SAN JOSE', August 17, 2006 (WAFA) -President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, said Wednesday his government had decided to transfer its embassy in Israel from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.

President Arias said at a meeting of top lawmakers that the decision was aimed at adhering to UN resolutions and gaining more friends in the Middle East, especially those in the Arab world.

"It's time for us to correct a historic mistake that hurts us internationally and deprives us of almost all forms of friendship with the Arab world," said President Arias, the Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1987.

Former President of Costa Rica Luis Alberto Monge adopted in 1982 a resolution to transfer the Costa Rican Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The Palestinian Embassy to Cuba pointed out that President Arias, by adopting the resolution, is implementing his electoral promises that consistent with the his stances in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

This move of Costa Rica will leave El Salvador as the only country with an embassy in Jerusalem.

E.B. (13:21 P) (10:21 GMT)