Costa Rica's Foreign Affairs "Accomplishments" in 2009

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000991 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM CS SUBJECT: Costa Rica's Foreign Affairs "Accomplishments" in 2009 REF: 09 SAN JOSE 799; 09 SAN JOSE 619; 09 SAN JOSE 622 09 SAN JOSE 651 ¶1. (U) Summary: The Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented its major accomplishments for the year to the public on December 15. Arias' foreign policy has focused on creating new political partnerships in Asia and the Middle East as well as strengthening relations with Latin American partners. While highlighting President Arias' role in mediating the Honduran crisis, the GOCR pointed out that that situation impeded further accomplishments with its Central American partners. Costa Rica will finish its term on the United Nations Security Council at the end of December 2009 without having made much progress on its declared priorities of disarmament and UN reform. End Summary. Border Disputes and Honduras ¶2. (U) The GOCR saw its work internationally in 2009 as focused on five areas: sovereignty, regional politics, new diplomatic partnerships, multilateral politics and citizen services. The Ministry highlighted the progress made on the long-standing dispute with Nicaragua over management of their shared border along the San Juan River. The July 2009 ruling by the International Court of Justice was viewed as a victory by the GOCR (Ref B),though some issues still remain to be worked out (Ref A). Additionally, in 2009 the GOCR lodged an application to extend its continental shelf in order to increase the area of its exclusive maritime economic zone. ¶3. (U) The President and the MFA dedicated significant time and attention to the situation in Honduras. Costa Rica was the first stop for Manuel Zelaya after being deposed, and Arias took the lead role in mediation efforts between the two sides. Arias proposed the San Jose Accord (Ref C) in early July, met with the presidential candidates before the polls in November, and pushed other Latin American countries to recognize the legitimacy of the elections after they took place. New Partnerships ¶4. (U) A good deal of Arias' foreign policy has focused on creating new political partnerships outside the region, while strengthening relations with countries the GOCR sees as partners in Latin America. In 2009 Costa Rica opened relations with nineteen countries and continued to strengthen ties with China and India, where it plans to open a new Embassy in early 2010. With a stated focus on building ties with Arab and Muslim countries, Arias also made the first visit by a Costa Rican president to the Middle East. He visited Turkey, Israel and "Palestine", where he pressed for a demilitarized state. Closer to home, Costa Rica has signed "association agreements" with Chile, Mexico and Panama over the past year. Multilateral Impact and Citizen Services ¶5. (SBU) The GOCR's impact in multilateral fora has been much more muted. Costa Rica will finish its term on the United Nations Security Council at the end of December 2009 without having made much progress on its declared priorities of disarmament and UN reform (Ref D). Furthermore, the end of the GOCR's rotating presidency of the Central American Integration System (SICA) will also pass without the achievement of any real accomplishments. While other factors certainly were at play, namely the crisis in Honduras, the GOCR must be disappointed at its missed opportunity to assume a greater leadership position within the region. ¶6. (U) Over the past year the MFA, working in conjunction with the Department of Immigration, has also modernized Costa Rica's passport and visa services, transitioning to automated entry and exit stamps (replacing manual stamps by immigration officials). This has eliminated a good amount of corruption within the entry/exit process and resulted in a cost savings for the ministry. Comment: Costa Rica's Potential to Lead ¶7. (SBU) Costa Rica has been very active on the international stage throughout the Arias administration, from its prominent seat on the UNSC to Arias' role in the Honduran crisis. Yet despite having arguably the most democratically stable country in the region, Costa Rica has generally failed to assume a greater leadership role within Central America. Due to a host of factors, including both a jealousy of Costa Rica's success and a perception of Costa Rican arrogance, Central America continues to see Costa Rica as an outlier, rather than an example to follow. BRENNAN