This week, President Oscar Arias and his Nicaraguan counterpart, Daniel Ortega, put aside their personal and diplomatic differences and took the first, tentative step toward banishing the bumpy relations between their two respective administrations.

Tuesday afternoon saw a 45 minute meeting between the two leaders, the first in over 6 months since thy returned to their respective presidencies. After the meeting, the pair announced their plans to relaunch the Bilateral Commision. This was originally started in the 1990s in an effort to create a continuous and permanent dialogue between the two nations and their administrations in order to adress common issues and concerns between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. This however ws suspended in 1997 due to the tension created by issue concerning Costa Ricas right to navigate the San Juan River.

This issue, however, has been agreed upon by both parties, that it will not be touched upon by the new commission and will be left to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

“Nicaragua and Costa Rica share not only a common border, but a common dream,” Arias said. “Yet we haven't talked for 10 years.”

Ortega laid much of the blame on former Nicaraguan President, Enrique Bolanos, for not starting the Commision up again sooner, calling him a 'Lame Duck Leader'.

More News to come on this subject in the future.

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