René Castro Salazar (b. Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America, August 25, 1957), is a Costa Rican politician.
On March 2, 2010 he was appointed by Laura Chinchilla, by then president-elect of Costa Rica, as minister of foreign affairs. He served in that position from inauguration day (May 8, 2010),[1] replacing Bruno Stagno Ugarte. On August 1st, 2011 René Castro was replaced in this position by Enrique Castillo, former ambassador to the Organization of American States. Castro will continue serving as minister of the environment and energy.
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Castro holds a Master's and Ph. D. degrees from Harvard University, with an emphasis on Natural Resource Economics and Sustainable Development. He also holds a degree in civil engineering from the University of Costa Rica.[2]
On March 2, 2010 Laura Chinchilla, president-elect of Costa Rica informed to the media that Castro will serve in her cabinet from May 8, 2010 (inauguration day), as minister of foreign affairs. Castro remained in that position until August 1st. 2011. He was replaced by Enrique Castillo, who was the former ambassador of Costa Rica to the Organization of American States.
Castro's role as minister of foreign affairs was surrounded by controversy. To begin with, critics contend that Costa Rican foreign policy under Castro oversight was very low-profile, unlike that of his predecessor. The document containing the blueprint for Laura Chinchilla's administration, for instance, devoted just three pages to foreign affairs issues. During his tenure, Castro was also confronted by a legal action filed by employees of the ministry of foreign affairs, who accused him before the Procuraduría de Etica of appointing 27 diplomats who where connected with his party, but lacked the qualifications for the postsCancillería: de la tormenta de Castro a la calma de Castillo (Spanish). Moreover, Castro was confronted by the crisis of Isla Calero, which both Nicaragua and Costa Rica claim to be part of their territory. Castro policy towards Nicaragua on this issue has been criticized as an appeasement approach, that did not work and encouraged Nicaragua's president Daniel Ortega to pursue an aggresive policy against Costa Rica Excanciller BrunoStagno se lanza contra René Castro (Spanish).
During his tenure at the ministry of foreign affairs, Castro started negotiations for a concordat with the Vatican. This action has been strongly criticized by observers. Those critics contend that the concordat with the Vatican is far from being a priority for Costa Rica. The previous concordat, which was abrogated during the nineteenth century, was signed in 1852. Thus, for the most part of its republican history, Costa Rica had not had a need of such a treaty with the Vatican. Critics pointed out that granting favorable treatments to the Catholic Church is inherently unfair and anidemocratic, given the large (albeit minoritary) presence of other Christian denominations in Costa Rica ¿Queremos un concordato nuevo con Vaticano? (In Spanish). Other observers have pointed out that the committee representing Costa Rica in the negotiations with the Vatican included Msgr. Barrantes, a Costa Rican bishop. It has been argued that Msgr. Barrantes' allegiance will lean towards the Vatican and not the Costa Rican government, raising serious doubts on Castro's leadership concerning Costa Rica's foreign affairs Rodolfo Cerdas Opinion/ojo-crítico (Spanish).
On August 1st, 2011, Castro was appointed minister of environment and energy,a position he already hold during the during the administration of José María Figueres Olsen (1994–1998). During his first day in office, Dr. Castro issued a moratorium of oil exploration during the next three yearsCosta Rica Decrees Moratorium On Oil Exploration. This policy si likely to arise controversy. Although will be probably welcomed by environmentalists, other observers have pointed out to the fact that Costa Rica's economic growth will be enhanced by oil production, which it is now nill.
Castro has also been deputy-minister of Gobernación and Policía and President of the San José City Council. He has also served as Secretary General of the Partido Liberación Nacional.