UNSC RACE: DUELING DIP NOTES IN COSTA RICA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN JOSE 002371 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2011 TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC GT VE CS SUBJECT: UNSC RACE: DUELING DIP NOTES IN COSTA RICA REF: A. SAN JOSE WHA/CEN FAX 10/25/06 ¶B. SAN JOSE 2223 (NOTAL) Classified By: Ambassador Mark Langdale per section 1.4(d). ¶1. (U) In the past week, both Venezuela and Guatemala continued their diplomatic lobbying efforts in Costa Rica for the 2007 GRULAC UNSC seat. In a circular Diplomatic Note dated 18 October (Ref A),the GOV reiterated that "it was maintaining and would maintain until the end" its candidacy, because the "government wishes to continue to contribute to the advancement of activities (in the UNSC) for the benefit of the region and to represent the voice of the people of the third world." Venezuela's candidacy, the note concluded, "has the objective of fighting for the democratization of the UN and for international social justice" (informal translation). ¶2. (U) On October 23, the Guatemalans responded in kind, circulating a Note which covered MFA Press Communique 122-2006, which detailed why the GOG was continuing its candidacy. The full text is on the Guatemalan MFA website. Key points follow (informal translation): -- Given the "polarized environment" because Venezuela would not withdraw "gallantly," the normal action in voting situations such as this, the GOG sees only two options to resolve the impasse: either Guatemala continues its efforts to attract enough votes to be elected, or the GRULAC will have to find a third, consensus candidate "that would not be charged with the unfair stigma assigned (to Guatemala) for being linked to the foreign policy of a Permanent Member of the Security Council (the United States)." -- The MFA release went on to reaffirm Guatemala's continued candidacy and to "logically" reject the second option (withdrawal) as "unjust" for three reasons: a) with little effort, another country would be able to build on Guatemala's "intense" efforts to launch its campaign; b) Guatemala had built an "insurmountable lead" in votes; and c) withdrawing now would disqualify Guatemala to become the consensus candidate for reasons "not based on reality" (the U.S.-linked stigma noted above). ¶3. (C) Given the extensive (and conflicting) media coverage about the October 25 GRULAC meeting, including the rumored contest between Bolivia and Costa Rica as possible consensus candidates, we conferred with FM Stagno's Chief of Staff, Antonio Alarcon, that same day. He confirmed that Costa Rica's position, "in support of Guatemala until the end," has not changed. Separately, President Arias was quoted by media on October 24 as reaffirming that a UNSC seat for the 2008 session (not 2007) remained Costa Rica's objective. ¶4. (C) COMMENT: We have no reason to doubt Costa Rica's position, which has been reiterated to us by Alarcon and number of senior MFA officials since October 16. President Arias himself made clear to USOAS Ambassador Maisto on September 29 that the GOCR was focused on taking the 2008 GRULAC seat (Ref B). Nontheless, the GOCR is no doubt enjoying the positive attention. LANGDALE