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Last update - 07:26 26/02/2008 Israeli diplomat postpones meeting after Costa Rica recognizes Palestinian state By The Associated Press Tags: israel, state of palestine  Israel has postponed a planned meeting with Costa Rican officials over the Central American nation's decision to formally recognize a Palestinian state. "The meeting between President Oscar Arias and an Israeli diplomat, scheduled for Wednesday, was postponed, but we are looking to reschedule," Costa Rican Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno said Monday. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said Israel had summoned the Costa Rican charge d'affaires and instructed its ambassador to convey a message to San Jose. Advertisement "We would like to express our disappointment over this regretful decision of the government of Costa Rica to establish full diplomatic relations with the 'state of Palestine,'" Mekel said. "This act of Costa Rica totally contradicts the traditional friendship that characterized its relations with Israel since its establishment. Stagno said Costa Rica had hoped to encourage peace talks in its February 5 statement recognizing a Palestinian state - a key demand on the part of the Palestinians. "We thought it was necessary to send a message to both sides about the need to sit down and negotiate on the key issues in the conflict," he said at the time. In August 2006, Arias' administration announced that Costa Rica would move its embassy to Tel Aviv from the hotly disputed city of Jerusalem. Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its capital, but most nations don't formally recognize that claim. Post-1982 Costa Rica and El Salvador had been the only two countries with embassies there until announcing in the same month that they would relocate Bookmark to del.icio.us   Chicken or the egg? A UN human rights expert says Palestinian terror 'inevitable' result of occupation. A reason to kvell Jews are America's top-earning religious group, according to a new survey.   1.   ungrateful ticans should mind their own business 08:00  |  Rodrigo Mendoza 26/02/08   2.   costa rica 08:22  |  michael Hollander 26/02/08   3.   dawn of a new age 08:37  |  sam i am 26/02/08   4.   #1 Rodrigo 08:50  |  ballistic 26/02/08   5.   Chucklesome start to the day 09:37  |  Clickfool 26/02/08   6.   OK, but aren`t we on a road map for peace? 09:55  |  Outsider 26/02/08   7.   Viva Costa Rica! 10:29  |  Maria 26/02/08   8.   very interesting how you recognise a state that does not exist ? 10:53  |  v hardman 26/02/08   9.   Viva Costa Rica 11:11  |  pal 26/02/08   10.   It`s that Kosovo effect. 11:14  |  Michael 26/02/08   11.   who cares? 11:25  |  James 26/02/08   12.   To: Chcuklesome 11:26  |  Sam 26/02/08   13.   Costa Rica 11:28  |  Edithann 26/02/08   14.   # 5 11:32  |  danny 26/02/08   15.   ballistic put your money-- 11:40  |  danny 26/02/08   16.   DON`T BLAME OTHERS,RETAKE GAZA, W.BANK, SEND REFUGE TO COSTA-RICA 11:42  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 26/02/08   17.   I DID EVERYTHNG:EVACUATED,BULDOZERED GUSH QATIF & STILL NO PEACE? 11:47  |  ARK SHARON: I`M FINE 26/02/08   18.   Latin America 11:55  |  Paulo 26/02/08   19.   Viva Costa Rica 12:36  |  Keith T. 26/02/08   20.   Maria 7 believes in racism and land theft 12:38  |  Steven 26/02/08   21.   Sam, London 12:41  |  Nik Miller 26/02/08   22.   Sam, London 12:41  |  Nik Miller 26/02/08   23.   to #6 Outsider 12:48  |  nina 26/02/08   24.   Arias, is a truly honest man, and Statesman. 13:01  |  Stephen. 26/02/08   25.   #3, sam he is 13:03  |  Mike 26/02/08   26.   #6 outsider 13:08  |  ka 26/02/08   27.   Congratulations Costa Rica,now more countries will follow!In 1988 13:13  |  lakshmi 26/02/08   28.   clickfool 13:16  |  ka 26/02/08   29.   #10 michael im in shock i agree with your post 13:17  |  v hardman 26/02/08   30.   Vacations in Costa Rica 13:37  |  Ehud 26/02/08   31.   Viva viva Costa Rica 13:42  |  ralph is back 26/02/08   32.   Hope all other countries will join suit 14:03  |  kiwi girl 26/02/08   33.   Costa Rica? Wow? Maybe Bulgaria is next? Maybe they can send 14:11  |  Eu soy compadre 26/02/08   34.   One born every minute 14:14  |  x-ray 26/02/08   35.   Cancel my vacation to Costa Rica 14:21  |  richard 26/02/08   36.   Bravo Costa Rica! 14:30  |  Sam 26/02/08   37.   Maria 7 believes in racism and land theft 14:39  |  Steven 26/02/08   38.   PALESTINIANS SHOULD DECLARE STATE NOW 14:43  |  TripleJump 26/02/08   39.   International community is realizing Palestinians` rights 14:45  |  Eric 26/02/08   40.   Boycotts and racism 14:55  |  Said 26/02/08   41.   Viva Bananas ! 14:56  |  Jose 26/02/08   42.   The world should follow Costa Rica`s brave example 15:10  |  Chanalau, Tova 26/02/08   43.   This Is An Excellent Beginning 15:11  |  Yaakov Sullivan 26/02/08   44.   Israeli diplomat postpones meeting after Costa Rica recognizes 15:22  |  steve 26/02/08   45.   The world is changing 15:29  |  Jim 26/02/08   46.   COSTA RICA WAS ESTABLISHED BY JEWISH CONVERSOS FROM SPAIN 15:47  |  Joel Stein 26/02/08   47.   How do you mean, "will", KA ? # 28 15:50  |  Clickfool 26/02/08   48.   i wonder if US is behind the recognition of a 15:52  |  triska 26/02/08   49.   Maria #7 15:56  |  dan 26/02/08   50.   #26 ka 15:57  |  Jim 26/02/08   51.   # 28 Thank you ka from Israel 16:15  |  Jim 26/02/08   52.   #32 kiwi girl 16:29  |  Jim 26/02/08   53.   Maria 7 believes in racism / biological approporiation is sick! 16:36  |  maria 26/02/08   54.   #42 Chanalau Tova 16:38  |  Jim 26/02/08   55.   Come to Guatemala 19:39  |  manuel 26/02/08   56.   Palestine`s right to exist too. 20:48  |  joefiasco 26/02/08   57.   #26 Thank you ka for your measured response 22:46  |  Outsider 26/02/08   58.   Doesn`t Costa Rica also recognise Israel? 11:18  |  Stephen Murray 27/02/08

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