Home
Cables mirror and Afghan War Diary
Privacy
| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04SANJOSE3369 |
COSTA RICA INCSR REPORT 2004 - 2005 PART I, DRUGS [...] (U) The text of Costa Rica's 2004-2005 INCSR Part I is below. Costa Rica I. Summary Costa Rica serves as a transshipment point for narcotics from South America to the United States and Europe. The bilateral Maritime Counterdrug Cooperation Agreement, which entered into force in late [...] |
2004-12-17 19:42:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR CS |
| 05SANJOSE1627 |
PRIMER ON THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS [...] Summary: This cable briefly describes the organization, and procedures of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, as well as the Court's relationship to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Reftel describes the progress of an actual recent case in the court brought against Venezue [...] |
2005-07-18 13:24:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM CS |
| 05SANJOSE1634 |
SAN JOSE FLASH REPORT - JULY 2005 [...] Embassy San Jose's cumulative allotments and obligations for current fiscal year INL funds are as follows: Project Number:011122101 Project Title: PD&S Cumulative Allotments: $21,384 Cumulative Obligations: $16,800 KAPLAN [...] |
2005-07-18 22:12:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR AFIN CS |
| 05SANJOSE1639 |
FIRST MEETING OF THE COMMISSION OF EMINENT PERSONS [...] (U) On July 17, 2005, President Pacheco met for the first time with all five members of the commission of eminent persons ("junta de notables") whom he tasked to review the text of the U.S.-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). This meeting officially began the [...] |
2005-07-19 15:23:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE1645 |
COSTA RICA OPPOSES G-4 FRAMEWORK [...] (SBU) PolOff discussed Costa Rica's views of the proposed G-4 resolution for expanding the UN Security Council with MFA Acting Director for Foreign Policy Edwin Arias on July 12, 2005. At that time, Arias said Costa Rica opposed permanent membership but had not yet finalized its position. Ar [...] |
2005-07-19 21:40:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL OTRA CS UNGA |
| 05SANJOSE1671 |
COSTA RICAN REPRESENTATION AT WHTI MEETING [...] No summary [...] |
2005-07-21 22:01:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC EAIR ELTN EWWT XM XL CS |
| 05SANJOSE1712 |
COSTA RICAN LABOR UNIONS LOOK FOR WAYS TO COMBAT [...] (SBU) Summary: Costa Rica's labor unions, flush from their earlier successes in intimidating President Abel Pacheco, recently fell back to earth when planned demonstrations against the Central American-U.S.-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) fizzled. Now, with possible adoptio [...] |
2005-07-28 21:58:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB ETRD CS |
| 05SANJOSE1713 |
COSTA RICAN REACTION TO CAFTA-DR APPROVAL IN THE [...] (U) Summary. After passage of the CAFTA-DR implementing legislation in the late evening hours (in Costa Rica) by the U.S. House of Representatives, GOCR officials, private business persons, and labor leaders offered their reactions. Local media coverage of the ratification process in the U.S [...] |
2005-07-28 22:30:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE1720 |
CHORUS OF VOICES SINGING SEND CAFTA-DR TO THE [...] (U) Summary. The second day after the U.S. Congress approved the CAFTA-DR implementing legislation, many Costa Ricans are expressing the urgent need for President Pacheco to send the agreement to the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly for ratification (Ref A). Those asking the administration to [...] |
2005-07-29 22:38:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE1721 |
COALITIONS ATTEMPT TO CHALLENGE TRADITIONAL [...] Voters, disappointment with the two traditional political parties may give several newly-formed parties the opportunity to capture a significant number of votes in the 2006 Presidential and Legislative Assembly elections. While these newly-formed parties are organizing coalitions to exploit [...] |
2005-07-29 23:01:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE1722 |
COSTA RICAN MEDIA POSITIVE ON CAFTA-DR PASSAGE IN [...] (U) Summary: Costa Rican media attention to CAFTA-DR, always strong, intensified with the recent passage of the agreement in the U.S. House of Representatives (San Jose 01713, 01720). General reporting was heavy, with five Costa Rican dailies on 7/29 publishing more than 11 pages on CAFTA-DR [...] |
2005-07-29 23:20:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OPRC ETRD ECON PREL SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE1730 |
COSTA RICA: MANPADS INVENTORY AND TRAFFICKING [...] (C) Summary: Having experienced no major military conflicts, and since abolishing the national army in 1949, the GOCR has never bought, sold or otherwise had possession of MANPADS or similarly sophisticated missile delivery systems. While Costa Rica does represent a transit point on the illic [...] |
2005-08-01 22:40:00 | Embassy San Jose | SECRET//NOFORN | EAIR ETTC PARM PGOV PREL |
| 05SANJOSE1739 |
SAN JOSE: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DEMARCHE [...] (SBU) Charge d'Affaires delivered the demarche to Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar on August 1. Poloff also sent talking points by fax to Carlos Cordero, Deputy Director for Multilateral Affairs. In the meeting with the Charge, Minister Tovar expressed his belief that the Human Rights Commissi [...] |
2005-08-03 21:00:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL CS UNGA |
| 05SANJOSE1740 |
PRESIDENT PACHECO COMMENTS ON CAFTA-DR [...] (U) On August 3, 2005, during his first weekly press conference held since CAFTA-DR was approved and signed by President Bush, Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco officially congratulated the U.S. government for ratifying the United States-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement [...] |
2005-08-03 22:21:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE1746 |
BORDER DISPUTE WITH NICARAGUA THREATENS TO FLARE [...] (C) In an August 1 meeting with Charge and acting DCM, Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar said that the dispute over the navigational rights of Costa Rican police on the San Juan River threatens again to disrupt relations between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Tovar noted that the three-year "truce" o [...] |
2005-08-04 14:46:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PBTS PREL PINR ETRD CS NU |
| 05SANJOSE1748 |
LETTER FROM EX-PRESIDENT MIGUEL ANGEL RODRIGUEZ [...] No summary [...] |
2005-08-04 17:45:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | CS ETRD PGOV PREL |
| 05SANJOSE1753 |
PRO-CAFTA-DR COSTA RICAN OFFICIAL FIRED [...] (U) Summary. On August 3, 2005, "El Financiero" reported that Amparo Pacheco, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Trade (COMEX) was fired, effective August 2, 2005, due to a lack of confidence from President Pacheco (no relation to the ex-Vice Minister) and COMEX Minister Manuel Gonzalez [...] |
2005-08-04 21:05:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE1757 |
TOURISM SNAPSHOT IN COSTA RICA [...] Summary. The tourism industry is king in Costa Rica, having been the nation's top revenue generator since 2001. The number of tourists coming to Costa Rica continues to increase, with hundreds of thousands of Americans, Canadians, and Europeans flocking to the beaches, volcanoes, and adventu [...] |
2005-08-05 14:18:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EIND CASC EINV PGOV CS |
| 05SANJOSE1772 |
NEW HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN ELECTED [...] Summary: The Legislative Assembly elected Lisbeth Quesada Tristan to the 4-year independent post of human rights ombudsman (Defensor de los Habitantes) on August 4, 2005. Quesada, 53, is a medical doctor unaffiliated with any political party. The Ombudsman's position had been vacant since Jun [...] |
2005-08-05 22:24:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PINR CS |
| 05SANJOSE1774 |
SECRET MEETINGS, DEAL-MAKING, TAXES, AND CAFTA-DR [...] (U) Summary. On August 3, 2005 Costa Rican dailies "La Prensa Libre" and "Diario Extra" reported that members of President Pacheco's Social Christian Union Party (PUSC) and the National Liberation Party (PLN) met in secret on July 29, 2005 to discuss overcoming difficulties in passing the Fis [...] |
2005-08-08 15:28:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE1785 |
SPEAKING OUT IN COSTA RICA ON GITMO AND DETAINEES [...] (SBU) Per reftel instructions, Charge and A/DCM discussed reftel points at length with Foreign Minster Tovar on August 1, and left a copy with him as a non-paper. We will follow up with other officials at the Foreign Ministry as well as with the Ministry of Public Security where our common i [...] |
2005-08-08 21:01:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KPAO CS |
| 05SANJOSE1787 |
UNIMER POLL SHOWS STEADY SUPPORT FOR CAFTA-DR IN [...] Summary. As compared to a June 2005 poll conducted by UNIMER (Ref A), a similarly conducted August 2005 poll shows knowledge of and support for the U.S.-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) remains strong and steady. UNIMER has been conducting similar polls si [...] |
2005-08-08 21:07:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE1819 |
COMMISSION OF EMINENT PERSONS MEETS WITH PRESIDENT [...] Summary. On August 8, 2005 the five-member Commission of Eminent Persons met with President Pacheco to discuss the status of their review of the text of the U.S.-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA- DR). Franklin Chang, head of the Commission, stated that they ha [...] |
2005-08-10 17:18:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE1822 |
PRO-CAFTA-DR MARCH DRAWS THOUSANDS IN COSTA RICA [...] (U) On August 9, 2005, workers from more than 60 companies marched to the President's offices to show their support for the United States-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). While estimates of the number of participants ranged from 4,000 to 8,000, most media [...] |
