Costa Rica Seeks UK Help on Missing Journalist

LONDON, June 9, 2011 -

- Costa Rican foreign minister Rene Castro has said he would welcome the
help of British police to solve the case of missing UK journalist
Michael Dixon.

Commenting on the case of missing British journalist Michael Dixon, Costa
Rican foreign minister Rene Castro has said: "We will welcome the
co-operation of the [British] police and we will be open to share whatever
clues we have and we will not hesitate in opening the door to the specialised
and very well equipped police to work with us."

He noted that "Costa Rican police is ill-equipped… it doesn't have
proper training. It doesn't have modern techniques."

The minister added that unless the country takes action on the increase
in organised crime in the region, Costa Rica will "lose the tranquillity and
the security for which we are known."

Castro made the statement in an interview with the Brussels-based news
agency EUobserver in the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium on 31 May.
His remarks were reported by the BBC on 7 June
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/fast_track/9485099.stm

The Dixon family has written to British Prime Minister David Cameron
asking for his help to send a Metropolitan Police Authority mission to Costa
Rica.

Michael's brother, David Dixon, said: "We are still waiting for the
response from Downing Street. In the past, the British police have told us
they cannot get involved unless they are invited by Costa Rica. Now we have
an invitation at the highest possible level. We expect Prime Minister Cameron
and the British authorities to react positively in the coming days."

Michael Dixon vanished after leaving his hotel room in Tamarindo, Costa
Rica, on 18 October 2009.

Twelve other foreign nationals have either gone missing or were murdered
in Costa Rica in the past 18 months. Most of the cases have gone unsolved.

TRANSCRIPT of RENE CASTRO INTERVIEW:
www.helpfindmichaeldixon.com/update/euobserver-interview-costa-rican-foreign-minister

www.helpfindmichaeldixon.com

Download COME HOME - a charity single for loved ones gone missing
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Andrew Rettman (Dixon family spokesman), +32-485-754-741, ar at euobs.com; David Dixon, +44-7920-792-204, info at helpfindmichaeldixon.com