In my last article, I had written about how the organisation was made by the Costa Rica Embassy on the 21st of March at the Cervantes Institute, and that Professor Roberto Fragomeno, Associate Professor and Director of the School of Philosophy, had made a speech titled “The political thoughts of Latin America”. In this week’s article, I would like to share with you the summary of the panel conversations and how we have applied these to our own region. read more...

Last week I shared with you my role as the Costa Rica Honorary Consulate and whether ‘I’d stay or go’ and stressed that I won’t ever cut ties with this country that has blended well with the ‘Pura Vida’ culture. This week, this enthusiastic, peaceful and positive culture was represented by one of its most important artists, Jose Sancho, who came and met with our country’s art lovers, which I’d like to share with you. read more...

After nine years of duties at the Honorary Consulate of Costa Rica, I was considering leaving that post this coming year.  However, a meeting about two weeks ago with Foreign Minister Manuel A. González Sanz has led me to reconsider. The foreign minister and his undersecretary honored me with their words. In line with the quintessentially Costa Rican philosophy of ‘Pura Vida,’ a frame of mind that I have internalized while representing that country, I’ve revisited the question of whether to continue as honorary consul. read more...

We have recently left behind an eventful year marked by much sadness for our society, but a year in which we have also enjoyed some great successes as we forged ahead despite the uncertain business climate.  In this, the last post of 2016, I would like to evaluate our achievements over the past year and list our targets for 2017. read more...

After many years proudly serving as the honorary consulate of Costa Rica in Istanbul, I am planning to relinquish my duties. It’s hard to believe, but it has been 8 years since I was appointed. Don’t worry, I’m not leaving right away. I’ll be at my post for another two years and there are additional goals I intend to achieve. I previously shared a series of posts in which I shared with you what I have done so far as Honorary Consul of Costa Rica, links to which can be found below. Now I’d like to relate some positive developments from this past year and my plans for the future. read more...

In my previous post I wrote that the visit to Turkey in November of 2009 of the Costa Rican President represented a turning point in relations, emphasizing that it fostered progress both between our governments as well as in economic and cultural terms, and that it was also the first official visit to the Republic of Turkey by the president of a Central American head of state. Now, I will write of the continued progress that made from that date until 2015. read more...

A country whose natural wonders, social equality and renewable energy policies are extraordinary, and whose people, from the head of state to the man of the street, are sensitive to the importance of the environment, peace and education… Having written earlier of how I became the honorary consul of Costa Rica, I would now like to share with you the process through which Costa Rica and Turkey reached a turning point in their relations. read more...

In this, the first of a series of short essays covering each year of a post that I have been honored and pleased to hold since 2008, I would like to begin with how I became Honorary Consul and how we set things up. As you can see in the accompanying videos, we got off with a bang. read more...

By toppling two mighty teams Costa Rico guaranteed first place in their World Cup group. But what is the secret behind Costa Rica’s stunning performance? And why have none of their successful footballers played in any of the Turkish leagues? read more...