The Republic of Costa Rica

Positions for the General Assembly Plenary

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  1. Protection of Cultural Heritage Sites in Conflict Zones

The Republic of Costa Rica emphasizes the importance of protecting and preserving cultural heritage sites. Not only does Costa Rica take pride in its historical culture, but we also use these sites as an educational learning tool in our country. In Costa Rica we have the “Safeguarding Project” in place. The objective of this project is to contribute to revitalizing and safeguarding the Oxherding and Oxcart tradition. This tradition is still being used today in Costa Rica to transport goods such as coffee beans and also as a method of transportation. Costa Rica hopes to present the seriousness of protecting and preserving cultural heritage sites within conflict zones.

Costa Rica sympathizes with other countries who has lost their cultural heritage sites due to being in conflict zones. Terrorism is widespread and heavily known to attack cultural heritage sites. In countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, terrorism, insurgency, and civil conflict has resulted in the significant loss of cultural heritage sites.Costa Rica believes that the best way to proceed in enacting legislation that will effective benefit all Member States and not limit them should be started through funding. There are still developing countries that are in need of funding in order to protect and preserve their cultural heritage sites. Costa Rica welcomes a rigorous discussion regarding where this initial funding should come from.

The Republic of Costa Rica suggests that all Member States cooperate and coordinate efforts in working together to expand and improve legislation such as the “World Heritage Fund” that is in place to help countries listed in need. With increased funding from the World Heritage Fund, countries will be able to enact policies that best fit their countries or improve present policies in place for the protection of their cultural sites within conflict zones. Costa Rica strongly believes that the explanation of funds that we will be provided with will improve the Safeguarding Project as well as enact other policies to help protect and preserve cultural heritage sites.

  1. Addressing the Global Economic Effects of Natural Disasters

As everyone in the Assembly can testify, natural disasters are an unfortunate part of life for any nation and are by and large unavoidable; that is of course what makes them natural disasters. Regional neighbors such the Republic of Haiti experienced a catastrophic earthquake on January 12, 2010 that devastated the country’s economy, infrastructure, and ability for the government to reach out to its citizens. An estimated three million people were affected by the category 7 earthquake with death toll estimates ranging from 100,000 to about 160,000 people. Many of these deaths were the result of poor relief efforts that could have been prevented. Many delays in aid distribution led to aid workers appealing for more finances and frustratingly it took too long to get what they needed. Looting and sporadic violence was observed and this did nothing to help the situation.

The Republic of Costa Rica for one sees many of these such natural disasters. Earthquakes for example are quite common in Costa Rica with small ones occurring daily with tremors strong enough to feel a few times a year. Due to its geographic location and geotectonic characteristics, Costa Rica is exposed to a variety of natural hazards, including hydro meteorological and geophysical hazards. It is safe to say that the people of Costa Rica are familiar with natural disasters and this causes great harm to the economy of this nation in part because of a high reliance on ecotourism. One earthquake on September 5, 2012 was severe enough with a recovery cost of about ₡ 22.36 billion prompting the President of Costa Rica to ask for a loan from the World Bank.

Costa Rica has a $1.92-billion-a-year tourism industry, Costa Rica was the most visited nation in the Central American region, with 2.42 million foreign visitors in 2013. Costa Rica is still one of the most visited Member States in the world and luckily no tourist has been earthquakes but other natural disasters have claimed lives both foreign and domestic. Along with loss of life there is also an impact that severe or catastrophic natural disasters have on its public finances. “In the past 40 years alone, Costa Rica has experienced 53 natural disasters of various types and has suffered economic losses in excess of $1.10 billion that affected 1.7 million people,” according to the project team leader Juan José Durante of the Inter-American Development Bank. The Inter-American Development Bank has approved a $100 million contingent loan to help Costa Rica cope with these unfortunate events.

While the Republic of Costa Rica has acknowledged the success and great effectiveness of the Inter-American Development Bank, it can be noted that the bank is owned by 48 sovereign states, which are its shareholders and members. The Republic of Costa Rica would like to point out that in the way it is structured only the 26 borrowing countries are able to receive loans to assist in disaster recovery operations. Knowing this, The Republic of Costa Rica suggests to the committee that the United Nations take steps towards assisting the Inter-American development bank or emulating this bank in a way that Member States in need of assistance can get the additional help that they require, for it is not only nations in developing stages that have these crises. We as a whole need to look further than those nations already receiving help but to those in other regions of the world that would benefit greatly economically when such urgent matters arise. The Republic of Costa Rica is looking forward to discussing ways in which we as a committee can improve upon an already great program.