2005-08-10 22:24:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE1828 |
PRESIDENT'S PARTY PUBLICLY SUPPORTS CAFTA-DR, BUT [...] (U) Summary. Members of President Pacheco's Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) are publicly urging him to send the United States-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) to the Legislative Assembly as soon as possible, despite the continued failure to pass the Fis [...] |
2005-08-11 13:17:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE1875 |
POLL SHOWS A MAJORITY OF COSTA RICANS CONTINUE TO [...] Summary. A July 2005 CID/GALLUP poll contracted by the daily newspaper "La Republica" and local television network Repretel reveals a slightly decreasing majority of Costa Ricans support the U.S.-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) and believe the agreement wi [...] |
2005-08-17 19:31:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE1904 |
COSTA RICA SCENESETTER FOR SENATOR ARLEN SPECTOR [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Embassy San Jose warmly welcomes Senator Arlen Spector. Your trip comes in the heat of the campaign for the February 2006 general election. The political establishment is still struggling to recover from large scandals that resulted in two ex-Presidents awaiting trial under h [...] |
2005-08-17 23:03:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ASEC CS ECON OVIP PGOV PREL VE |
| 05SANJOSE1940 |
COSTA RICA AND ASIA TRADE ISSUES IN THE MEDIA [...] (U) Summary. In the midst of President Pacheco's 12- day trip to Taiwan and Japan, issues surrounding trade between Costa Rica and several Asian countries have been recent topics in the local press. While in Taipei, President Pacheco discussed his intentions to pursue a free trade agreement [...] |
2005-08-19 21:09:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE1995 |
SENATOR SPECTER BRIEFED ON COUNTER-DRUG EFFORTS, [...] Summary: Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) visited the Guanacaste Province of Northern Costa Rica from August 18-20. The Charge and other Embassy Officers briefed the Senator in advance of a meeting with the Director of Costa Rica's Counter-Drug Police. On August 19, the Senator discussed NIH-fu [...] |
2005-08-24 15:11:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL SNAR CS |
| 05SANJOSE2008 |
THE PROCESS OF RATIFYING FTAs IN COSTA RICA [...] (SBU) Summary. The process to ratify free trade agreements such as the United States-Central American- Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) in Costa Rica is not simple. It is not even clear whether the agreement must be passed by a simple or a two-thirds majority. The Assembl [...] |
2005-08-26 14:30:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2019 |
CHAVEZ SOCIAL CHARTER EVENT [...] No summary [...] |
2005-08-26 22:06:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL AORC KSUM SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2020 |
CHINESE ACTIVITIES IN COSTA RICA [...] (C) Summary. Costa Rica officially established diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1959 and is one of only 26 countries to officially recognize Taiwan. Costa Rica has no official diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China (China or PRC). (Note: Post will follow WTO naming convent [...] |
2005-08-26 22:27:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PREL ETRD ETTC EINV ENRG EAGR EFIN PHUM EMIN CH CS ESENV |
| 05SANJOSE2037 |
ANOTHER POLL SHOWS MAJORITY OF COSTA RICANS SUPPORT [...] According to a poll conducted in August 2005 by UNIMER for the daily "La Nacion," 54 percent of the 1,413 persons polled supported the U.S.-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), up from 43 percent in a similar poll conducted for "La Nacion" in November 2004. Tw [...] |
2005-08-31 14:57:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2038 |
COALITION OF DEPUTIES URGE PRESIDENT TO MOVE [...] (U) Summary. On August 29, 2005, thirty-eight of the 57 members (deputies) of the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly signed a letter to President Pacheco urging him to send the United States-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) to the legislative body immediately [...] |
2005-08-31 14:58:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2047 |
PRESIDENT MEETS WITH COMMISSION OF EMINENT PERSONS [...] (SBU) Summary. On August 29, 2005, President Pacheco met with four of the five members of the Commission of Eminent Persons regarding their progress on reviewing the text of the U.S.-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Franklin Chang, head of the Commission, [...] |
2005-09-01 14:21:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2051 |
SECURITY OFFICIALS' CONFIDENCE GROWING AS CAFTA-DR [...] (C) During an official call August 31 on President Pacheco by General Craddock of U.S. Southern Command, the head of Costa Rica's national police said that as a result of growing public support for the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), police officials a [...] |
2005-09-01 20:26:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECON PREL SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2052 |
COSTA RICA'S PARTICIPATION IN THE CODEX TASK FORCE [...] On August 22, 2005 AgAtt conveyed reftel demarche to Isabel Cristina Araya, Technical Secretary of the National CODEX Committee. 2. By means of a letter dated August 29, 2005, Ms. Araya indicated that Costa Rica would not be represented at the CODEX Intergovernmental Task Force on Biotechno [...] |
2005-09-02 13:42:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR CS ECON TBIO |
| 05SANJOSE2068 |
COSTA RICA: SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS DEMARCHE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-09-02 21:27:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | KSUM ECON PGOV CS |
| 05SANJOSE2071 |
COSTA RICA: FOOD AID AND THE WTO [...] On August 29, 2005, Econoff delivered non-paper to Doris Osterlof, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade (COMEX), Melissa Delgado, Advisor to the Minister, and Ronald Obaldia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. COMEX is the lead GOCR organization on this issue and shared the information with other [...] |
2005-09-02 21:59:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ETRD ECPS ECON CS WTO AID |
| 05SANJOSE2072 |
COSTA RICA UPDATE ON CHILD LABOR [...] The Government of Costa Rica is committed to the elimination of child labor in Costa Rica by 2010. According to the most recent survey, conducted in 2002, approximately 114,000 children between ages 5 and 17 were working, a figure which represents just over ten percent of the country's youth [...] |
2005-09-02 22:43:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB ETRD PGOV PHUM SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2086 |
HURRICANE KATRINA: COSTA RICA OFFER OF ASSISTANCE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-09-07 20:07:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | AEMR EAID PREL US CS |
| 05SANJOSE2090 |
STATUS OF FISCAL REFORM [...] (SBU) Summary. Three years after starting discussion of the fiscal reform bill and 3 months after voting to utilize a "fast-track" review, the Legislative Assembly members remain far away from approving the bill. Disagreements about the bill between political parties and also between the Pre [...] |
2005-09-08 15:21:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2096 |
HURRICANE KATRINA: CONDOLENCE LETTER FROM [...] On September 8, Embassy San Jose received a signed letter addressed to President Bush from President Pacheco extending his condolences to the Government and people of the United States and the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Informal Embassy translation of letter follows: San Jose, September [...] |
2005-09-09 16:01:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | OPDC CS |
| 05SANJOSE2098 |
COSTA RICA: INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP ON AVIAN AND [...] No summary [...] |
2005-09-09 21:28:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR EAID ECON KSCA PREL SOCI TBIO CS |
| 05SANJOSE2100 |
EFFECTS OF HURRICANE KATRINA ON COSTA RICAN [...] Summary. While Costa Rica lies far south of the devastating path that Hurricane Katrina took, some Costa Rican businesses are being impacted by its effects on the operations of the port of New Orleans. Many Costa Rican companies rely on the port as the primary doorway for importing and expo [...] |
2005-09-09 22:14:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2101 |
DEMARCHES ON DEVELOPMENT ISSUES AND THE UNGA [...] (U) Econoff delivered nonpapers (Refs A and B) to Edwin Arias, Deputy Director for Foreign Policy in the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and discussed the issues with Ronald Obaldia and Rolando Madrigal from the MFA on September 8, 2005. The representatives of MFA understood o [...] |
2005-09-09 22:15:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECIN EAID EAIR EFIN PREL UNGA |
| 05SANJOSE2104 |
STATUS OF THE PROPOSED LAW TO STRENGTHEN AND [...] (SBU) Summary. The Legislative Assembly,s Special Mixed Commission to review the Law to Strengthen and Modernize the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE) ended its 28-month tenure without coming to agreement on how to proceed with the proposed telecommunications reform law. The content [...] |
2005-09-09 23:16:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2105 |
COSTA RICA: SIGNALS OF MORE FLEXIBILITY ON CAFTA-DR [...] (C) Summary. After attending a meeting on September 8, 2005 with various business representatives who are in favor of the United States-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), President Pacheco and Minister of Foreign Trade (COMEX) Manuel Gonzalez have alluded to [...] |
