Since being officially appointed to this position in January 2008, I have proudly held this position. Each year, during my tenure as honorary consul, different issues have taken center stage, and this year has a very special significance. We are celebrating the country’s Bicentennial. It’s easy to say that two centuries of managing a country’s system, ensuring its prosperity, and preserving its natural beauty carry weight and experience. Compared to other countries like Costa Rica, this country, though small in area but big in heart and vision, has never compromised its character, being cited as an example by the United Nations. For those unfamiliar with Costa Rica, here’s a brief overview (Source: Wikipedia: https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Rika)
Costa Rica (Spanish: Costa Rica), officially known as the Republic of Costa Rica (República de Costa Rica), is a Central American country. The name Costa Rica means “rich coast” in Spanish. It borders Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the southeast. To the west lies the Pacific Ocean and to the east is the Caribbean Sea. Its Pacific territory, home to Cocos Island National Park, borders the South American nation of Ecuador. Costa Rica is also one of the few countries without an army.
Before becoming a Spanish colony in the 16th century, this land had a very sparse indigenous population. When it gained independence from Spain in the 19th century, Costa Rica was a poor and isolated country. In the intervening years, it has become one of the most stable, prosperous, and developed countries in Latin America. A law passed in 1949 completely abolished the army. Few sovereign states have achieved this. In 2010, it was designated an exemplary country by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for achieving far greater human development than countries of similar income levels. In 2011, it was also cited by the same organization as an exemplary country by UNDP for its human development and combating inequality, as well as sustainable environmental policies.
Costa Rica’s Distinctive Values
Today, Costa Rica is one of the few countries that has fewer problems, both quantitatively and qualitatively, than other Latin American countries. It lacks an army, strives to govern everything with respect for nature, and maintains a relatively healthy democracy.
There are many wonderful things I could write about Costa Rica. Before I delve into the messages I want to convey in this article, written in honor of its Bicentennial, let’s recall my history with Costa Rica. Here are links to 10 articles I’ve written about Costa Rica at various dates:
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/kosta-rika-istanbul-fahri-konsolosu-olarak-yasadiklarim
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/2009-turkiye-kosta-rika-iliskilerinde-donum-yili
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/kosta-rika-fahri-konsolosu-olarak-gecen-5-yil-2010-2015
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/kosta-rika-fahri-konsolosu-olarak-son-doneme-girerken
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/kosta-rika-ile-pura-vida-bagim-hicbir-zaman-kopmayacak
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/jose-sancho-sergisi-bir-sanat-ve-dostluk-oykusu
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/kosta-rika-fahri-konsoloslugu-tamam-mi-devam-mi-
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/latin-amerikada-politik-dusunce-ve-bolgemize-uyarlamasi
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/kosta-rika-ve-varolmanin-dayanilmaz-siirselligi
https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/kosta-rikadaki-son-secimler-ve-bize-ogrettikleri
Last year, in May, I wrote another article entitled Latin American countries preparing to celebrate their Bicentennial: https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/200-yillarini-kutlamaya-hazirlanan-latin-amerika-ulkeleri
Three wishes from yesterday and today
In this article, I shared three wishes for developing Latin American countries, including Turkey:
1) I hope that Turkey will have erased the traces of the pandemic in two years, and that we will all experience a series of celebrations befitting our country on 29 October 2023, on its centennial.
2) I hope that one of these countries will emerge and, setting an example for others, completely transform the country’s structure, completely reverse the challenges, and ensure prosperity throughout the country.
3) And I hope that relations between Turkey and the Latin American countries living in this sister region will develop daily and they will continuously support each other.
Now, on the occasion of the Bicentennial of Costa Rica, which I represent, I would like to share with you three wishes I hope will be realized by 2030:
1) I hope that Costa Rica achieves its 100% renewable energy target, particularly by reducing the share of hydroelectric power plants below 10%. This means significantly increasing the share of energy sources such as solar, wind, tidal, and biogas.
2) I hope that the country’s welfare, which is currently better than other Latin American countries, can reach the highest levels, similar to Canada, the Scandinavian countries, and Australia. This will increase wealth in the country and benefit all its people.
3) I hope that while it completes its infrastructure, it will continue to raise the bar in its mission to protect nature, leading to exemplary work in the global climate crisis. For example, it can become the first country to replace fossil-fueled vehicles with fully electric vehicles.
The Pura Vida philosophy
Having said all this, let’s not forget the notion of ‘enjoying life,’ a common characteristic of Latin America. I discussed the Pura Vida philosophy in an article I wrote at https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/pura-vida-veya-yasami-anlamla-donatmak : This philosophical approach, unique to Costa Rica, can be translated into Turkish with various concepts such as ‘pure life,’ ‘beautiful life,’ ‘living to the fullest,’ or ‘positive life.’ Regardless of its use, it always reflects a positive expression. My understanding of Pura Vida’s ‘positive life’ is this: Life is beautiful to the extent that it is imbued with meaning. Therefore, we must take responsibility and focus on creating what is positive and meaningful.
Enjoying coffee in Costa Rica’s unique tropical forest…
Happy Bicentennial to Costa Rica! May we celebrate many more centuries and may this light that Costa Rica sheds never change. Pura Vida!
Bonus: On 17 October 2021, the Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO) performed a concert of Latin American music as part of the Bicentennial celebrations of the independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Brazil.
The event was organized by the embassies of the countries celebrating their Bicentennials, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey and the CSO.
The concert, which included pieces of symbolic value from these countries, was performed by the CSO under the leadership of Tulio Gagliardo Varas, Conductor of the Izmir State Opera and Ballet Orchestra.
Here is the opening remarks for this wonderful concert:
You can find excerpts from some of the pieces performed in the concert below:
Tag: ecology
