Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANJOSE167
2009-03-11 23:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy San Jose
Cable title:
COSTA RICA: MFA PUBLICLY APPLAUDS ICC ARREST
how-toVZCZCXYZ0007 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHSJ #0167 0702359 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 112359Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0577 INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0338 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0821
UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000167
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN AND IO/UNP JOSEPH FITZGERALD.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM CS
SUBJECT: COSTA RICA: MFA PUBLICLY APPLAUDS ICC ARREST
WARRANT FOR SUDANESE PRESIDENT
REF: A. SECSTATE 19213
B. SAN JOSE 148
UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000167
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN AND IO/UNP JOSEPH FITZGERALD.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM CS
SUBJECT: COSTA RICA: MFA PUBLICLY APPLAUDS ICC ARREST
WARRANT FOR SUDANESE PRESIDENT
REF: A. SECSTATE 19213
B. SAN JOSE 148
1. (U) Further to reftel demarche and official response, on
March 5, the MFA issued a press release "categorically
supporting" the March 4 ICC arrest warrant for Sudanese
President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir for what the GOCR called "war
crimes and crimes against humanity." The release went on to
say that, for Costa Rica, the ICC's "exemplary measure feeds
the hopes of the victims of Sudan, and of the international
community in its aspiration for justice." The GOCR
reiterated its support of the ICC, and urged Sudan to
cooperate with the ICC and the UN to protect Sudan's
population.
2. (U) The MFA noted Costa Rica's June 2008 negotiations to
achieve a UNSC Presidential Statement that would "break the
UNSC's silence" regarding crimes against humanity in Sudan.
Quoting FonMin Stagno - who served on the ICC's Assembly of
Member States from 2005-2008 - the MFA relase also stated
that Article 16 was never meant to be used in a case that the
UNSC itself remitted to the ICC. Therefore, the GOCR would
not support such a measure.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: Given the GOCR's role in co-founding the
ICC, and Stagno's on-going, personal interest in Darfur
developments, it is no wonder that the MFA issued a statement
to "brag" a little abut this first-ever ICC arrest warrant
issued against a head of state. Although this statement
generated no media coverage, it reiterates the Arias
administration's interest in taking "principled" stances on
UN issues important to Costa Rica.
4. (U) Complete text of the MFA press release is available
at: www.rree.go.cr.
CIANCHETTE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN AND IO/UNP JOSEPH FITZGERALD.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM CS
SUBJECT: COSTA RICA: MFA PUBLICLY APPLAUDS ICC ARREST
WARRANT FOR SUDANESE PRESIDENT
REF: A. SECSTATE 19213
B. SAN JOSE 148
1. (U) Further to reftel demarche and official response, on
March 5, the MFA issued a press release "categorically
supporting" the March 4 ICC arrest warrant for Sudanese
President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir for what the GOCR called "war
crimes and crimes against humanity." The release went on to
say that, for Costa Rica, the ICC's "exemplary measure feeds
the hopes of the victims of Sudan, and of the international
community in its aspiration for justice." The GOCR
reiterated its support of the ICC, and urged Sudan to
cooperate with the ICC and the UN to protect Sudan's
population.
2. (U) The MFA noted Costa Rica's June 2008 negotiations to
achieve a UNSC Presidential Statement that would "break the
UNSC's silence" regarding crimes against humanity in Sudan.
Quoting FonMin Stagno - who served on the ICC's Assembly of
Member States from 2005-2008 - the MFA relase also stated
that Article 16 was never meant to be used in a case that the
UNSC itself remitted to the ICC. Therefore, the GOCR would
not support such a measure.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: Given the GOCR's role in co-founding the
ICC, and Stagno's on-going, personal interest in Darfur
developments, it is no wonder that the MFA issued a statement
to "brag" a little abut this first-ever ICC arrest warrant
issued against a head of state. Although this statement
generated no media coverage, it reiterates the Arias
administration's interest in taking "principled" stances on
UN issues important to Costa Rica.
4. (U) Complete text of the MFA press release is available
at: www.rree.go.cr.
CIANCHETTE