Opening Speech
Carlos Manuel Uribe 
President Friends of Cocos Island Foundation (FAICO)
March 25th, 2003

"There are few places where humans have not altered the normal course of nature. Cocos Island is one such example. Considered a sanctuary for life and a treasure to all humanity, it is a refuge of exceptional biodiversity in a magical world of indescribable beauty.  Today it clamors for our help!"

Currently, the integrity of the exceptional and fragile marine and land biodiversity of Cocos Island is being threatened. Illegal fishing within the protected area, species introduced in the past, the limited management of tourism and the lack of human, technical and financial resources, are seriously compromising the conservation of the biodiversity of the marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

Friends of Cocos Island Foundation, promotes fund raising activities in order to develop programs to manage, protect and preserve Cocos Island. In this occasion, we have organized a series of 4 concerts by the Oratorio Society of New York, who generously donated each and every one of their presentations, performing for the first time in Costa Rica. 

FAICO's Board of Directors, is greatly thankful with the Oratorio Society of New York, for their double contribution, cultural and in conservation.

Due to such bequeath, Friends of Cocos Island Foundation, is honored to give to this prestigious chorus the award "Cocos Island, World Natural Heritage Site", on the "Arts and Humanities" merit.

This award is FAICO's maximum recognition, acknowledging the effort of individuals, team work or institutions, at national and international levels.

Friends of Cocos Island Foundation also recognizes and is thankful with Bank of Costa Rica, BCR Arte, official sponsor for these concerts.

In order to present this award, its certificate and the UNESCO Commemorative Medal, I invite the Minister of Culture, Professor Guido Sáenz, the distinguished Conductor Dr. Lyndon Woodside and the President of the Oratorio Society of New York, Mr. Richard Pace.

I now read the award certificate:

The Board of Directors of Friends of Cocos Island,
in its session number 81, on February 20th, 2003,
agrees to award to the
Oratorio Society of New York
The UNESCO Medal commemorating Isla del Coco
as a World Natural Heritage Site (1997), for the OSN merit in
Arts and Humanities
For the following reasons:

First
For being the Oratorio Society of New York an artistic institution of 
universal prestige, with 130 of dedication and compromise with the 
Arts, as a bequest to Humanity.

Second
For being the Oratorio Society of New, a model organization based 
on the philanthropic compromise of its Founders, Board of Directors 
and Members, sharing their talent on behalf of different humanitarian causes.

Third
For the Oratorio Society of New York contribution through their talent 
and creative labor, with the protection and conservation of Cocos 
Island, World Natural Heritage Site.

San José, Costa Rica, 25th of March, 2003

Signatures