Oscar Arias
Oscar Arias
Óscar Arias Sánchezwas President of Costa Rica from 1986 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2010. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts to end the Central American crisis...
NationalityCosta Rican
ProfessionWorld Leader
Date of Birth13 September 1940
CityHeredia, Costa Rica
endless existence human love race song waste
It often seems... the human race has twittered away its existence singing an endless song - a song of waste and hatred, where there should be progress and love.
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India, Pakistan, China, Singapore and South Korea are heavily investing in nuclear arms. Since 21st century is the century of Asia, Asian countries should be the first ones to drop this arms race.
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Indeed, it is quite sad to see the United States becoming the main exporter of arms. It is quite sad to look at the U.S. government subsidizing arms exports.
abandon accept ideas justify open shall
I shall never accept that the law can be used to justify tragedy, to keep things as they are, to make us abandon our ideas of a different world. Law is the path of liberty, and must as such open the way to progress for everyone.
civilian eliminated ranks strengthen
During my administration, our desire has been to strengthen the civilian spirit of our people. Thus, we have eliminated military ranks and salutes from our civil guard.
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At one time in the history of the Americas, weapons and armies were associated with liberty and independence, and with new opportunities for our peoples. At one time in the history of the Americas, there were liberating armies.
america far latin lives overall trend
An overall trend of political moderation in Latin America makes for far less interesting headlines, but it also makes for far better lives for our people.
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Although fostering a peaceful, prosperous and equitable hemisphere is clearly in the best interest of the United States, Washington has not always supported Central America's struggle for economic survival.
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The children of the world, what they want and what they need are health clinics and schools, not tanks or armed helicopters or fighter jets.
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I will have to pay attention to half of the population who didn't vote for me. But I can tell you that I know how to negotiate. I'm a conciliatory, humble listener.
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Without a free trade agreement, no one, not national or foreign firms, will invest. We have many things that need to get done, and all those who oppose the free trade accord need to tell me how the heck we're going to do them.
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My country is a country of teachers. It is therefore a country of peace. We discuss our successes and failures in complete freedom. Because our country is a country of teachers, we closed the army camps, and our children go about with books under their arms, not with rifles on their shoulders. We believe in dialogue, in agreement, in reaching a consensus.
revenge confused two
It is essential that justice be done, and it is equally vital that justice not be confused with revenge, for the two are wholly different.
justice together thrive
Justice and peace can only thrive together, never apart.