Costa Rican Ambassador raps ungrateful Ortega on knuckles

www.vheadline.com Posted: Tuesday, March 18, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Costa Rican Ambassador Ricardo Lizano has contradicted Venezuelan Confederation of Trade Unions (CTV) president Carlos Ortega’s lawyer, Omar Estacio. “Mr. Ortega has asked for territorial asylum in Costa Rica and my government is still studying the petition.”

Wrapping Ortega and the Venezuelan opposition over the knuckles, Lizano says he's the only person authorized to issue on behalf of Costa Rica.

Estacio had set the cat among the pigeons by announcing that his client has asked for political but not territorial asylum and that Ortega could be transferred to a third country.

The ploy has apparently backfired and Ortega has been asked to tone down and play by diplomatic rules since he is now a guest of the Costa Rican government.