COSTA RICA WILL CONSIDER RESETTLEMENT OF PROTECTED

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000129 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PRM (GEHRING) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PREL SMIG CS SUBJECT: COSTA RICA WILL CONSIDER RESETTLEMENT OF PROTECTED CUBAN MIGRANTS REF: A. 05 STATE 201256 ¶B. 05 SAN JOSE 660 ¶1. Per Reftel A, and taking advantage of remarks by visiting CODEL Burton, who expressed appreciation for Costa Rica's willingness to resettle 20 protected Cuban migrants in December of 2004, DCM on January 11 asked Minister of Public Security Rogelio Ramos for assistance with resettling another group of 20-25 Cuban migrants. Ramos stated for Congressman Burton's benefit that it is the policy of the Government of Costa Rica to accept political refugees and protected migrants. Ramos agreed to analyze our request and expressed appreciation for the USG's facilitation of interviews of the first group of resettled migrants at Guantanamo by Costa Rican immigration officials. Ramos called this facilitation key to the success of the previous resettlement. Ramos also stated that the involvement of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) was helpful, not only for the technical assistance the organization provides, but also for political cover due to Costa Rican sensitivities surrounding any issue involving Guantanamo. ¶2. An IOM official in San Jose told us that she does not believe any member of the December 2004 group of 20 migrants resettled in Costa Rica has remained here. Only four stayed until they received their sixth and final monthly stipend. Reftel B reported that 14 were still in Costa Rica at the three-month point. According to the IOM official, rumor has it that part of the Costa Rica group reunited with a group of Cuban migrants in Honduras in order to pool resources for the onward trip to the U.S. ¶3. The Embassy stands ready to follow up on this opening but requests details/instrucions on what the USG is prepared to offer in order to facilitate the resettlement. We expect that the GOCR will request assistance with conducting interviews of the migrants at Guantanamo. Please advise. LANGDALE