VIRTUAL PRESENTATION OF LETTERS OF CREDENCE BY THE AMBASSADOR OF MALAYSIA TO COSTA RICA (CONCURRENTLY ACCREDITED FROM MEXICO)

TYT Muzafar Shah Mustafa, Ambassador of Malaysia to the United Mexican States, concurrently accredited to Costa Rica presented his Letters of Credence to His Excellency President Carlos Alvarado Quesada, President of the Republic of Costa Rica through a live virtual telecast at the Embassy of Costa Rica in Mexico on Friday, 21 August 2020. The ceremony was organized and hosted by Her Excellency Estela Blanco Solis, Ambassador of Costa Rica in Mexico. During the ceremony, the President also received the Letters of Credence from two (2) other Ambassadors accredited to Costa Rica from Mexico i.e. Jamaica and South Africa. Simultaneous event was also held in the United States and Columbia for four other non-resident Ambassadors accredited to Costa Rica namely Ambassadors of Turkey, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Argentina. 

Prior to the ceremony, all the Ambassadors accredited to Costa Rica and their officials gathered at the Embassy of Costa Rica in Mexico at 1650 hours. The Ambassadors and their delegations were then ushered to a holding area to wait for the ceremony to begin at the Presidential Palace. TYT Ambassador was the sixth (6^th) Ambassador to present the Letters of Credence to President Carlos Alvarado Quesada, which was arranged according the order of precedence.

The virtual ceremony was broadcasted live from the Presidential Palace in San Jose in Costa Rica, with the President accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and his Chief of Protocol. The ceremony begins with the Ambassador being introduced to the President, after which TYT Ambassador exhibited the Letters of Credence to the camera and said the following phrase – ¨I have the honor of presenting to Your Excellency the Letter of Recall of my predecessor and my Letters of Credence accrediting me as the Malaysian Ambassador to the Republic of Costa Rica¨.  The papers were then handed over and received by the Costa Rican Ambassador who was also present throughout the virtual ceremony.

After presentation of the papers, the President congratulated TYT Ambassador on his appointment and hoped that the diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Costa Rica remain cordial and friendly. The President further reaffirmed the commitment to strengthen this fruitful partnership.

In response, TYT Ambassador took the opportunity to convey the greetings from Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong and YAB Prime Minister to the President while expressing the desire of the Malaysian government to further strengthen the bilateral relations with Costa Rica. TYT Ambassador further expressed admiration to the President´s leadership in ensuring political stability and economic prosperity of Costa Rica throughout his presidency, especially in managing the country during the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

TYT Ambassador also touched on the positive bilateral trade between Malaysia and Costa Rica and hope that the existing relations would be further strengthened for the mutual benefits of both countries. TYT Ambassador concurred and informed that he looked forward to new areas of cooperation with the Costa Rican Government. In view of this, TYT Ambassador informed on the current development of the Malaysia-Costa Rica Economic, Science, Technical and Cultural Cooperation Agreement (ESTCA), which was in the final stage and hoped that both countries could finalize and sign the agreement in due time.

In his concluding remarks, the President extended his invitation to TYT Ambassador to visit Costa Rica once the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided. He ensured TYT Ambassador of the interest of his Government to further solidify the bilateral relations with Malaysia. He said that the Foreign Minister, who was once Costa Rican Ambassador accredited to Malaysia had briefed him of the potential areas of cooperation between the two countries. On his part, TYT Ambassador also hoped that he could begin to liaise and coordinate the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica and other ministries and agencies in Costa Rica in further exploring areas of mutual interests in deepening the bilateral relations between Malaysia and Costa Rica.

After the presentation of Letter of Credence, before taking leave, TYT Ambassador thanked Her Excellency Ambassador Estela Blanco Solis for organizing the virtual ceremony of the presentation of Letters of Credence.

Prepared by:

Malawakil Mexico City

25 February 2020