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