2005-09-09 23:33:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2106 |
ARTICLE 98 WORRIES REKINDLED IN COSTA RICA [...] (C) Foreign Minister Tovar told Charge that an Article 98 agreement would not be approved in Costa Rica. He was concerned, however, about the impact of the American Servicemembers' Protection Act (ASPA) and the Nethercutt Amendment on important U.S. assistance that Costa Rica had been receivi [...] |
2005-09-09 23:40:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID MASS CS KICC |
| 05SANJOSE2131 |
COSTA RICA TO ATTEMPT TWO-YEAR STOPGAP ACCORD ON [...] (C) As the clock ticks down on a three-year "truce" on the San Juan River dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua, Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar on September 8 told Charge that he will propose a new two-year stopgap agreement. He said Costa Rica, however, will demand in the new agreement so [...] |
2005-09-12 23:11:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PBTS PREL PINR ETRD CS NU |
| 05SANJOSE2158 |
COSTA RICA: TEXTILE AND APPAREL INDUSTRY [...] Summary: The textile industry in Costa Rica is regarded as efficient and productive. However, the low labor costs of China and the preferential treatment Mexico was granted under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) put the Costa Rican textile industry at a disadvantage. As a res [...] |
2005-09-15 00:20:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON KTEX PGOV PREL CS |
| 05SANJOSE2181 |
COMMISSION OF EMINENT PERSONS DELIVERS REPORT ON [...] (U) On September 16, 2005, the five-member Commission of Eminent Persons delivered its final report on the United States-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) to President Pacheco. According to a Presidential press release of the same day, the only copy of the 6 [...] |
2005-09-19 21:50:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2186 |
GOCR REQUESTS AND EMBASSY SUPPORTS EXTENSION OF [...] Summary: Embassy supports GOCR request to extend project of U.S. Treasury Department Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) Tax Team beyond December 31, 2005 projected termination date. End summary. 2. Charge d'Affaires received the following letter from Minister of Finance on August 26, [...] |
2005-09-19 22:16:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2199 |
COSTA RICA: UNESCO DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] No summary [...] |
2005-09-20 21:42:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL SCUL ETRD CS UNESCO |
| 05SANJOSE2202 |
COSTA RICA: PRESIDENT PACHECO AND COMMISSION OF [...] (U) Summary. On September 20, 2005, after meeting with his cabinet and the five-member Commission of Eminent Persons, President Pacheco held a press conference to discuss the Commission's report on the United States-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The Pre [...] |
2005-09-21 00:56:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2215 |
STUDENTS, LABOR UNIONS STAGE ANTI-CAFTA MARCHES [...] Summary: Labor unions and student groups took to the streets of San Jose on Tuesday, September 20, to protest the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), as President Pacheco's "Commission of Eminent Persons" made the findings of its study on the agreement publ [...] |
2005-09-22 21:00:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB ETRD CS |
| 05SANJOSE2227 |
FINANCE MINISTER WANTS PRESIDENT PACHECO TO SUBMIT [...] (C) Summary. On September 21, 2005, Charge met with GOCR Finance Minister Federico Carrillo, in part, to discuss the status of the United States-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Carrillo was buoyed by the Commission of Eminent Persons' report on CAFTA-DR [...] |
2005-09-23 20:31:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2231 |
COSTA RICA: THE COMMISSION OF EMINENT PERSONS [...] (SBU) Summary: On September 20 the presidential-appointed Commission of Eminent Persons (the Notables) exited the stage in a notable way; after 60 days of analyzing CAFTA-DR, they made no judgment about whether or not the treaty should be approved. The Commission, however, appeared to be unc [...] |
2005-09-24 00:14:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2249 |
COSTA RICA'S POSITION PAPER ON THE BORDER DISPUTE [...] (C) While Costa Rican Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar and Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Norman Caldera met in San Jose September 27 to discuss the San Juan River border dispute, the Costa Rican MFA sent the following position paper to the U.S. and British (as current EU president) embassies. The [...] |
2005-09-28 10:13:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PBTS PREL PINR ETRD CS NU |
| 05SANJOSE2265 |
FOREIGN MINISTER TOVAR BRIEFS DIPLOMATIC CORPS ON [...] (C) Summary: Foreign Minsiter Tovar told diplomats in San Jose that Costa Rica had no alternative to filing a case in the ICJ to vindicate its rights to free navigation on the San Juan River. He said that going to the court was not a hostile or unfriendly act and that retaliation on the part o [...] |
2005-09-29 23:21:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PBTS PREL PINR ETRD CS NU |
| 05SANJOSE2386 |
ELECTION SEASON IN COSTA RICA OFFICIALLY BEGINS [...] Summary: The GOCR officially launched its 2006 election cycle on Saturday, October 1. The February 5 ballot will be a crowded one: fourteen presidential candidates have been certified by the Supreme Elections Tribunal (TSE). The field of candidates for the Legislative Assembly is similarly [...] |
2005-10-13 19:19:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KDEM CS |
| 05SANJOSE2389 |
COSTA RICA AND CAFTA-DR [...] (SBU) Summary. President Pacheco continues to say he will send the United States-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) to the Legislative Assembly. The question remains "When?" Nicaragua's recent passage of CAFTA-DR has brought increased focus by the media and [...] |
2005-10-13 20:26:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2410 |
REFUGEE REFERRAL: XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX [...] (C) Post wishes to refer Cuban national Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX for consideration under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Bio data based on Dr. XXXXXXXXXXXX passport is as follows: XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX, born in Granma, Cuba, on XXXXXXXXXXXX [...] |
2005-10-14 22:07:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREF CVIS CS CU |
| 05SANJOSE2411 |
COSTA RICA REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR JUDGE THOMAS [...] Ref B reported Costa Rica's initial positive response to Judge Burgenthal's candidacy. Per Ref A instructions, PolOff followed up with the Foreign Ministry on October 6, and was reassured of Costa Rica's support. On October 12, Embassy San Jose received Costa Rican Diplomatic Note DGPE/DPM/AC [...] |
2005-10-14 22:08:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV OPDC CS UNGA |
| 05SANJOSE2412 |
EX-PRESIDENT RODRIGUEZ RELEASED FROM HOUSE ARREST [...] Former President Miguel Angel Rodriguez (1998-2002) was released from his seven-month house arrest on October 13, when prosecutors in his corruption case failed to convince a judge to grant yet another extension of his now nearly year-long pretrial detention. Rodriguez was arrested on October [...] |
2005-10-14 22:11:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL CS |
| 05SANJOSE2413 |
COSTA RICA SUPPORTS USG CANDIDACY FOR SEAT ON [...] Per Ref A instructions, Post requested the GOCR's support for a seat on the World Heritage Committee via Diplomatic Note in July, 2005. 2. On October 12, Post received Costa Rican Diplomatic Note DGPE/DPM/AC 886/10/05, officially confirming that Costa Rica will support the U.S. bid. 3. [...] |
2005-10-14 22:13:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | OPDC PGOV CS UNESCO |
| 05SANJOSE2435 |
ARMED ROBBERY AND SHOOTING AT SHOPPING CENTER NEAR [...] On 17 October at approximately 1300 hours, a hardware store employee waiting in a bank line to make a deposit of currency was shot in the leg while robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash. The location of the robbery is significant as it occurred at the Central Comercial Pavas Banco Nacional, [...] |
2005-10-19 19:19:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC |
| 05SANJOSE2436 |
CID/GALLUP POLL SHOWS GROWING SUPPORT FOR CAFTA-DR [...] Summary. An October 2005 CID/GALLUP poll revealed increases in the knowledge of and support for the United States-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) among Costa Ricans. The poll also shows that the percentage of respondents who believe CAFTA- DR will bring b [...] |
2005-10-19 20:33:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2437 |
COSTA RICA: UNESCO DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] Despite Post efforts to secure Costa Rican support for the U.S. position on the UNESCO declaration, and although our interlocutors have not been in a position to provide specific feedback, it appears that the GOCR does not intend to back our position on this issue. On October 14, 2005, Econ [...] |
2005-10-19 20:34:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD PREL SCUL CS |
| 05SANJOSE2451 |
FORMER PRESIDENT CALDERON RELEASED FROM HOUSE [...] As presaged in Reftel A, former President Rafael Angel Calderon (1990-94) was released from house arrest on October 19, 2005, under conditions similar to those imposed on ex-President Miguel Angel Rodriguez. Specifically, Calderon is prohibited from leaving the country or having any contact [...] |
2005-10-20 21:59:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV CS |
| 05SANJOSE2460 |
PRESIDENT PACHECO SENDS CAFTA-DR TO THE ASSEMBLY TO [...] (SBU) Summary. After meeting with his cabinet in the morning of October 21, 2005, President Pacheco announced that he would send the United States-Central American- Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) to the Legislative Assembly later that day to start the ratification process [...] |
