Costa Rican President Defends Life "Above Everything"

Abel Pacheco, President of Costa Rica, was angered by a confrontation with Mary Robinson, former President of the Republic of Ireland who is currently serving as U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Costa Rican newspaper Al Dia (9/4/02) reported that Mrs. Robinson visited Mr. Pacheco at his hotel demanding he support objectionable language in the Earth Summit document.

"She wanted Costa Rica to sign an amendment that some of us believe would be an opening for abortion. The text does not mention it specifically, but it speaks about guaranteeing the right to health for women all over the world, with which I agree. But it seems that in prior meetings it had been determined that one of the health rights of women was abortion, and that I cannot support," explained Pacheco. He was astonished and incensed with Robinson’s reaction to his refusal to support the abortion language. She stormed out of the meeting "very upset" according to the report. "I told her that Costa Rica in its Constitution, is a Catholic country, that I am Catholic, and as a doctor I have taken an oath to defend life above everything, and if that was going to be an opening to legalize abortion, I could not agree with it, and Costa Rica would not support it."


Source: (IRISH PRO-LIFE NEWS - 9/9/02; http://www.familyandlife.org)

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