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