2005-10-21 21:48:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2475 |
COSTA RICA REAFFIRMS ITS SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL IN THE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-10-25 16:16:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL IS CR UNGA |
| 05SANJOSE2493 |
COSTA RICA ON UNESCO CONVENTION: IT'S ALL IN THE [...] In a follow-up meeting on the UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity on October 21, MFA Chief of Multilateral Affairs Carlos Cordero expressed Costa Rica's receptiveness to U.S. input on implementation if and when the convention comes into effect. He acknowledged U.S. concerns over implement [...] |
2005-10-25 22:51:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV CS |
| 05SANJOSE2497 |
COSTA RICA TO BE SUPPORTIVE AT SUMMIT OF THE [...] (SBU) On October 26, Charge and PolOff followed up on an October 20 demarche by paying a call on Foreign Minister Tovar. In an improvement on the MFA's original response (see below), Tovar emphatically agreed with all our proposed changes to the draft declaration. In particular, Tovar highli [...] |
2005-10-27 10:31:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KSUM ECON ELAB CS |
| 05SANJOSE2508 |
NEW COSTA RICAN LAW MAY IMPEDE IMPORTS OF U.S. [...] (SBU) Summary. The October 25, 2005, Official Gazette published a law, effective immediately, that may effectively result in the prevention of exporting U.S. products to Costa Rica. Post is communicating with the GOCR at the Ministerial level, importers, and representatives from other count [...] |
2005-10-28 16:58:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2532 |
COSTA RICA'S NOMINATION TO ATTEND ILEA CRIME SCENE [...] Per reftel, Post nominates the following Costa Rican police officers to attend the ILEA Course Crime Scene Management and Kidnapping in El Salvador from November 14 to 18, 2005. All nominated officers are Costa Rican nationals. Participants: Rigoberto Bogantes Vargas DOB: 09/02/1956 ID: [...] |
2005-11-01 22:33:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC KCRM KJUS CS KTLA |
| 05SANJOSE2535 |
DEFEATING THE SWISS PROPOSAL ON UNSC REFORM [...] (SBU) Poloff discussed reftel demarche with Carlos Cordero, Director for Multilateral Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, on November 1. Cordero was joined by UN Affairs Officer Victor Murillo and Director for Bilateral Policy Ronald Obaldia. In response to our concerns about the Swiss proposal [...] |
2005-11-02 19:10:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL OTRA OVIP KSEP CS UNGA |
| 05SANJOSE2560 |
SAN JOSE ACTIVITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL [...] On November 14, Post, in conjunction with Costa Rica's Binational Center, will host a "Study in the U.S. Symposium." This event will feature an introduction to International Education Week and its importance to the U.S. government by the CAO, a talk by the Binational Center's Educ [...] |
2005-11-04 19:11:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP CS OEXC SCUL KPAO |
| 05SANJOSE2564 |
DEMARCHE RESPONSE: IRAN EXTREMISM [...] Poloff delivered reftel talking points to Carlos Cordero, Chief of Multilateral Affairs at the MFA, on October 31. That same evening, Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar released a statement to the press and diplomatic community condemning the inflammatory rhetoric of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahm [...] |
2005-11-04 19:23:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER PHUM CS |
| 05SANJOSE2565 |
HUMAN INTELLIGENCE THREAT REVIEW FOR U.S. EMBASSY [...] (S/NF) Per request in reftel, Charge chaired a meeting of the Counter Intelligence Working Group (CIWG) to review and discuss the Human Intelligence (HUMINT) threat level at Post. Attending the CIWG were Charge, A/DCM, RSO, DEA Country Attache, ODR Chief and SIMO Chief. CIWG agrees that the [...] |
2005-11-04 19:23:00 | Embassy San Jose | SECRET | ASEC |
| 05SANJOSE2601 |
MEETING WITH COSTA RICAN MINISTER OF ECONOMY [...] (C) Summary. On October 26, 2005, Charge met with Minister of Economy, Industry, and Commerce Gilberto Barrantes. Minister Barrantes commented on the status of the United States-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) and related legislation including the propose [...] |
2005-11-07 23:10:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2611 |
DISCUSSION OF CAFTA-DR BY PRESIDENTS BUSH AND [...] Summary: On November 5, 2005, all of the major Costa Rican dailies ran stories based on comments made by President Pacheco and Foreign Trade Minister Gonzalez about the meeting with President Bush the day before on the United States-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (C [...] |
2005-11-08 21:30:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2640 |
DEMARCHE RESPONSE - UN THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS [...] Embassy delivered reftel talking points to Carlos Cordero, Deputy Chief for Multilateral Affairs, on November 8. In a follow-up conversation with Poloff on November 10, Cordero stated without reservation that Costa Rica would oppose any no-action motions raised with respect to the human rig [...] |
2005-11-11 10:30:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL CS |
| 05SANJOSE2641 |
DEMARCHE REQUEST - UN THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS, [...] Embassy delivered reftel talking points to Carlos Cordero, Deputy Chief for Multilateral Affairs, on November 8. In a follow-up conversation with Poloff on November 10, Cordero stated without reservation that Costa Rica would oppose any no-action motions raised with respect to the human rig [...] |
2005-11-11 10:30:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL CS |
| 05SANJOSE2642 |
HEALTH MINISTRY ORDERS ASSEMBLY TO COMPLY WITH [...] (U) Summary: The Health Ministry ordered the Legislative Assembly on November 7 to either make health and safety repairs in the buildings it occupies within the next two months or shut down various offices. President of the Legislative Assembly Gerardo Gonzalez reacted to the order by accusin [...] |
2005-11-11 10:30:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ETRD CS |
| 05SANJOSE2658 |
COSTA RICA RESPONSE TO USTR REQUEST FOR INFO ON CBI- [...] SUMMARY: Post has updated information provided in previous report using the same format. Post contact is Maria D. Villanueva, (506) 519-2419, Fax (506) 519-2364, villanuevamd@state.gov. End Summary. 2. Country Reports: Compliance with Eligibility Criteria The country reports contained [...] |
2005-11-15 14:30:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON CS |
| 05SANJOSE2664 |
JAN. 1, 2006 ENTRY INTO FORCE HELPS CAFTA-DR IN [...] (SBU) Summary. We know that USTR must make a determination soon so that it can recommend to the President when he should issue his proclamation bringing CAFTA-DR into force. Recognizing that this determination is of greater importance for countries that have already ratified, we want to hig [...] |
2005-11-15 23:37:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECIN PGOV PREL CS |
| 05SANJOSE2689 |
ANTI-CAFTA FORCES HEARTENED BY SUCCESSFUL PROTEST [...] On November 17, about 10,000 protesters participated in the first major demonstration to follow President Abel Pacheco's presentation of the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) to the Legislative Assembly. While the demonstration, organized by labor and stu [...] |
2005-11-18 21:55:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ETRD PREL ELAB CS |
| 05SANJOSE2692 |
SIGNIFICANT CRIMINAL INCIDENTS IN SAN JOSE [...] In the past several weeks, significant criminal acts have been committed near the Embassy or near areas where most Mission personnel live and work that merit reporting at this time. Following is a summary of recent events in San Jose: A. Armed robbery and shooting of Czech diplomat: On N [...] |
2005-11-21 14:22:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC |
| 05SANJOSE2710 |
ON THE ROAD TO SANTA CRUZ: OAS TECHNICAL WORKSHOP [...] SUMMARY: On November 2, Regional Environmental Hub Officer (REO) and Regional Environmental Assistant (REA) joined Dan Martinez, Economic Advisor and Alternate Representative for the U.S. Mission to the OAS, Department of Agriculture official Catherine Karr-Colque, and other U.S. delegation [...] |
2005-11-23 17:15:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV EAGR XS XM CS OAS |
| 05SANJOSE2713 |
MDA DEMARCHE ON ADDITIONAL GENEVA PROTOCOL [...] (SBU) Post delivered reftel demarche on November 17 to Chief of Multilateral Affairs Carlos Cordero. In a follow-up conversation on November 22, Cordero advised Poloff that he would likely be attending the conference in Geneva to discuss the adoption of a third protocol. Cordero made clear th [...] |
2005-11-23 18:52:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC PHUM PREF PREL |
| 05SANJOSE2717 |
COSTS OF NOT HAVING AN ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT ARE [...] (C) The GOCR, though not philosophically opposed to providing the United States with the protections contained in an Article 98 agreement, faces serious political and constitutional impediments, which have for the last two and a half years prevented an agreement from being concluded. Meanwhile [...] |
2005-11-23 22:18:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MASS ETRD EAID CS KICC |
| 05SANJOSE2718 |
COSTA RICA AND AVIAN AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA [...] The responses below key off reftel. A) PREPAREDNESS/COMMUNICATION -- DOES THE GOVERNMENT HAVE A PREPAREDNESS PLAN/STRATEGY FOR PREVENTING AVIAN FLU FROM BECOMING A PANDEMIC AND CONTAINING A PANDEMIC ONCE IT OCCURS? IF THE COUNTRY HAS A STRATEGY, HOW CAPABLE IS IT OF IMPLEMENTING IT? PLEAS [...] |
2005-11-23 22:37:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO SENV EAGR EAID PREL CS |
| 05SANJOSE2726 |
