www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Costa Rica protests US airport security
Published: 4/26/08, 5:25 PM EDT
By MARIANELA JIMENEZ

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) - Costa Rica has suspended legal cooperation with the United States and filed a diplomatic protest over what it called the "disrespectful" treatment of its attorney general at the Miami International Airport.

In a letter describing the incident, Attorney General Francisco Dall'Anese said a security officer at the airport allowed him into the United States on April 23, but accompanied him to an airline counter to make sure he arranged a return flight for the next day.

The official was traveling to meet his U.S. counterpart, Attorney General Michael Mukasey, and to attend a court hearing involving a man implicated in a corruption scandal in Costa Rica.

He said that after the check, a U.S. agent accompanied him to airline offices "to make sure of our departure."

Dall'Anese said Friday he was suspending all cooperation with U.S. prosecutors on judicial cases, including extraditions, until those responsible are punished and his government is reimbursed for the cost of the trip.

Costa Rica's Foreign Relations Department said it filed an "energetic" diplomatic note and called the security stop "an offense against our attorney general, an offense to all Costa Ricans."

The U.S. government said Dall'Anese had been subjected to a "routine security check" that is common when a passenger's name matches or is similar to a person of interest. But officials apologized nonetheless.

"We are investigating the circumstances and we have expressed our apologies to the Costa Rican government," the U.S. Embassy in San Jose said in a statement. "We never intended any disrespect for Dall'Anese, the government of Costa Rica or its citizens. We value the close relationship we have and we will do everything in our power to make sure it continues."

The Embassy said if it had known of the trip, it would have ensured that "all entrance courtesies would have been extended to Mr. Dall'Anese."

But Dall'Anese responded that "the apology of the U.S. Embassy is not sufficient."

In November, Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa complained that he did not receive special diplomatic treatment at a Miami airport security checkpoint and said he would avoid traveling through the U.S.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

hahahahaha, the illegal cuban and haitian homeland security personel at miami customs were only pulling thier legs.....

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The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

George Bush and homeland security making friends the world over.

Miami Int'l treats everyone like sh*t, why should diplomats or dignitaries be any different ?

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Patriot: Ice Road Trucking through the Bearing Sea to recovery

That's what I was thinking. ...an offense to all Costa Ricans." is quite a stretch isn't it?
Just another day of WELCOME TO MIA

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

Miami international:

my last trip home from San Jose was through Miami. As our flight departed Miami the lady sitting in the row in front of me commented to her traveling companion "I feel like I just left a Third World airport". Miami sucks I'm not going back. Well maybe for a $250 ticket.

Iley

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PS: DO NOT SEND MONEY!

The only difference is the third world airports have more then 2 customs/immigration agents on

whats the problem......they treated him as well as they treat us?

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My life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming...." MAN....WHAT A RIDE!!!!"

Probably an incompetent government action, and a strong diplomatic reaction is appropriate.

Didn't last too long. They caught another fugitive from justice in the Jaco area, Punta Leona to be exact, last week. And he is being extradited to the States....