The Organization of American States (OAS), responding to an invitation from the Government of Costa Rica, will send an Electoral Observation Mission to accompany the process leading up to the General Election on February 7, 2010.

The OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, designated Ms. María Emma Mejía as Chief of Mission. The former Minister of Foreign Relations of Colombia began a visit to Costa Rica Wednesday to meet the President of the Supreme Electoral Court, Luis Antonio Sobrado, and sign the agreement to regulate the observation mission. Furthermore, she will meet other electoral, political and government authorities.

The Colombian diplomat has a long record of public service and a widely recognized international experience. After serving as Colombian Ambassador to Spain under President César Gaviria, she was designated Minister of Education in 1995 and Minister of Foreign Relations in 1996. In 1998 she joined, as Vice Presidential candidate, the ticket of then Presidential candidate Mr. Horacio Serpa.

In 1999, President Andrés Pastrana designated Ms. Mejía negotiator in the peace process with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). In 2008, Ms. Mejía was Chief of Mission of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission to Paraguay. She is currently a member of the Civil Commission for Facilitation with the National Liberation Army (ELN) and also of the Advisory Commission to the Government on Foreign Relations.

For the February 2010 General Election the Mission will deploy observers in most parts of the Costa Rican territory to follow the organization and administration of the elections, as well as of the political campaign.

Reference: E-397/09