COSTA RICA MINI-DUBLIN GROUP REPORT [...] Summary, Post convened a mini-Dublin Group meeting on November 18, 2005 with representatives from the Embassies of Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The Spanish, French, and Canadian Embassies were unable to participate in the meeting but provided information related to their [...] |
2005-11-25 17:12:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR KJUS KCRM CS |
| 05SANJOSE2727 |
CAFTA SUPPORTERS RALLY FOR LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL [...] Several thousand workers, business owners and merchants marched on Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly on November 24, to encourage the GOCR to ratify without further delay the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The march was widely seen as a rebuttal to la [...] |
2005-11-25 20:08:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ETRD ELAB CS |
| 05SANJOSE2731 |
INVESTOR CONFIDENCE IN COSTA RICA REACHES NEW LOW [...] (U) Summary: The Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR)'s most recent (Jul.-Sept. 2005) quarterly survey says investor confidence has reached a new low. When asked "Is now a good time to invest in Costa Rica, only 4.2 percent said "yes", 75.0 percent said "no", and 20.8 percent were "unsure". En [...] |
2005-11-29 14:09:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV KIDE PGOV CS |
| 05SANJOSE2744 |
COSTA RICA: SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE [...] Costa Rica remains an outspoken critic of the Castro government and a faithful supporter of governmental and human rights reforms in Cuba. Costa Rica severed diplomatic ties with Cuba in 1961, and has shown no signs that it would consider re-establishing formal relations with the Castro gove [...] |
2005-11-29 22:41:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ETTC PREL CS |
| 05SANJOSE2751 |
Child Abduction Update- Kaitlyn Bravo [...] Summary. AmCit Kaitlyn Bravo was abducted in 2002 by her father and taken to Costa Rica. The father turned Kaitlyn over to a local caretaker, who now seeks legal custody. A Consular visit on 17 November was unsuccessful, and it appears the caretaker acted deliberately to deny access. The Con [...] |
2005-12-01 19:01:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | CASC CR |
| 05SANJOSE2787 |
COSTA RICA REPORTING ON OTHER FOREIGN BRIBERY [...] Summary. It has been a year since the story of scandal broke out and there is no sign yet of any criminal charges. On September 28, 2004, the influential daily, La Nacion disclosed the details of a `bonus' paid by the French telecommunications company Alcatel (see reftel A). According to the [...] |
2005-12-05 22:30:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | KCRM KCOR BEXP ETRD EINV ECON PGOV CS |
| 05SANJOSE2794 |
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN COSTA RICA REACHES NEW LOW [...] (U) Summary: According to the results of a November survey conducted by the University of Costa Rica's (UCR) School of Statistics, consumer confidence in Costa Rica has reached a new low. With a four point margin of error the study reveals that 75% of consumers think that the government is d [...] |
2005-12-07 19:43:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV KIDE PGOV CS |
| 05SANJOSE2795 |
COSTA RICA CONTINUES TO SUPPORT ADOPTION OF THIRD [...] No summary [...] |
2005-12-08 10:23:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC PHUM PREF PREL CS ICRC |
| 05SANJOSE2797 |
COSTA RICA WILL ABSTAIN ON VOTE ON ANTI-ISRAEL [...] (SBU) Political counselor delivered reftel B talking points to Jose Joaquin Chaverri, MFA Director General (number-three person in the ministry), on December 7. Polcouns noted U.S. disappointment with Costa Rica's votes on December 1, particularly in light of the promise we received that Costa [...] |
2005-12-08 12:59:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL IS CS UNGA |
| 05SANJOSE2802 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: METHYL BROMIDE EXEMPTION [...] In response to demarche request (Reftel), on December 5, 2005 Post shared talking points with Vice Minister of Environment and Energy Allan Flores, Environmental Coordinator for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Cristina Castro, and Enid Chaverri of the International Cooperation Office. [...] |
2005-12-08 16:57:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV AORC EAGR ETRD PREL |
| 05SANJOSE2808 |
FOREIGN MINISTRY REQUESTS INVESTIGATION INTO [...] On Thursday, December 8, post received a letter from the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry regarding the December 7 shooting death of Costa Rica-born Rigoberto Alpizar in Miami International Airport. Alpizar reportedly is a dual U.S. and Costa Rican national. 2. Translated text of the letter fo [...] |
2005-12-08 22:39:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL CS |
| 05SANJOSE2809 |
COSTA RICA INCSR REPORT 2005 - 2006 PART I, DRUGS [...] (U) The text of Costa Rica's 2005-2006 INCSR Part I is below. Costa Rica I. Summary Costa Rica is becoming a major transshipment point for narcotics to the United States and Europe. Costa Rican officials demonstrate professionalism and reliability as partners in combating ever-changi [...] |
2005-12-08 23:00:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR CS |
| 05SANJOSE2815 |
COSTA RICA INL PD&S REQUEST FOR FY 2006 [...] Per instructions reftel, Post's PD&S request is as follows: Actual Non- Object FY 2005 Recurring Proposed FY 2006 Class Obligations Items Increases Plan ------ ----------- --------- --------- ------- 1142 44,200 [...] |
2005-12-09 21:27:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR AFIN AMGT KFSC CS |
| 05SANJOSE2822 |
MODELING THE ELEPHANT: OECD/OAS GLOBAL FORUM ON [...] Summary: The OAS/OECD Global Forum on Trade session on Technical Assistance and Capacity Building for Trade and Environment was held in San Jose November 3-4. Panels addressed market access, needs and priorities, and other issues related to trade and environment capacity building. Common th [...] |
2005-12-12 12:45:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV ETRD EAID CS |
| 05SANJOSE2826 |
COSTA RICA,S FORMER CAFTA LEAD NEGOTIATOR ANABEL [...] (SBU) Anabel Gonzalez, who was Costa Rica,s lead negotiator for the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) until her resignation in September 2004 reftel has accepted WTO Director General Lamy,s offer to head the WTO,s Agriculture and Commodities Division. Lamy ma [...] |
2005-12-13 10:22:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECIN PREL CS |
| 05SANJOSE2850 |
SCENESETTER: CODEL BLUNT IN COSTA RICA [...] (U) SUMMARY: Embassy San Jose warmly welcomes CODEL Blunt on its December 19 ) 20 visit to Costa Rica. The delegation's visit comes at a time when the main issue in the bilateral relationship is the Central America-Dominican Republic-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The debate [...] |
2005-12-14 00:02:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN ECON ETRD CS |
| 05SANJOSE2858 |
INL SAN JOSE CARRYOVER AMOUNTS [...] No summary [...] |
2005-12-14 22:49:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | AFIN AMGT KFSC SNAR CS |
| 05SANJOSE2881 |
COSTA RICA INCSR REPORT 2005 - 2006 PART II, MONEY [...] No summary [...] |
2005-12-16 22:25:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR KTFN EFIN PTER KCRM CS |
| 05SANJOSE2882 |
AMBASSADOR'S POST MEMORANDUM: SAN JOSE [...] (C) Relations between the United States and Costa Rica are very friendly. Our countries share a strong commitment to democracy and human rights. Costa Rica is the longest continuous democracy in Latin America and serves as an important example of how a long-term commitment to democracy benef [...] |
2005-12-16 23:52:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | ASIG AMGT CS |
| 05SANJOSE2908 |
CODEL BLUNT URGES PROMPT RATIFICATION OF CAFTA-DR [...] (SBU) In a meeting with Costa Rican legislators on December 19, the members of CODEL Blunt delivered a two-fold message: the United States will not renegotiate CAFTA-DR on a bilateral basis with Costa Rica; and the benefits Costa Rica now receives under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) wil [...] |
2005-12-22 10:31:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OREP PREL ETRD CS |
| 05SANJOSE2909 |
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OSCAR ARIAS CONFIDENT OF [...] (C) Presidential candidate Oscar Arias told Ambassador that he (Arias) was "an idiot" to run again for president but that he was under a lot of pressure to come back. Arias said that Costa Rica, which has been neglecting education, infrastructure, and economic development, "cannot afford to w [...] |
2005-12-22 10:31:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ETRD PREL CS |
| 05SANJOSE2928 |
LETTING OFF STEAM: ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT [...] Summary: The VI Regional Forum for the Energy and Environment Partnership with Central America, a 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) initiative, was held in Managua October 5-6. The Forum focused on opportunities for sustainable development and energy diversification linke [...] |
2005-12-27 17:35:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG SENV EAID |
| 05SANJOSE2930 |
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OTTON SOLIS RUNNING AGAINST [...] (C) Presidential candidate Otton Solis told Ambassador that CAFTA-DR "would place Costa Rica in the hands of the multinationals." He said the treaty was one-sided, opening the Costa Rican market to U.S. industrial power, against which Costa Rica cannot hope to compete, and in return providing [...] |
2005-12-27 19:38:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL ECON CS |
| 05SANJOSE2931 |
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OTTO GUEVARA WILL [...] (C) Presidential candidate Otto Guevara, though rising in the polls, does not expect to be elected. He does expect, however, that his Libertarian Movement Party will be a major force in the next Legislative Assembly. He told Ambassador that he has already discussed with the frontrunner Oscar [...] |
