Speech delivered by H.E. Marco Vinicio Vargas,
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica
In occasion of the Seminar on Migrant Integration in Receiving Countries
June 23, 2005
Minister of Public Security, Interior and Police.
H.E. Ambassador of Canada,
Members of the diplomatic body accredited in Costa Rica,
Magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice,
Delegates of the member countries of the Regional Conference on Migration,
Representatives of the Civil Society,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, it is an honor for me to welcome you all
warmly to Costa Rica and to this Seminar on Migrant Integration in Receiving Countries, sponsored by the
Governments of Costa Rica and Canada, and which responds to an initiative undertaken by both countries in the
framework of the Regional Conference on Migration.
The space for the reflection and analysis which we inaugurate today, gives demonstrates the importance of
processes such as the Regional Conference on Migration, which approach the problems that are common to us all
from a regional perspective. This multilateral forum, that encourages dialogue, understanding and cooperation
among its member countries, has launched a number of initiatives which aim at guaranteeing the rights of people,
who for diverse reasons, decide to migrate to foreign countries.
This is a favorable opportunity for Costa Rica to reiterate its support to the regional consultation processes and,
in particular, to renew its confidence and appreciation for this Regional Conference.
As a receiving society, we have incorporated the migration issue as a transversal axis of the governments´
initiatives. Such decision explains to a great extent our undertaking this effort, as well as the presence among us
of representatives from different public institutions, which look after the needs of all those people who live in our
country.
This is why the topics to be discussed in this Seminar are of great relevance to our government and our people.
Costa Rica has been the destination of migration movements of considerable proportions, mainly during the last
twenty five years. With its scarce resources, the cooperation of agencies and friend countries sensitive to the
subject, the Costa Rican government has made efforts for greeting and attending adequately the migrant
populations.
Economic integration, social integration, cultural integration are more than concepts; they are realities, they
are daily experiences. While migrant people remain in the receiving societies, they gradually integrate to them,
insofar as their possibilities and those of the societies. The effects of such integration are usually positive. This is
why it is important to formulate duly planned public policies with an understanding of the social realities of the
country, on the one hand, and of the migration phenomenon, on the other. A receptive and solidary perspective
will favor local integration which will in turn lead to social cohesion and political stability, maximizing the
contributions that migrant populations can make to the receiving societies and minimizing the levels of racism
and xenophobia.
In spite of the adversities, Costa Rica has made and continues to make sustained efforts in order to strive for a
dignified local integration that complies with the humanist tradition of the Costa Ricans. You will have the
opportunity to hear more about the concrete initiatives that are part of this process.
For this very reason, it is of great importance for us to learn about the successful experiences of other nations,
especially those that have a long standing tradition of welcoming and integrating migrants, by having developed
better government initiatives on issues such as migration and respect for the Human Rights of migrants.
Therefore, the main objective of this activity is the exchange of valuable information.
As I pointed out at the beginning of this dissertation, the initiative of carrying out a training activity on Migrant
Integration in Receiving Countries in Costa Rica, became a reality thanks to the joint cooperation of the
Regional Conference on Migration and its Technical Secretariat; the Government of Canada and its Ministry
of Citizenship and Immigration; the General Directorate of Migration of the Ministry of the Interior and
Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica. To all of them we reiterate our profound
and sincere gratefulness.
I wish you all success in your purposes of widening your perspectives with the experience of nations which have
developed strengths in specific areas related to the local integration of migrants.
Thank you.