(E-025/01) February 2, 2001 HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION A BOON TO DEMOCRACY, DECLARES COSTA RICAN FOREIGN MINISTER   Speaking at the Organization of American States today, the Costa Rican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, Roberto Rojas, asserted that human rights protection was vital to strong democracy. He stressed that "any progress in the area of human rights is also a significant boost to the cause of democracy, and vice-versa." He told the OAS Permanent Council that although the Hemisphere had made great strides in recent years, "our focus is now to ensure that democracies are more participatory, so that citizens and peoples can work together for greater economic and social development." Minister Rojas suggested that the delegations of the OAS' 34 member states use the next General Assembly session--to be held in Costa Rica next June--"to consolidate the process of strengthening not only the inter-American human rights system but also the OAS itself in this regard." He noted too that the next General Assembly had aroused great interest in countries that are friends of the OAS, adding that foreign ministers from a number of observer countries are expected to attend and he would therefore be submitting to the Preparatory Committee shortly "some proposals as to how those foreign ministers could participate." The Chilean Ambassador, Esteban Tomic, chaired the Permanent Council meeting to which member country delegations welcomed the Costa Rican Foreign Minister, pledging their full support to making a success of the next General Assembly.   **********