Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SANJOSE2460
2005-10-21 21:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy San Jose
Cable title:  

PRESIDENT PACHECO SENDS CAFTA-DR TO THE ASSEMBLY TO

Tags:  ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAN JOSE 002460 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

WHA/CEN
EB FOR WCRAFT, BLAMPRON
E FOR DEDWARDS
WHA/EPSC FOR KURS, LGUMBINER
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR RVARGO, NMOORJANI, AMALITO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT PACHECO SENDS CAFTA-DR TO THE ASSEMBLY TO
BEGIN THE RATIFICATION PROCESS

REF: (A) SAN JOSE 02389

(B) SAN JOSE 02008
(C) SAN JOSE 02436

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAN JOSE 002460

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

WHA/CEN
EB FOR WCRAFT, BLAMPRON
E FOR DEDWARDS
WHA/EPSC FOR KURS, LGUMBINER
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR RVARGO, NMOORJANI, AMALITO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT PACHECO SENDS CAFTA-DR TO THE ASSEMBLY TO
BEGIN THE RATIFICATION PROCESS

REF: (A) SAN JOSE 02389

(B) SAN JOSE 02008
(C) SAN JOSE 02436


1. (SBU) Summary. After meeting with his cabinet in the
morning of October 21, 2005, President Pacheco announced
that he would send the United States-Central American-
Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) to the
Legislative Assembly later that day to start the
ratification process. This marks the end of Pacheco's
delay in moving forward on the ratification of CAFTA-DR in
Costa Rica and the beginning of what will probably be a
long legislative process that will include debate in the
Assembly's International Relations Committee, at least two
votes by the entire 57-member Assembly, and a review by the
country's Constitutional Court (Ref B) - all of this in the
midst of the February 2006 Presidential and Legislative
elections. End Summary.


2. (U) In the press conference after the October 21 cabinet
meeting, in which President Pacheco was accompanied by Vice
President Lineth Saborio and Foreign Trade Minister Manuel
Gonzalez, Pacheco announced that Gonzalez would deliver
CAFTA-DR to President of the Assembly Geraldo Gonzalez later
that same day. President Pacheco made a point to say that
the 14 months that have elapsed since he signed CAFTA-DR was
not lost time but was the time needed to educate Costa
Ricans on the agreement and its implications and to start
the debate. He said that Costa Ricans have become much more
knowledgeable about the agreement, and he cited the recent
CID/Gallup poll results as evidence (Ref C). He also
elaborated on the numerous meetings that the Administration
has had with various groups about their views on CAFTA-DR.


3. (SBU) "What has happened today with the delivery of
CAFTA-DR to the Assembly is that the forum of the debate has
changed - from the executive to the legislative branch,"
said Pacheco. When asked if Costa Rica could possibly be

ready to join the other CAFTA-DR countries for a proposed
January 1, 2006 implementation date, President Pacheco
answered that the issue is now in the hands of the Assembly,
but it was probably impossible given that CAFTA-DR will not
go to the International Relations Committee until November,
and the Assembly not being in session from before Christmas
until after the February 5, 2006 elections. (Comment:
President Pacheco sets the Assembly's legislative priorities
during the upcoming extraordinary session from December 1
through April 30, and, in response to a question asked at
the press conference, his priority is clearly the Fiscal
Reform bill. CAFTA-DR seems to be third on his priority
list after the recently submitted proposed law to strengthen
the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE) which he said
must be approved prior to ratifying CAFTA-DR. End Comment.)


4. (U) He also responded that "there is no hurry" and that
"he does not know why everyone wants to rush this issue."
"Costa Rica is different and we take our time to do things
right," he added. When asked if he had any doubts about
CAFTA-DR, he said, "I have doubts like everybody." He
repeatedly stressed that CAFTA-DR is an instrument that
Costa Rica can use to further development - an instrument
that one must be prepared to use to its fullest extent.
Pacheco said that the complementary agenda, the funding of
which the Administration has already presented to the
Assembly for approval, is very important to ensure that all
Costa Ricans benefit from implementation of CAFTA-DR.
Pacheco acknowledged that the work has just begun - that
Costa Rica needs to make changes in its administration,
infrastructure, etc., to take advantage of the opportunities
presented by CAFTA-DR.


5. (U) When asked about what he would say to those CAFTA-DR
opponents such as some labor union representatives and
university students who have threatened strikes and
protests, President Pacheco said that Costa Rica is a
country of laws - that by law it was his duty to send the
agreement to the Assembly for debate and discussion. "To
not have done so," he said, "I would have been acting as a
dictator in unilaterally deciding yes or no on CAFTA-DR."
He stressed that Costa Rica is a democracy and he called for
a wide-reaching, meaningful, and peaceful debate in the
Assembly and the country. Pacheco stressed the peaceful
nature and history of Costa Rica.


6. (U) President Pacheco and Minister Gonzalez stressed the
need for Costa Rica to take part more fully in the world
economy. "We cannot isolate ourselves," said President
Pacheco. "Thousands of jobs depend on exporting products
and providing services to the world market," said Gonzalez.
Gonzalez said that he was happy to join Costa Rica's
"brother countries" in this agreement not only to realize
benefits with trade with the U.S. but also with the other
Central American countries and the Dominican Republic.

--------------
IMPLEMENTATION LEGISLATION
--------------


7. (U) As part of his presentation, President Pacheco said
he "has faith in ICE" and that it is his requirement that
the Assembly pass the law to strengthen ICE prior to
ratifying CAFTA-DR. One reporter referred to the fact that
there are some Assembly members who are clearly in favor of
CAFTA-DR but not in strengthening ICE. When this reporter
asked the President how he would ensure that the law to
strengthen ICE would be passed in light of this possible
opposition, President Pacheco said "Well, it is up to the
Assembly, and we will have to see what happens." President
Pacheco gave the same answer when asked if all of these
projects can be submitted, reviewed, discussed, and voted
upon in the little time left before the new President and
Assembly members take office on May 8, 2006. Vice
President Saborio did say that the Assembly should decide
on October 24, 2005, how the law to strengthen ICE will
proceed.


8. (SBU) In response to a question regarding when the
proposed laws to comply with the telecommunications and
insurance market provisions of CAFTA-DR, i.e., gradually
opening these markets and effectively regulating them,
would be submitted, Saborio said that both are under review
by the Administration and they should be sent to the
Assembly "in a few weeks". (Comment: The Administration
has been saying for months that these bills would be ready
"in a few weeks" with no result yet. Appropriate
legislation is necessary in these and other areas in order
to comply with the requirements of CAFTA-DR. End Comment.)

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


9. (SBU) President Pacheco has decided that now is the
appropriate time to send CAFTA-DR to the Assembly and start
the relatively long ratification process. This marks the
beginning of a sure-to-be intense and complex debate given
the number of legislative projects that need to be
discussed and reviewed, the limited amount of time in which
to do all of this, and the politically charged environment
not only surrounding CAFTA-DR-related issues but also the
Presidential and Legislative elections.
FRISBIE