MEDIA COVERAGE OF PRESIDENT BUSH'S CONGRATULATORY

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000584 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN JASON MACK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV CS SUBJECT: MEDIA COVERAGE OF PRESIDENT BUSH'S CONGRATULATORY CALL TO PRESIDENT-ELECT ARIAS ¶1. Most major news outlets reported on President Bush's congratulatory call to Oscar Arias on his election as president. Arias freely discussed the topics and tenor of his conversation with President Bush, which lasted for approximately five minutes. ¶2. The press focused on three aspects of the conversation: --CAFTA-DR: On the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, Arias reported that Bush lamented the fact that Costa Rica is "losing time by not approving the deal, and that it's beginning to harm some businesses, above all textiles." Arias reiterated his position that failure to approve CAFTA-DR will result in restricted access to U.S. markets and eventually lead to layoffs. He told reporters that he assured President Bush that he will work to expedite ratification of CAFTA-DR. --Democracy: Arias reported that he and President Bush discussed Costa Rica's role in bolstering regional democracy, with President Bush concerned that some countries in the region are not moving in the "correct direction" to consolidate democratic institutions. Arias said that President Bush asked for his help in promoting democracy, and Arias responded that he will use his position as President of the most established democracy in Latin America to help strengthen regional democracy. When asked whether this meant that Costa Rica would have closer relations with the U.S., Mexico and Chile than with Venezuela and Bolivia, Arias, true to form, responded that Costa Rica would be "friends with the whole world," but clarified that there is no question that he is much more closely aligned ideologically with Ricardo Lagos of Chile than with Evo Morales or Hugo Chavez. --Relations: Arias stated his belief that Costa Rica will enjoy friendlier relations with the U.S. than during his previous administration. Arias indicated he did not extend an invitation to President Bush, whom he described as amiable, to attend his May 8 inauguration ceremony because "the president of the United States never attends transfers of power." LANGDALE