COSTA RICA,S FORMER CAFTA LEAD NEGOTIATOR ANABEL

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 002826

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECIN PREL CS
SUBJECT: COSTA RICA,S FORMER CAFTA LEAD NEGOTIATOR ANABEL
GONZALEZ TO HEAD WTO,S AGRICULTURE AND COMMODITIES DIVISION

REF: 2004 SAN JOSE 02402


1. (SBU) Anabel Gonzalez, who was Costa Rica,s lead
negotiator for the Dominican Republic-Central American Free
Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) until her resignation in September
2004 reftel has accepted WTO Director General Lamy,s offer
to head the WTO,s Agriculture and Commodities Division.
Lamy made the offer last week and Ms. Gonzalez formerly
accepted today. She called Econoff to pass on the news and
we expect it will become publicly known in the next few days.


2. (SBU) Even though Ms. Gonzalez left government more than
a year ago, she has remained very active working behind the
scenes in Costa Rica to advance CAFTA-DR. In addition, she
has helped the Nicaraguan government with its CAFTA-DR
ratification efforts, and advised the Panamian government on
its FTA negotiations. She has served as an advisor to
leading presidential candidate Oscar Arias on trade matters
and accompanied him to Washington in early June to lobby for
U.S. ratification of CAFTA-DR.


3. (SBU) Gonzalez told econoff that she had a long interview
with DG Lamy about 10 days ago and that she was very candid
on what she thought needed to happen to make the Doha Round
successful. She said that Lamy did not share his thoughts
but Ms. Gonzalez joked that &evidently he liked enough of
what he heard to hire me.8 Econoff offered to arrange
meetings in Washington with appropriate USG officials if Ms.
Gonzalez was going to be there any time before she takes up
her duties in Geneva in February 2006. Post will send
complete bio info septel.
LANGDALE
LANGDALE