COSTA RICA ON CASTRO SUCCESSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN JOSE 001747 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN JASON MACK AND WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CU CR SUBJECT: COSTA RICA ON CASTRO SUCCESSION REF: STATE 125684 Classified By: A/DCM Scott McAdoo for reasons 1.4 (B&D) ¶1. (C) Ambassador discussed reftel talking points with Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Stagno on August 4, 2006. Stagno indicated that he would discuss the situation with Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas Shannon when they were in Bogota, Colombia, on August 7 for the inauguration of President Alvaro Uribe. President Oscar Arias commented publicly on August 1 that he would like to see Cuba evolve towards a representative democracy. ¶2. (U) According to the Costa Rican newspaper, La Nacion, Arias planned to meet Cuban vice-president Carlos Luge the evening of Uribe's inauguration. Arias intended to pass a message to Raul Castro encouraging him to promote a transition to democracy in Cuba. However, during the inauguration ceremony, Lage approached Arias and informed him that he was not willing to discuss this subject at their meeting. Arias would not accept this condition and canceled the meeting. LANGDALE