RESUMPTION OF FTAA TNC AND NEXT STEPS

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000526

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN PGOV SNAR GT
SUBJECT: RESUMPTION OF FTAA TNC AND NEXT STEPS

REF: STATE 30377

With us on the Plurilateral Agreement
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1. (SBU) EconCouns discussed resumption of FTAA Trade
Negotiating Committee activities (reftel) with Vice Minister
of Economy for Trade and Integration Eduardo Sperisen on
March 1. Sperisen fully agreed on the importance of moving
ahead quickly and across the board on a high-quality
plurilateral agreement among the G-14, and he looked forward
to meeting in Puebla on March 17.

But Not On Costa Rica as Representative
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2. (SBU) Sperisen raised the smaller group meeting with the
five allies and Mercosur in Buenos Aires. He said he
understood the thinking behind keeping the meeting small but
was annoyed that Costa Rica had been chosen as the Central
American representative. He noted that Costa Rica had been
used by the U.S. as coordinator with the Central Americans in
Puebla despite not being represented at the vice ministerial
level. He also noted that Guatemala was president
pro-tempore of the Central American Integration System (SICA)
for 2004 and, should, per normal protocol, speak for the
sub-region. He lamented the damage done to Guatemala's
reputation by the recently departed Portillo Administration
and hoped that the recovery would not take too long.


3. (SBU) Comment: The Guatemalans are still annoyed with
Costa Rican behavior at the end of the "final" CAFTA round in
Washington and their lack of enthusiasm for building a
customs union. It was particularly clear that Sperisen
disliked being "coordinated" in Puebla by Costa Rica's
Fernando Ocampo, whom the Guatemalans seem to hold in
particular contempt.
HAMILTON