2005-12-27 19:39:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL ECON CS |
| 05SANJOSE2932 |
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ANTONIO ALVAREZ DESANTI [...] (C) Presidential candidate Antonio Alvarez Desanti promised, if elected, to bring strong leadership to Costa Rica, focused first on education, health, infrastructure, security, and housing (areas of broad agreement), and then on the more controversial issue of dismantling state monopolies "by [...] |
2005-12-27 19:40:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL ECON CS |
| 05SANJOSE2942 |
CAFTA-DR RATIFICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The debate about the Central America- Dominican Republic-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) started in the unicameral 57-member legislature (the Assembly) on December 6, 2005 after long delays in the Costa Rican administration's decision to send the agreement to the [...] |
2005-12-28 21:42:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE2952 |
ASIAN MARKETS LEAD 2005 COSTA RICAN EXPORT GROWTH [...] Summary. The Costa Rican Trade Promotion Corporation (PROCOMER) has reported that Costa Rican exports this year through October 2005 reached USD 5.77 billion, an increase of ten percent over the same period last year. The biggest increases were realized in exports of agricultural and techno [...] |
2005-12-29 21:05:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS |
| 05SANJOSE488 |
COSTA RICA'S 2004 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT [...] (U) Following is Embassy San Jose's submission for the 2004 annual anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) report. Responses are keyed to sections outlined in reftel, with the first paragraph beginning at 18A. Post's POC for the report is Political Officer Janae Cooley. Telephone number: (506) 5 [...] |
2005-02-28 18:38:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREF PGOV SMIG KWMN KFRD KCRM PREL ELAB ASEC CS |
| 06SANJOSE1 |
SCENESETTER: CODEL BURTON IN COSTA RICA [...] (U) SUMMARY: Embassy San Jose warmly welcomes CODEL Burton on its January 10 ) 12 visit to Costa Rica. The delegation's visit comes at a time when the main issue in the bilateral relationship is the United States-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The debate [...] |
2006-01-03 14:59:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN ETRD CS |
| 06SANJOSE1009 |
FERNANDO BERROCAL, MINISTER OF PUBLIC SECURITY [...] (C) On May 8, 2006, Fernando Berrocal Soto was sworn in as Minister of Public Security and Government, along with the rest of Oscar Arias's cabinet. Berrocal has little background in security issues but extensive political and international experience, including two stints as Costa Rica's Per [...] |
2006-05-11 22:46:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR CS |
| 06SANJOSE1017 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR USAID PARTICIPANTS [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to Democracy and Governance Team Jose Garzon, Ana Klenicki, CAtie Lott, Marie Jude Delatour and Maricela RamirezLeader who will be in Costa Rica on assignment from May 9 to May 13. The purpose of this visit is to attend and represent USAID [...] |
2006-05-12 18:12:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE1059 |
PRESIDENT ARIAS TO CODEL BURTON: "FOREIGN AID IS [...] (SBU) During a May 6 dinner with CODEL Burton, then President-elect Oscar Arias lamented Costa Rica's inability to qualify for most U.S. foreign aid, and concluded that "foreign aid is dead in Washington." Arias stated several times that the U.S. and other Western governments need to change t [...] |
2006-05-16 17:49:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL CS VZ |
| 06SANJOSE1060 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR BRIAN STAURSETH [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to TSA International Brian Staurseth who will be in Costa Rica SIPDIS on assignment from May 31 to June 9. The purpose of this visit is to assist the American Aviation Safety Agency (ACSA) in producing technical guidance material or civ [...] |
2006-05-16 19:41:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE1061 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR AMEETA PATEL [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to OPIC Investment funds analyst, Ameeta Patel who will be in Costa Rica on assignment from May 16 to May 21. The purpose of this visit is to attend an Advisory Board Meeting for OPIC's investment fund Paladin Realty Funds a local portfoli [...] |
2006-05-16 19:42:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE1087 |
CALLS FOR COSTA RICA TO BE ERASED FROM IRAQ [...] The Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on May 16 calling for the GOCR to insist that the USG remove Costa Rica from the list of Coalition Members for Operation Iraqi Freedom that appears on the White House Web site. President Arias said he would ask his Foreign Minister to t [...] |
2006-05-17 23:15:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL OPDC PARM CS |
| 06SANJOSE1090 |
FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER STAGNO'S LETTER TO [...] This is an action request. Please see paragraph 6. 2. As expected (see reftel), Embassy received an official request from the GOCR for "the definite exclusion of the name of Costa Rica from any official websites that refer to the 'Coalition' and the support given to the war in Iraq." The [...] |
2006-05-18 21:03:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | OPDC PREL PARM PGOV IZ CS |
| 06SANJOSE1106 |
COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT URIBE DISCUSSES FREE TRADE [...] (SBU) Summary: In a May 8 meeting with the six members of CODEL Burton on the margins of Oscar Arias's presidential inauguration, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe urged rapid U.S. Congressional action on a free trade agreement with Colombia. He said that a failure to act quickly would bolst [...] |
2006-05-19 22:13:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV ETRD CS CO |
| 06SANJOSE1124 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR BENJAMIN GARRIDO-GODOY AND [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors Benjamin Garrido- Godoy and Donald Carnicella who will be in Costa Rica on assignment from June 6 to June 16. The purpose of this visit is to conduct initial certification of Helicorp SA and certification [...] |
2006-05-23 20:48:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE1151 |
MARCO VARGAS, MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO [...] Marco Antonio VARGAS Diaz will likely play a key role in the Arias Administration. Vargas is part of Oscar Arias's innermost circle of advisers. His stated role is to serve as an inter-institutional coordinator and troubleshooter, charged with ensuring delivery on Arias's campaign promises. [...] |
2006-05-25 16:21:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PINR PGOV PREL CS |
| 06SANJOSE1162 |
ALFREDO VOLIO, MINISTER OF PRODUCTION [...] Alfredo Volio was appointed by President Arias to head a new Ministry of Production which is a combination of two traditional ministries, the Ministry of Agriculture (MAG) and the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC). Volio is a 46-year-old businessman who has worked in food trad [...] |
2006-05-26 14:39:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PINR EAGR EIND PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE1171 |
G/TIP-FUNDED TRAINING ASSISTS PROSECUTION OF TWO [...] Summary: On May 24, 2006, two auditors with the powerful Comptroller's Office were each sentenced to nine years in prison on charges that included paid sex with minors and the production and diffusion of pornography. The officials were arrested in the port city of Limon on September 10, 2004 [...] |
2006-05-26 21:56:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM KCRM CS |
| 06SANJOSE1182 |
COSTA RICA'S 2006 AMBASSADOR'S FUND FOR REFUGEES [...] Please find following Embassy San Jose's submission for the 2006 Ambassador's Fund for Refugees. 2. Description of project: USD 18,618 to set up and operate a training center in San Jose to provide English language and computer skills training. The center will provide English training fr [...] |
2006-05-31 21:24:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF CS |
| 06SANJOSE1195 |
OAS/GA: COSTA RICA RESPONSE TO VENEZUELAN [...] (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel talking points on May 31 to Carlos Cordero, Director of Multilateral Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Cordero stated that Costa Rica's delegation to the OAS General Assembly meetings will be Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno, Amb. Jose Joaquin Chaverri, Dir [...] |
2006-05-31 22:33:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV ECON MX CS VZ |
| 06SANJOSE1196 |
FOREIGN MINISTER STAGNO SUPPORTIVE OF USG EFFORTS [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-01 14:57:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE1203 |
COSTA RICA RESPONSE TO IRAQ GOVERNMENT FORMATION [...] (SBU) Poloff sent reftel talking points on May 22 to Carlos Cordero, Director of Multilateral Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In a meeting with Poloff on May 31, Cordero indicated that Costa Rica did not issue any statement regarding the new Iraqi government, nor are there any pla [...] |
2006-06-02 14:46:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL CS |
| 06SANJOSE1216 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR TREASURY ADVISOR ERNEST [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to Treasury Advisor, Ernest Valverde who will be in Costa Rica on assignment from June 11 to June 17. The purpose of this visit is to work with the Minister of Finance on an ongoing tax administration project. 2. Post understands no as [...] |
