COSTA RICA "MORE OR LESS" FAVORS US POSITION ON

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000937 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN; IO/HR FOR PAUL KRUCHOWSKI; IO/UNP FOR ANDREW MORRISON; NEA/IPA FOR JEFFREY GIAUQUE USUN FOR ELLEN GERMAIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAL PREL PHUM PTER CS SUBJECT: COSTA RICA "MORE OR LESS" FAVORS US POSITION ON GOLDSTONE REPORT REF: SECSTATE 112828 ¶1. (SBU) Costa Rica is "more or less" in agreement with USG views on the Goldstone Report, according to MFA officials. The GOCR believes that the international community should give Israel's justice system the opportunity to conclude its investigations before recommending any further action be taken. However, the GOCR suggested that it would be helpful if a separate resolution was presented as an alternative to the Arab group proposal. In their view, this might "take note" of the Goldstone Report and state that the General Assembly would review the matter again after a certain time period. ¶2. (SBU) On November 3 we met with MFA Human Rights and Security Council officers Adriana Murillo and Guisella Sanchez to discuss reftel. Murillo said that in light of its broad concerns over international human rights in general, the GOCR is very concerned over the events of last winter in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. However, they believe that it is far too early to consider any recommendations stemming from the Goldstone Report, and fully agree that Israel's justice system must be given time to function. Furthermore, they did not believe that this was an issue for the UNSC to take up, as it had already been dealt with by the UNHRC. ¶3. (SBU) However, Murillo said that in their view some sort of resolution would be necessary to show that the international community is interested in this as a human rights issue, and as a sign of support of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. She stated that a number of European countries had spoken to them of the possibility of a resolution "taking note of the report and then stating that the General Assembly would revisit the matter after a certain time period," to give the Israeli justice system time to continue their investigations. Murillo asked that we pass along any such alternate resolution to the GOCR if and when it was available. WILSON