THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT BESTOWS THE AZTEC EAGLE ON FORMER COSTA RICAN AMBASSADOR GIOCONDA UBEDA RIVERA

On behalf of the Mexican government, the Undersecretary for Latin America and the Caribbean, Ambassador Norma Pensado Moreno, toay bestowed the Order of the Aztec Eagle on Gioconda Ubeda Rivera, who was the Costa Rican ambassador to Mexico from June 2006 to January 2010 and who currently serves as Secretary General of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America (OPANAL), headquartered in Mexico.

The ceremony was held in the Foreign Ministry. Undersecretary Pensado said that, as ambassador in Mexico, Ms. Ubeda Rivera had helped strengthen the relationship between Mexico and Costa Rica, which made great progress, especially after the signing of the bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreement.

 As ambassador to Mexico, Ambassador Gioconda Ubeda negotiated the agreement, which was signed in the Costa Rican capital on July 30, 2009 and entered into force on August 21, 2011.  On October 25, 2012, the Strategic Partnership Council was installed.

The Order of the Aztec Eagle is the highest award given by the Mexican government to foreigners in recognition of their outstanding service to the Mexican people.