Oscar
Arias won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts to help bring peace to
Central America. When Oscar Arias was only seven, the President of Costa Rica
abolished its army, so he grew up in the only country in Central America that
did not rely on military strength to protect it. Over the years there were many
conflicts and civil wars among other Latin American countries. When Oscar Arias
was elected as President in 1986 there were conflicts going on in Guatemala, El
Salvador and Costa Rica's next-door neighbor, Nicaragua. Before he took office,
Oscar Arias invited the other Central American leaders to his inauguration. Nine
Latin American leaders came and met with the new president. During this meeting,
Dr. Arias called for all Central American nations to join together to defend democracy,
liberty and peace. The next year he presented a peace plan to end the conflicts
in Central America. This was the basis of a peace agreement that was signed on
August 7, 1987 by all of the Presidents in Central America. Oscar Arias used the
money he received with the Nobel Peace Prize to create the Arias Foundation for
Peace and Human Progress. Through this Foundation, Dr. Arias continues to work
for democracy and demilitarization throughout the world, urging partnership between
nations to create an era of peace and prosperity for all humanity. Oscar Arias
was elected again as President in 2006.
