COSTA RICA: URGENT DEMARCHE ON UNSC LEBANON

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 001780 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND WHA/PPC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS UNSC IS LE CS SUBJECT: COSTA RICA: URGENT DEMARCHE ON UNSC LEBANON RESOLUTION DELIVERED REF: STATE 132517 ¶1. (U) On August 12, as instructed per Reftel, DCM provided copies of the non-paper, the Secretary's statement and UNSCR 1701 to Antonio Alarcon, Chief of Staff for FonMin Stagno. DCM and Pol/C followed up with a meeting with Alarcon at OOB on August 14. DCM reiterated the importance of not only ending the Israeli-Hezbollah violence immediately, but also of creating the conditions for a durable ceasefire. DCM also stressed that UNSCR 1701 was only the first step in that process. ¶2. (U) Alarcon understood the importance of the issue, noting that a peaceful resolution to the conflict was also important to the GOCR because of Costa Rican business interests in the Middle East. He thanked the DCM for our timely approach. Alarcon had earlier passed the non-paper and resolution to the FM, and was to meet with Stagno and Amb. Duenas, visiting from Washington, immediately after our session. Alarcon promised to provide an official reaction in the next few days. LANGDALE