PRESS RELEASE
The Former President of Costa Rica Visits PCHR
Ref.,: 5/99
Date: 14th January, 1999
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) received Dr. Oscar Arias Sanchez, the former president of Costa Rica and 1987 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate yesterday afternoon. Dr. Arias holds international status as a spokesperson for the third world, championing such issues as human development, democracy and demilitarization. He was accompanied to the Gaza Strip by the Ambassador of Costa Rica to Israel, Rodrigo Carreras and the Consul-General of the Embassy, Hilda Santiesteban.
PCHR prepared an intensive programme for Dr. Arias and his companions. The programme started with a visit to Jabalia Camp, where the Director of PCHR, lawyer Raji Sourani accompanied the group and explained the difficult living circumstances that the people there have to face, as an example of the Palestinian refugees’ suffering.
After this, a number of meetings were held at PCHR, in which representatives of Palestinian civil society attended. Those attending included Dr. Haider Abdel Shafi, the Head of the Palestinian Red Crescent, the general delegator of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens’ Rights, Abdel Kaim Ashour, the Manager of the Agricultural Relief Committee in Gaza and Miriam Zakout, the Manager of Free Culture and Thought Institute in Khan Younis, and Isaa Saba, the manager of Kannan Institute.
In addition, the programme included a trip to see the Israeli settlements in Gaza, where Dr. Arias was given information about the settlements and their harmful effects on the peace process in the region. Furthermore, he was able to notice the expansion of the settlements.
After this, PCHR organised a meeting with local political representatives, including the lawyer Younis El-Jaro, one of the leading members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Saleh Zedan, a leading member of PFLP, Jamal Zakout, a leading member of the Palestinian Democratic Alliances (FEDA). Dr Arias listened carefully to a comprehensive explanation about the current political developments under the occupation and the denial of Palestinians’ legitimate rights. Dr Arias expressed his wish to reach a just and fair solution to the conflict in the area in order to go forward in the development process and to achieve prosperity for the people in the area.
The Centre organised a Ramadan breakfast in honour of the visitor and his companions. The breakfast included Dr Amin Mikki Madani, the first technical advisor in the High Delegator of the UN’s office for Human Rights to the Palestinian Authority, Dr Mohammed Joudeh, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, Raji Sourani, Issam Younis and Hamdi Shaqqura, members of the Administrative Board of the Centre.
The programme ended with a tour of Gaza International Airport, where he was shown the obstacles to the work of the airport as a result of the Israeli restrictions, including the blocking of the airport equipment inside Israel.
“END”