2006-06-02 22:26:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE1217 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR TREASURY ADVISOR JOE DALTON [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to Treasury Advisor, Joe Dalton Hook, who will be in Costa Rica on assignment from June 12 to June 24. The purpose of this visit is to work with the Minister of Finance on an ongoing tax administration project. 2. Post understands no a [...] |
2006-06-02 22:27:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE1218 |
COSTA RICA ASKS IRAN TO STOP NUCLEAR ENRICHMENT [...] Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno made the following public statement on June 1 calling on Iran to stop nuclear enrichment activities: "Costa Rica agrees with the international call for Iran to suspend its processing and enrichment of uranium, whose consequences could put the world at risk of a [...] |
2006-06-02 23:07:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL IR CS |
| 06SANJOSE1219 |
COSTA RICA RED CROSS PARTICIPATION AT [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-02 23:11:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC ICRC PHUM PREF PREL CS |
| 06SANJOSE1235 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR TREASURY ADVISOR ROBERT [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to Treasury Advisor, Robert Klayman, who will be in Costa Rica on assignment from June 18 to June 24. The purpose of this visit is to work with the Minister of Finance on an ongoing tax administration project. 2. Post understands no as [...] |
2006-06-06 10:32:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE1251 |
GOCR TROTS OUT THE "COSTA RICA CONSENSUS" [...] The GOCR used the Santo Domingo meeting of the OAS General Assembly to make its proposal "to link international cooperation with peace, social investment, sustainable development, and a reduction in military spending," which it calls the Costa Rica Consensus. In his speech to the OASGA on Ju [...] |
2006-06-07 16:48:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL ECON EAID EFIN CS |
| 06SANJOSE1252 |
COSTA RICA - 2006 REPORT ON INVESTMENT DISPUTES AND [...] (U) SUMMARY. The Embassy is aware of two outstanding American business claims against the Government of Costa Rica (GOCR). Since our last report in January 2005, the GOCR has made little effort to resolve these investment disputes despite Embassy efforts to urge conciliation or arbitration t [...] |
2006-06-07 17:29:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV KIDE EFIN PGOV PREL ECON CS |
| 06SANJOSE1253 |
COSTA RICA - 2006 REPORT ON INVESTMENT DISPUTES AND [...] (U) SUMMARY. The Embassy is aware of two outstanding American business claims against the Government of Costa Rica (GOCR). Since our last report in January 2005, the GOCR has made little effort to resolve these investment disputes despite Embassy efforts to urge conciliation or arbitration t [...] |
2006-06-07 17:29:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV KIDE EFIN PGOV PREL ECON CS |
| 06SANJOSE1254 |
COSTA RICA - 2006 REPORT ON INVESTMENT DISPUTES AND [...] (U) SUMMARY. The Embassy is aware of two outstanding American business claims against the Government of Costa Rica (GOCR). Since our last report in January 2005, the GOCR has made little effort to resolve these investment disputes despite Embassy efforts to urge conciliation or arbitration t [...] |
2006-06-07 17:30:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV KIDE EFIN PGOV PREL ECON CS |
| 06SANJOSE1256 |
PINEAPPLES AND CHIPS PROPEL COSTA RICAN EXPORT [...] Summary: Costa Rica's export sales for the first quarter of 2006 are up 22% over the previous year. The Ministry of Foreign Trade (COMEX) attributes the growth to increases in sales of pineapples and microprocessors. End Summary. 2. Costa Rica's exports for the first quarter of 2006 were [...] |
2006-06-07 17:31:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON EFIN |
| 06SANJOSE1264 |
COSTA RICA'S GROWING FIREARMS PROBLEM [...] (C) Summary: Incoming Minister of Public Security Fernando Berrocal filed a formal complaint with the Attorney General's Office on May 30, 2006, based on the disappearance of over 100 weapons, including military assault rifles, grenades, and large quantities of ammunition, from the national a [...] |
2006-06-07 22:23:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM KCRM PINR ASEC CS |
| 06SANJOSE1267 |
COSTA RICA NOT YET COMMITTED TO PSI ENDORSEMENT [...] On June 1, Post hosted a digital video conference (DVC) between members of the Costa Rica Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and several officials in Washington from the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation as well as a Department of Defense official. The Costa Rican delegatio [...] |
2006-06-08 14:43:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | MNUC PARM PGOV PHSA PREL KNNP CS |
| 06SANJOSE127 |
COSTA RICA SEEKS TO AVOID CONSEQUENCES OF NOT [...] (C) President Pacheco on January 11 convoked his ministers of foreign affairs, foreign trade, and labor and the Costa Rican Ambassador to the U.S. to discuss with Ambassador and Polcouns the ramifications of the Nethercutt Amendment for Costa Rica. The GOCR officials were specifically concer [...] |
2006-01-19 14:10:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MASS ETRD EAID CS KICC |
| 06SANJOSE1276 |
IMPACT OF PUBLIC UNION PROTEST SMALL [...] The work stoppage and protest planned for June 7 and 8 took place on June 7 only, and the effects on economic activity in Costa Rica were minimal. The narrow focus of the work stoppage - the nullification of various provisions in public employee collective bargaining agreements - did not app [...] |
2006-06-09 17:38:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE1281 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR USAID DR. LUCRECIA CASTILLO [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to Technical Projects Officer Lucrecia Castillo who will be on assignment from June 13 to June 14. The purpose of this visit is to meet the Costa Rican Vice-Minister of Health as well as with PASCA and CDC-CAP personnel. 2. Post would [...] |
2006-06-09 21:51:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE129 |
COSTA RICA WILL CONSIDER RESETTLEMENT OF PROTECTED [...] Per Reftel A, and taking advantage of remarks by visiting CODEL Burton, who expressed appreciation for Costa Rica's willingness to resettle 20 protected Cuban migrants in December of 2004, DCM on January 11 asked Minister of Public Security Rogelio Ramos for assistance with resettling another [...] |
2006-01-19 16:21:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF PREL SMIG CS |
| 06SANJOSE1299 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CAROLINE BREARLEY AND LARRY [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to Caroline Brearley and Larry Brady, USAID Mission in San Salvador, Officials to travel to Costa Rica O/A 06/27- 28/2006. Purpose of the visit: is to iIntroduce the Rregional tTrade pProgram to the U.S. Embassy and to counterparts in th [...] |
2006-06-13 16:34:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV OTRA EAID ES CS |
| 06SANJOSE131 |
ARIAS AND PACHECO ON THE NEXT GOVERNMENT OF COSTA [...] (C) Both President Pacheco and Oscar Arias, frontrunner to be the next president, said in separate meetings with CODEL Burton that they expect a better political climate in Costa Rica after the February 5 elections. Arias said that Costa Ricans have reason to be annoyed with the political cl [...] |
2006-01-19 20:58:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ETRD VE CS |
| 06SANJOSE132 |
CODEL BURTON ENGAGES GOCR ON CAFTA-DR AND U.S. [...] In his third visit to Costa Rica in a year (see reftels for previous visits), Representative Dan Burton (R-IN) met with President Pacheco, several members of his cabinet, key legislators, and Pacheco's probable successor as president, Oscar Arias. As in previous visits, discussions focused on [...] |
2006-01-19 21:18:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | OREP ETRD EAGR PREL PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE1339 |
COSTA RICA RED CROSS SUPPORTS RED CRYSTAL AMENDMENT [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-14 22:20:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF PREL PHUM ICRC CS |
| 06SANJOSE136 |
COSTA RICA ON REPORTING IRAN TO THE UNSC [...] No summary [...] |
2006-01-20 17:44:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM KNNP CS |
| 06SANJOSE1375 |
COSTA RICAN NOMINATION FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to nominate Starbucks for the Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) in the SIPDIS Multinational Enterprise (MNE) category (refs A and B). The goal of the ACE is to 1) highlight the good works of the winners, and 2) inspire others to follow th [...] |
2006-06-16 22:18:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP EINV ETRD ELAB SENV KSEP CS |
| 06SANJOSE1390 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR OAS IICA MEETING STACY [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to Stacy Williams, USOAS representative who will be on assignment from June 14 to June 17. The purpose of this visit is to participate in the Special Advisory Committee on Management Issues meeting at the Inter American Institute for Coop [...] |
2006-06-19 22:06:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | OTRA OAS CS |
| 06SANJOSE1409 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR TREASURY ADVISOR LARRY [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to Treasury Advisors, Larry Westfall, Shirley Bachman, Richard Voskuil,and Marvin Halldorson who will be in Costa Rica on assignment from June 28 to August 23 for Westfall; July 4 to July 19 for Voskuil; July 9 to July 19 for Hallsdorson; J [...] |
2006-06-22 16:33:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE1410 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR FAA INSPECTOR DARRELL TED [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grants ex post facto country clearance to FAA Aviation Safety Inspector Darrell Ted Webb who was in Costa Rica on assignment on June 20. The purpose of the visit was to perform operations a procedure/performance inspection on Tradewinds Airlines, Inc. conducted [...] |
