[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19400]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING DR. MIGUEL ANGEL RODRIGUEZ AS HE IS INSTALLED AS 
        SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 23, 2004

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my friend, Dr. Miguel Angel 
Rodriguez, the distinguished former President of Costa Rica, who today 
will be formally installed as Secretary General of the Organization of 
American States (OAS).
  Combining a shared vision for the Americas, the OAS brings together a 
number of nations of the Western Hemisphere to strengthen cooperation 
and common interests. It is the region's premier forum for multilateral 
dialogue and action. At the core of the OAS mission is the belief in, 
and commitment to, democracy. Since the end of the Cold War, the OAS 
member states have signified their cooperation by working to promote 
peace and human understanding; strengthen security; expand trade; and 
promote human rights.
  A recognized world leader and economist, Dr. Rodriguez has served in 
many key leadership positions. Prior to assuming the Presidency of 
Costa Rica in 1998, he was President, and before that, Vice President 
of the Christian Democrat Organization of America. He was President of 
the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Costa Rica and a 
Congressman of the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Costa Rica. 
A professor at the Universidad Autonoma de Centro America, he has 
published extensively on the subjects of democracy; market and social 
welfare policy.
  Dr. Rodriguez received a B.Sc. in Economics and Social Sciences and a 
BS in Law from the Universidad de Costa Rica. He also earned an M.A. 
and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley.
  I have had the honor of working with Dr. Rodriguez to resolve 
outstanding issues that would enable Costa Rica to participate in the 
Tropical Forest Conservation Act. I authored this legislation, which is 
designed to protect the world's most endangered tropical forests using 
market-oriented debt-for-nature mechanisms. I know him to be a 
thoughtful and fair person, and a friend of the United States.
  I join my colleagues in congratulating Dr. Rodriguez on assuming the 
position of Secretary General. We look forward to working with him in 
his new position.

                          ____________________