By the A.M. Costa Rica staff and wire service reports

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The Consensus of Costa Rica seeks to eliminate extreme poverty in Latin America by 2015, Bruno Stagno Ugarte told the  general assembly of the Organization of American States Monday.

Stagno, the Costa Rican foreign minister, expanded on what had been outlined in a press statement over the weekend. The consensus reads very much like the election platform of President Óscar Arias Sánchez.

Officials from the 34-nation Organization of American States are holding a series of meetings to discuss regional initiatives and bilateral concerns. The main theme of the meeting is good government and development in the knowledge-based society.

The Consensus of Costa Rica is an alliance for development to promote the opportunities on a hemispheric scale with equality and the necessary concerns for the most vulnerable countries and groups, Stagno said.

Among the initiatives is one to establish mechanisms so that rich nations can pardon the debts and help with financial resourses so that countries on their way to development can invest more in health, education and housing and less in arms and soldiers.

In Costa Rica, the Arias government has promised to increase by a third the budget for education, he noted. Education, he said, opens opportunities to attract investments, scientific research and the development of new technologies and tourism.

Costa Rica has proposed a resolution to attack the sexual exploitation of children as one step to create an understanding among the countries over the importance of eradicating this ill, and, he said, he was seeking the support of the assembly countries.

Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary general of the organization, told delegates that a major concern is the lack of technological resources in many nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. He says expanding access to technology is a key step to improving education, governance and other social conditions. He also recognized recent disputes between some member states because of differences over trade, politics or human rights issues.

Insulza said organization members should be able to overcome their differences on trade issues and continue to advance regional integration, while recognizing each other’s differences and holding a respectful debate.

One issue already dominating the talks is Peru’s complaint that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez interfered in Peru’s presidential election campaign. Peru accused Chávez of intervening on behalf of nationalist candidate, Ollanta Humala.

Nicaragua has also accused President Chavez of meddling in its internal politics ahead of presidential elections to be held later this year.