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
basic billion clean education enjoy fighting health military nearly next population resources social spending water
In 1995, world military spending totaled nearly $800 billion. If we redirected just $40 billion of those resources over the next 10 years to fighting poverty, all of the world's population would enjoy basic social services, such as education, health care, nutrition, reproductive health, clean water and sanitation.
addressing burdened cause continue countries desperate developing high increase instead living might military order population root
Many developing countries continue to be burdened by high percentages of their population living in poverty. Yet, instead of addressing this root cause of conflict, many states, ironically, increase their military might in order to control increasingly desperate populations.
attention half humble pay population vote
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.
arms fair health money spend
It's not fair for the U.S. to spend, on arms and weapons, so much money and then not spend on health care the money that is needed.
doubt
You should not have the least doubt that in this, we will not cede.
accustomed country elections four
It's a country that's accustomed to elections every four years. Clean, crystalline, transparent elections.
aid central future increased trade
The absence of significant development aid has only increased the importance of trade for Central America's future.
education lack ruining
Poverty and lack of education are ruining our planet.
certainly peace profits
Our world is certainly dangerous, but it is made more dangerous, not less, by those who value profits over peace.
additional bread combat medicine missiles provide soldiers
More combat planes, missiles and soldiers won't provide additional bread for our families, desks for our schools, or medicine for our clinics.
children fighter mine seen tank whose
Mine is an unarmed people, whose children have never seen a fighter or a tank or a warship.
advocate almost change glorify latin
Latin Americans glorify their past so ceaselessly that they make it almost impossible to advocate change.
america central
Latin America has not achieved the development that it deserves... I'm not optimistic for all of Latin America, not only for Central America.
central saw solve
I saw no reason why other nations should tell Central Americans how to solve their problems.