade agreement with the United States, with voters overcoming deep reservations to hand a narrow referendum victory Sunday to President Oscar Arias on the issue.

'The people of Costa Rica have said yes to the free trade agreement, and that for me is a sacred wish,' Arias said in a televised address to the nation after Costa Ricans voted in their tens of thousands on the measure.

'They have given me a mandate and as a committed democrat I will obey it,' he added.

SAN JOSE, Oct 7, 2007 (AFP) - Costa Rica's president Oscar Arias declared victory Sunday in his drive to join a free trade deal with the United States, announcing on television that voters had backed it in a referendum.

'The people of Costa Rica have said yes to the free trade agreement, and that for me is a sacred wish,' Arias said in a televised address to the nation after Costa Ricans voted in their tens of thousands on the measure.

SAN JOSE, Oct 7, 2007 (AFP) - Costa Rican voters narrowly backed a free trade deal to open local markets to US products and boost Costa Rican exports to the United States, according to partial referendum results on Sunday.

With 73 percent of votes counted, just over 50 percent of voters said yes to the agreement against 47.5 percent who voted no, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal said. Turnout was around 60 percent.

SAN JOSE, Oct 7, 2007 (AFP) - Voters in Costa Rica narrowly backed a free trade deal with the United States, according to partial official referendum results released by electoral authorities on Sunday.

Out of 73 percent of votes counted, just over 50 percent of voters said yes to the agreement against 47.5 percent who voted no, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal said. Turnout was around 60 percent.

SAN JOSE, Oct 7, 2007 (AFP) - Hundreds of thousands of Costa Ricans voted Sunday on whether to accept or reject a free-trade agreement with the United States, that would open local markets to US products but also boost Costa Rican exports to the United States.

Public opinion surveys, taken before polls closed at 6:00 pm (2400 GMT), indicated the measure was headed for defeat. Early official returns were not expected until 20:30 pm (0230 GMT Monday).

SAN JOSE, Oct 7, 2007 (AFP) - Costa Ricans voted Sunday on whether to accept or reject a free-trade treaty with the United States, with surveys indicating the measure was headed for defeat.

The Central American Free Trade Agreement, which also includes Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, will not be re-negotiated if Costa Rica rejects the measure, US officials said.

Costa Rica, population four million, is the only country to hold a referendum on the deal. The other countries have already ratified the agreement.

SAN JOSE, Oct 7, 2007 (AFP) - Voting opened in Costa Rica Sunday on a free trade treaty with the United States, officials said, as polls showing central America's richest state may turn down closer ties with the economic superpower.

Costa Rica is the only country to hold a referendum on the deal, which has been ratified by Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, opening them up to free trade with the United States.

SAN JOSE, Oct 7, 2007 (AFP) - Costa Ricans are to vote Sunday on whether to accept a free trade treaty with the United States, with polls showing central America's richest state may turn down closer ties with the economic superpower.

Costa Rica is the only country to hold a referendum on the deal, which has been ratified by Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, opening them up to free trade with the United States.

WASHINGTON, Oct 4, 2007 (AFP) - The United States is not willing to renegotiate a free trade deal with Costa Rica if it is rejected by voters in a referendum set for Sunday, US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said Thursday.

'The United States respects the sovereign right of the citizens of Costa Rica to choose whether to approve the free trade agreement with the United States, Central America, and the Dominican Republic. But, I hope whatever decision is made is based on the facts,' she said in a statement.

THE HAGUE, Sept 28, 2007 (AFP) - Dutch customs police screening cargo coming into the port of Rotterdam have seized a massive 1.67-tonne load of cocaine hidden in a shipment from Costa Rica, the ANP news agency reported Friday.

The drug was sniffed out by customs dogs going over a coffee container two weeks ago. The value of the haul was put at 40 million euros (60 million dollars).

Three suspects at the delivery address on the shipment were arrested.

MADRID, Sept 23, 2007 (AFP) - A man fell ill after he was stung by a scorpion on Sunday on an Iberia flight to Madrid from Costa Rica, a spokesman for the Spanish flag carrier told the Europa Press news agency.

The unidentified man complained of feeling sick and was treated on board the plane by a doctor, the spokesman said.

After the plane landed he received medication from a medical team at Madrid's international airport and was allowed to go home.

SAN JOSE, Aug 7, 2007 (AFP) - Presidents of five Central American nations met Tuesday to mark the 20th anniversary of the peace agreement that ended decades of civil wars in the region.

President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica hosted presidents Martin Torrijos of Panama, Oscar Berger of Guatemala, Manuel Zelaya of Honduras and Antonio Saca of Venezuela to celebrate the anniversary of the Esquipulas II peace plan.