Oscar Arias Sanches President of Costa Rica Date of Birth: 13.09.1941 Country: Costa Rica

1. Biography of Oscar Arias Sanchez
2. Early Political Career
3. Presidential Campaign and Achievements
4. Post-Presidential Work

Biography of Oscar Arias Sanchez

Oscar Arias Sanchez, a Costa Rican politician and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was born on September 13, 1941 in Heredia, Costa Rica. He received his education in the United States and later taught law and economics at the University of Costa Rica in San Jose. Arias completed his education in England, where he defended his dissertation on the topic of "Who Governs Costa Rica?" while also actively participating in the activities of the moderate-socialist National Liberation Party (NLP) as a student.

Early Political Career

Arias began his political career in the early 1970s, when he served as an assistant to President Jose Figueres Ferrer during his re-election campaign. After Figueres won the elections, Arias was appointed as the Minister of Planning and Economy, a position he held until 1977. In 1975, the NLP elected him as its Secretary for International Relations, and in 1979, he became the party's Secretary General. In 1981, Arias stepped down from administrative posts in the NLP to organize Luis Monge's presidential campaign.

Presidential Campaign and Achievements

In 1986, Oscar Arias won the general elections and became the President of Costa Rica. His campaign was based on the government's declared neutrality in the armed conflict in Central America, which Arias promised to strictly adhere to. He did not support the communist regime in neighboring Nicaragua, nor did he endorse the attempts by the United States to use Costa Rica as a base for Contras against the Sandinista government in Nicaragua. Despite economic difficulties, Arias succeeded in restoring peace and stability in Central America.

In May 1986, Arias held meetings with the presidents of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua to discuss the "Central American Peace and Cooperation Act" proposed by the Contadora Group (Mexico, Venezuela, Panama, Colombia) in 1984. Although the parties did not reach full agreement, Arias organized a new meeting in 1987, where he presented his own plan for a peaceful settlement, partially incorporating the proposals of the Contadora Group. On August 7, 1987, the five presidents reached an agreement based on Arias' plan, which called for a ceasefire between the government and rebel forces, guaranteed amnesty for all political prisoners, and the holding of free and democratic elections in these countries.

Post-Presidential Work

After receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987, Arias used the prize money to establish the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress in 1988. Under its auspices, he created three programs: the Center for Social Progress, aimed at creating equal opportunities for men and women in all spheres of Central American society; the Center for Organized Participation, to stimulate philanthropic development in Latin America; and the Center for Peace and Reconciliation, with the goal of promoting demilitarization and conflict resolution in developing countries.

Oscar Arias Sanchez is the recipient of approximately 50 honorary doctorates from renowned colleges and universities, as well as numerous honorary awards.