KELLY LORENNIJ in New York City
Costa Rica is among the 193 participating states at the United Nations Global Conference, and on the first day of meetings and events Costa Rica Vice President Epsy Barr and RMI President Hilda Heine discussed issues and plans on climate change, human rights, and the possibility of furthering the relationship of the two countries.
As both leaders are women, the two scheduled a follow-up get-together for Friday to focus on empowering women in the political world. For Costa Rica, already 45 percent of parliament is female.
Barr also expressed interest in the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), as well as getting more information on renewable energy. On the CVF, Barr told Heine that Costa Rica is ready to support the RMI in the upcoming virtual summit that will take place on November 22.
With the RMI being an ocean nation with marine fisheries, Costa Rica wishes for an exchange of knowledge as both countries have similar interests in the importance of tuna. For Barr’s central American nation, it is all about the “production and protection” of the seas.
Read more about this in the September 28, 2018 edition of the Marshall Islands Journal.