COSTA RICA: SPAIN'S SECSTATE JIMENEZ ANNOUNCES

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000076 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN AND EUR/WE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID ENVI ETRD CJAN CS SP SUBJECT: COSTA RICA: SPAIN'S SECSTATE JIMENEZ ANNOUNCES EARTHQUAKE, SECURITY ASSISTANCE REF: SAN JOSE 0023 (NOTAL) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a January 29-30 official visit to Costa Rica, Spanish Secretary of State Trinidad Jimenez announced USD 285,000 in earthquake assistance and donated 25 motorcycles to the GOCR's transit police. During meetings with President Arias and FonMin Stagno, Jimenez focused on topics including: the pending Central American-EU trade agreement, transportation, and environmental cooperation. Spanish diplomats told us in a December Mini-Dublin meeting that Spain maintained an active security/law enforcement assistance program in Latin America and was concerned (as we are) about low Costa Rican conviction rates. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The GOCR will use the USD 285,000 in earthquake relief to rebuild aqueducts that serve 90,000 people in 12 affected municipalities; to rebuild/repair schools that serve 4,000 students; to construct temporary housing; to implement disaster risk prevention programs; and to provide psychological assistance to victims of the 6.2 magnitude earthquake on January 8 which killed 23 and injured over 100 (Reftel). Over 1400 are still in shelters following that disaster, which the GOCR estimates could have caused as much as USD 100 million in damage. The MFA confirmed that the Spanish contribution actually included USD 100,000 in Spanish donations that were announced earlier in January. Jimenez also visited the town of Poasito, in the earthquake damage zone. (Full MFA release on the visit emailed to WHA/CEN.) ¶3. (U) Additionally, the National Transit Police accepted 25 used motorcycles delivered by the Spanish Civil Guard. NOTE: The Transit Police are part of the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, MOPT, and are not part of the regular national police force.) In announcing the donations, Jimenez expressed Spain's "definite and firm commitment" to Costa Rica. ¶4. (U) The MFA held a "working meeting" with Jimenez that focused on strengthening political dialogue, international assistance and trade -- three areas that have become pillars of all the GOCR's bilateral talks. With Spain assuming the EU presidency, the GOCR hoped that the Central American-EU trade agreement under negotiation could be finalized within a year, and formally announced at a Central American-Spanish summit to be held in Madrid in January 2010. ¶5. (U) In other areas of cooperation, the MFA told us that four passenger trains that Costa Rica purchased from Spain are scheduled to arrive later this month for use in the re-opened commuter-rail line from San Jose to Heredia (an outlying, populous town north of San Jose in the Central Valley). The GOCR also presented proposals for potable water and water sanitation projects that it hoped would be eligible for international environmental funding. In addition, the GOCR expressed hope that Spain would purchase carbon credits from Costa Rica. According to the MFA, Spain's 2008 assistance to Costa Rica amounted to 14 million euros, primarily designated for education and safe-drinking-water programs. ¶6. (SBU) In a December Mini-Dublin meeting, the Spanish representative told our international audience that Spain had a broad security/law enforcement cooperative program in Latin America. Spain provided training on organized crime, ballistics and police investigations to 25-30 Costa Rican officials in 2008 as part of its regional training initiative. The diplomat noted Spain's concern with low conviction and case resolution rates in the Costa Rican court system -- a concern shared by many observers here, including us. (NOTE: From 1998-2008, an average of only 10 percent of all criminal court cases were resolved in Costa Rica.) ¶7. (U) COMMENT: We welcome Spain's willingness to extend disaster aid, as well as training opportunities and equipment donations for Costa Rican security forces; we are coordinating with them as members of our Mini-Dublin group. All the police and security forces need help here, and European aid to the transit cops complements our focus on the regular police, the coast guard and other law enforcement entities. With this latest contribution, Spain, China, Colombia, the United States and Chile have provided the most (or most-publicized) bilateral earthquake assistance to Costa Rica. Depending on GOCR needs, we may offer additional help, via SOUTHCOM humanitarian assistance funds and/or OFDA. The GOCR is still evaluating its longer-term housing, infrastructure and disaster preparedness needs. If we do, we will report same. END COMMENT. CIANCHETTE