COSTA RICA REQUESTS EXCHANGE OF SUPPORT FOR POSTAL

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000606 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN, IO/T CWOOD AND DDELEHANTY. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC ECON ETRD WTRO CS SUBJECT: COSTA RICA REQUESTS EXCHANGE OF SUPPORT FOR POSTAL UNION CANDIDATES REF: STATE 66814 ¶1. Per reftel, we sent a diplomatic note on June 27 to the MFA requesting support for U.S. candidates to be presented at the 24th Universal Postal Union Congress July 23 to August 12 in Geneva. On July 16, we received a diplomatic note (dated July 11) from the MFA requesting a reciprocal exchange of support (relevant text below). ¶2. BEGIN TEXT of unofficial translation of relevant parts of diplomatic note: "The Office of Foreign Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs...has the honor to refer to diplomatic note 102 of June 25, 2008, regarding the presentation of (U.S.) candidacies for positions in the Universal Postal Union's Council of Administration and Postal Operations Council in elections that will take place during its 24th Congress in Geneva, Switzerland. "In that regard, this Ministry has the pleasure to propose to the Embassy an agreement of reciprocal exchange of support between the Costa Rican candidate for the Postal Operations Council and the mentioned U.S. candidacies." END TEXT ¶3. COMMENT: We understand that such candidate "exchanges" are not USG policy. We will so respond to the MFA unless Department recommends otherwise. Please advise. CIANCHETTE