By Rebecca Kimitch,  Tico Times Staff

Nobel laureate Oscar Arias returned to the presidency yesterday in a ceremony at the National Stadium during which he pledged to lead Costa Rica out of indecision and into development.

“As Latin Americans, we must decide if we are to continue seeking utopias and blaming others for our misfortune, or if, on the contrary, we will acknowledge that our destiny depends on what we do today to create societies that are better educated, more productive, more just and more dedicated to building solid institutions than to listening to the passionate words of politicians,” he said.

While Arias at times addressed not only Costa Rica, but all of Latin America in his speech – reflecting his wish to become a regional leader, as he was during his first presidency (1986-1990) – he focused primarily on domestic issues.

“It is, above all, as Costa Ricans that we must make decisions. For years, out of fear and out of convenience, we have been postponing the solutions to our most pressing problems,” he continued. “We have preferred to believe, against all evidence, that not deciding does not carry any cost…”

Arias’ words were heard by 15,000 invited guests, including fellow Nobel Peace Prize winners, Latin American Presidents, Spain ’s Prince Felipe de Borbón, U.S. First Lady Laura Bush and thousands of students who filled the stadium’s seats.

The inauguration events began at approximately 11:45 a.m., when Arias arrived to the stadium after walking from his house in nearby Rohrmoser, accompanied by swarms of reporters, photographers, supporters and entertainers.

In his address, the new President pledged to fight poverty, improve public health and education, combat crime, reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and mend infrastructure woes.

Arias also used his inaugural address to defend the foreign investment, export-driven development model the country has followed for decades, which was criticized during the campaign.

“Turning our backs on economic integration, returning to commercial protectionism and disdaining the attraction of foreign investment at this time constitute the surest ways to condemn Costa Rica ’s youth to underdevelopment,” Arias said.

A few blocks from the National Stadium, approximately 1,000 protestors disagreed with this point, particularly as it relates to the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA). Protestors carried signs and chanted against CAFTA.