COSTA RICA SUPPORTS NONPROLIFERATION SANCTIONS ON

S E C R E T SAN JOSE 000056 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2019 TAGS: KNNP MNUC GM PREL PARM EFIN CS SUBJECT: COSTA RICA SUPPORTS NONPROLIFERATION SANCTIONS ON A.Q. KHAN AND ASSOCIATES REF: STATE 2508 Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor David E. Henifin for reason 1.4 (d). 1 (S) On January 26, we briefed Carlos Cordero of the MFA's Department of Disarmament, Terrorism and Organized Crime that the USG imposed sanctions on thirteen people and three private companies (reftel) for engaging in activities related to the global A.Q. Khan proliferation network. We emphasized that no sanctions were imposed on governments and that the overall sanctions decision reflected the diverse and global nature of the network. ¶2. (SBU) Cordero welcomed the action and added that this topic had been of top concern to FonMin Stago when he was Costa Rica's Ambassador to the UN in the past. He told us that he would brief Stagno on this sanctions decision as soon as possible. We also briefed Stagno's Chief of Staff, Antonio Alarcon, on this decision January 28. Like Cordero, Alarcon was pleased to learn of the USG action. CIANCHETTE