NATION : Bush to Attend Costa Rica Summit
President Bush plans to attend a Western Hemisphere summit in San Jose, Costa Rica, on Oct. 27 and 28, the White House announced today.
Bush accepted an invitation from Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Sanchez, who is organizing the summit, in a telephone conversation with Arias on Thursday, spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said. Fitzwater said the purpose of the gathering of leaders of the hemisphere, which is being held in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of Costa Rican democracy, was to promote democracy in the region.
Asked if Bush would meet with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega during the summit, the spokesman replied: “I have no idea. We haven’t started planning for this.” The United States has a policy of not negotiating directly with Managua’s leftist government.
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