was carried out in violation of the United Nations Charter and that it has set a dangerous precedent in international law, Arias has urged the US to internationalize its efforts in the war-torn nation.

Trying to preserve a balanced foreign policy, the Pachecho government has delayed the signing of the $23-billion Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), saying the current draft would harm Costa Rica. Items in dispute pertain to agriculture, textiles, telecommunications and insurance. Otton Solis, the head of the Citizens Action Party, has critiqued the Bush administration for pushing for an agreement that “would impinge negatively on our development possibilities and benefit only a handful of American corporations.” While supporting the need for free trade, he has said that the US wants Costa Rica to open upfrom Spain in 1821 and democracy has been a hallmark of Costa Rican politics since the first Congressional elections were held in 1889. There was a lapse in 1917, when the Minister of War, Frederico Tinoco, seized power in a military coup. Nationwide protests ended his dictatorship two years later. In 1922, a democratically elected President Ricardo Oreamuno said with much pride, “We are a country with more teachers than soldiers…and a country that turns military headquarters into schools.”

Reflecting the broadening of the democratic process, forty percent of the 57 legislators are now women. Women are also rapidly increasing their numbers in such traditionally male-dominated fields as medicine, law and government service. Until recently, two political parties, the National Liberation Party (PLN) and the Social Christian Unity Party