FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER STAGNO'S LETTER TO

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 001090 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR JASON MACK WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL PARM PGOV IZ CS SUBJECT: FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER STAGNO'S LETTER TO SECRETARY RICE ON IRAQ SIPDIS REF: SAN JOSE 1087 ¶1. This is an action request. Please see paragraph 6. ¶2. As expected (see reftel),Embassy received an official request from the GOCR for "the definite exclusion of the name of Costa Rica from any official websites that refer to the 'Coalition' and the support given to the war in Iraq." The letter was faxed to the Ambassador in the evening of May 17 and hand-delivered to poloff in the morning of May 18. It was provided in both Spanish and English. Below is the English version: ¶3. Begin text: Non-official translation San Jose, May 17th, 2006 Your Excellency: As you are aware, on March 19th, 2003, during the past administration of President Abel Pacheco de la Espriella, a press release was emitted supporting the war against the Government of Iraq. In virtue of such support, the Government of the United States included the Republic of Costa Rica in a list of member counties committed to the so-called "Coalition of the Willing". The decision to support the war was highly controversial, taking some Costa Rican citizens to interpose actions of unconstitutionality before the Constitutional Court. On September 8, 2004, under resolution 2004-09992, the Constitutional Court requested the Executive Branch to "take the necessary formalities in order for the United States government to exclude our country from the list of 'allied' countries of the 'Coalition' or 'Alliance' that is shown in the White House official website." On September 9th, 2004, in diplomatic note DM-377-04, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica asked the Department of State to exclude Costa Rica from the list of "allied" countries in the White House official website. Today, the name of Costa Rica is still linked to the "Coalition" in the following White House websites: www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/2003 0327-10.html www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/news/20030326 -7.html Taking into account the ruling of the Constitutional Court, which the present administration of President Oscar Arias Sanchez shares and respects integrally, and taking into consideration that the support given was contrary to the Constitution, the Charter of the United Nations, the international law accepted by Costa Rica, and Security Council resolutions 660 and thereafter, which did not authorize the use of force, I hereby request the definite exclusion of the name of Costa Rica from any official websites that refer to the "Coalition" and the support given to the war in Iraq. I avail of this opportunity to express to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration and esteem. Bruno Stagno Ugarte Her Excellency Mrs. Condoleezza Rica Secretary of State SIPDIS U.S. Department of State Washington, D.C. End text. ¶4. Embassy proposes to respond on behalf of Secretary Rice. Below is proposed response: ¶5. Begin test: San Jose, (date) Dear Minister Stagno: Secretary Rice asked me to respond on her behalf and that of SIPDIS the U.S. Government to your letter of May 17 regarding the appearance of Costa Rica on two lists in the White House Web site. The Government of the United States has previously acknowledged and accepted the decision of the Government of Costa Rica to withdraw its support for the coalition on Iraq. The lists to which you refer are dated March 26 and March 27, 2003, before your government's withdrawal, and appear in the White House Web site archives and elsewhere in the Web. They are historical documents; they are accurate; and they cannot now be altered or removed from the Web. Since receiving the Government of Costa Rica's diplomatic note of September 9, 2004, the Government of the United States has not issued any new documents that included Costa Rica in the coalition on Iraq or otherwise claimed continuing Costa Rican support for coalition efforts. Please accept, Excellency, the renewed assurance of my highest consideration. Mark Langdale His Excellency Bruno Stagno Minister of Foreign Relation Republic of Costa Rica San Jose End text. ¶6. ACTION REQUESTED: Please approve or revise the text in paragraph 5 or otherwise instruct post how to respond to the GOCR. LANGDALE