U.S. Department of Homeland Security Official, Alfonso Aguilar Addresses Immigrant Integration

San Jose- August 26, 2008 
Alfonso Aguilar, Chief of the Office of Citizenship for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, addressed officials and members of the press at a panel organized by the US Embassy and la Fundación para la Paz y la Democracia (Funpadem) to address immigration policy.  Members of the panel included Carlos Rivera Bianchini, President of Funpadem; Peter Brennan, Deputy Chief of Mission for the US Embassy; Mario Zamora, Director General for Immigration; and Celia Viquez, representative of the municipality of Escazu.  Mr. Aguilar also met with immigration officials in Costa Rica to exchange ideas and best practices.

Ambassador Cianchette visits Costa Rica's Binational Center in San Pedro

San Jose-August 22, 2008
PAS San Jose facilitated Ambassador Cianchette's visit to Costa Rica's Binational Center (BNC), so that he could learn first-hand of the facilities and programs offered. The Ambassador had a chance to interact with staff and students, reinforcing the USG interest in and support for BNCs.

Ambassador Cianchette Meets U.S. Studies Seminar Participants

San Jose- August 22, 2008
PAS San Jose and the Binational Center welcomed 30 university professors from the major Costa Rican public universities to the second U.S. Studies Seminar ever offered in Costa Rica from August 18-22nd.  Ambassador Cianchette visited with the group on the final day of the seminar and presented certificates of completion to the participants.

Ambassador Cianchette addresses members of the American Chamber of Commerce

San Jose- August 13, 2008
Ambassador Cianchette addresses members of the American Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon held at the Intercontinental Hotel.  In his address, Ambassador Cianchette emphasized the importance of continued partnership between Costa Rica and the United States through such initiatives including CAFTA, the Merida Initiative, security cooperation, environmental efforts, education and business endeavors. (more)

US Embassy Commemorates 10th Anniversary of Embassy Bombings in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

San Jose- August 10, 2008
Ambassador Cianchette stands with two U.S. marines in a moment of silence on behalf of those that perished in the embassy bombings in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. More than two-hundred people were killed and another five thousand were injured in the nearly simultaneous bombings that took place ten years ago.

Ambassador Cianchette Visits Liberia; Meets with Costa Rican-American Astronaut Franklin Chang

Liberia- Friday August 1, 2008 As part of an ongoing travel plan to visit important sites in Costa Rica, on Friday August 1, Ambassador Peter Cianchette visited the airport at Liberia as well as met with the Costa Rican-American astronaut Franklin Chang, whose rocket motor company Ad Astra is located nearby.  Chang briefed Ambassador Cianchette on Ad Astra's research and development of deep space propulsion systems based on plasma motors.

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