2006-06-22 19:42:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE1427 |
ARIAS TOURS EUROPE, CALLS FOR DEBT FORGIVENESS AND [...] (SBU) President Oscar Arias recently toured Europe for 13 days, meeting with political and business leaders in three countries. He once again brought forth his Costa Rica Consensus notion for debt forgiveness, and used several occasions to call for free trade and the elimination of farm subs [...] |
2006-06-23 22:21:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ECON EFIN CS |
| 06SANJOSE1436 |
HIV GLOBAL FUND NEEDS ASSESSMENT [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-26 21:37:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV TBIO |
| 06SANJOSE1513 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR TONY CAMBAS [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to Tony Cambas from Booz Allen, Hamilton,Inc. who will be in Costa Rica from July 16-27, 2006. The purpose of this trip is to implement the second phase of the risk management training under FASTrade's CAFTA-DR Action Plan. 2. Control [...] |
2006-07-07 19:12:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE1529 |
DELAY LIKELY FOR NEW IMMIGRATION LAW [...] (C) President Oscar Arias has requested legislation that would delay the implementation of a law passed in October, 2005 designed to strengthen the immigration enforcement authority of Costa Rican Immigration (CRI) officials. The law is scheduled to take effect in August 2006. In all likeli [...] |
2006-07-11 15:12:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | KCRM PGOV PREF SMIG CS |
| 06SANJOSE156 |
COSTA RICA DEMARCHED ON UN REFORM [...] (C) Summary: Ambassador Langdale and visiting A/DAS David Lindwall delivered reftel demarche to Foreign Minister Tovar on January 17. Tovar was receptive to all of our points, but seemed most inclined to cooperate on reforms to the Human Rights Commission. End Summary. UNHRC ----- 2. (C [...] |
2006-01-24 13:55:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KUNR PHUM ADCO CS |
| 06SANJOSE1569 |
BLUE LANTERN END-USE CHECK LICENSE 05-972668 [...] PolOffs visited Marco Aguilar, President of Koruma Lenex Seguridad, S.A. on July 10. Confirming the information sent ref B, Aguilar readily admitted that all 20 Marlin rifles purchased under the license in question had been sold directly to Armeria Rex. Aguilar added that he had requested a [...] |
2006-07-14 22:55:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETTC KOMC CS |
| 06SANJOSE158 |
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE RICARDO TOLEDO SWIMMING [...] (C) In a meeting with Ambassador on January 9, President Pacheco's confidant and former chief of staff Ricardo Toledo tried to put the best light possible on his foundering presidential campaign--a difficult task considering he has not broken 5 percent in the polls and now appears to have sli [...] |
2006-01-24 14:21:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL ECON CS |
| 06SANJOSE1586 |
BLUE LANTERN LEVEL TWO END USE CHECKS: APPLICATION [...] Summary: PolOffs visited Importadora de Armas Martin Armar on July 14. The business is located in the basement of a private residence, is owned by Juan Carlos Martin, and has one employee, Carmen Zamora. Post previously obtained information from the Costa Rican government confirming that M [...] |
2006-07-18 21:20:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETTC KOMC CS |
| 06SANJOSE159 |
OSCAR ARIAS ON PRIORITIES FOR HIS GOVERNMENT [...] (C) An Arias Administration will make a priority of spending whatever political capital is necessary to ratify and implement CAFTA-DR. Arias offered to be helpful to the Untied States in the region, promoting free trade and opposing a leftward political drift. Arias seems unable to accept th [...] |
2006-01-24 14:34:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE1622 |
Costa Rica to Construct Plasma-Propelled Space Rocket [...] Summary: Costa Rican national hero Franklin Chang, a former NASA astronaut and dual U.S.-Costa Rican national, recently opened a local branch of his Ad Astra Technologies Company in Liberia, Guanacaste, one of the country's poorest regions. The laboratory is the first of its kind in Central A [...] |
2006-07-24 22:14:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EINV NASA CS |
| 06SANJOSE1650 |
A/S SHANNON VISITS TOP COSTA RICAN OFFICIALS [...] (C) Summary: A/S Tom Shannon visited Costa Rica June 27-29, calling on key officials of the new Arias Administration as well as the International Relations Committee of the Legislative Assembly. A/S Shannon discussed security issues and prospects for ratification of the Central American Free [...] |
2006-07-28 19:27:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR CS |
| 06SANJOSE1665 |
COSTA RICAN AND NICARAGUAN FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET, [...] Summary: The Foreign Ministers of Costa Rica and Nicaragua met in San Jose to discuss bilateral issues on July 26, 2006. They agreed to renew a Binational Commission that has not met for nine years. They avoided discussion of the two most contentious issues between the two countries, Costa [...] |
2006-08-03 14:54:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PBTS PREL NU CS |
| 06SANJOSE1747 |
COSTA RICA ON CASTRO SUCCESSION [...] (C) Ambassador discussed reftel talking points with Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Stagno on August 4, 2006. Stagno indicated that he would discuss the situation with Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas Shannon when they were in Bogota, Colombia, on August 7 f [...] |
2006-08-09 22:36:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL CU CR |
| 06SANJOSE1780 |
COSTA RICA: URGENT DEMARCHE ON UNSC LEBANON [...] (U) On August 12, as instructed per Reftel, DCM provided copies of the non-paper, the Secretary's statement and UNSCR 1701 to Antonio Alarcon, Chief of Staff for FonMin Stagno. DCM and Pol/C followed up with a meeting with Alarcon at OOB on August 14. DCM reiterated the importance of not only [...] |
2006-08-14 20:55:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER MOPS UNSC IS LE CS |
| 06SANJOSE1781 |
COSTA RICA: URGENT DEMARCHE ON UNSC LEBANON [...] (U) On August 12, as instructed per Reftel, DCM provided copies of the non-paper, the Secretary's statement and UNSCR 1701 to Antonio Alarcon, Chief of Staff for FonMin Stagno. DCM and Pol/C followed up with a meeting with Alarcon at OOB on August 14. DCM reiterated the importance of not only [...] |
2006-08-14 21:18:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER MOPS UNSC IS LE CS |
| 06SANJOSE1792 |
COSTA RICA--BEING OUTSIDE CAFTA HAS CONSEQUENCES [...] (U) Summary. The Dominican Republic and Costa Rica are the only signatories where CAFTA-DR is not yet in force. Costa Rica is the only country that has not ratified the agreement. Although the Arias Administration has placed a high priority on both ratification and passage of the necessary i [...] |
2006-08-15 22:22:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EINV ECIN PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE180 |
COSTA RICAN VOTING PROCEDURES FOR FEBRUARY 5 [...] Summary: Costa Rica has a long tradition of free and fair elections. We expect no problems on February 5 when voters will choose a new president and national legislature. Perhaps the most interesting outcome, besides who wins, will be the level of voter turnout. Historically very high in C [...] |
2006-01-25 21:17:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE181 |
COSTA RICA: UNIVERSALIZATION OF THE FRAMEWORK [...] (SBU) Summary: The MFA told us that the Framework Treaty on Democratic Security in Central America stands no chance of ratification in Costa Rica without substantial modifications. Negotiations on modifying the treaty took place three years ago, and Costa Rica is willing to restart those neg [...] |
2006-01-25 22:26:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PARM PREL MARR MCAP CS |
| 06SANJOSE1815 |
COSTA RICA: DEMARCHE ON UN HIGH LEVEL DIALOGUE [...] (SBU) On August 16, PolCouns and Poloffs met with Carlos Cordero, Director of Multilateral Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Guisella Sanchez, head of the Human Rights Division at the MFA, to discuss talking points from reftel delivered to Cordero on August 4. 2. (SBU) San [...] |
2006-08-17 18:32:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID PREF SMIG UNGA CS |
| 06SANJOSE1840 |
SUCCESSFUL NDU DEMOCRATIC SECURITY SEMINAR [...] SUMMARY: With Embassy support, the National Defense University's Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies (CHDS) presented a weekend seminar on methodologies for developing a national-level democratic security strategy to top officials of the Arias Administration on July 28-31, 2006. The seminar [...] |
2006-08-18 22:34:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL CS |
| 06SANJOSE1841 |
COSTA RICA DEFENDS EMBASSY MOVE TO TEL AVIV [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a public ceremony marking his administration,s 100 days in office, President Oscar Arias explained that his government,s decision to move its embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv was not a slap to Israel, but was consistent with Costa Rica,s "respect" for UN resolutions and inte [...] |
2006-08-18 23:13:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IS XK CS |
| 06SANJOSE1848 |
TERRORISM FINANCE: REQUEST FOR POSTS' NOMINATION [...] No summary [...] |
2006-08-22 21:24:00 | Embassy San Jose | SECRET | KTFN EFIN PTER PREL ETTC |
| 06SANJOSE1913 |
COSTA RICA ON THE P5+1 INCENTIVE PACKAGE FOR IRAN [...] No summary [...] |
2006-08-30 00:42:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PARM KNNP IR EU AORC CS |
| 06SANJOSE193 |
ARIAS LIKELY TO WIN PRESIDENCY, BUT WITHOUT [...] (U) Reputable polls conducted over the last six months show Oscar Arias, who was president 1986-90, with a consistent and commanding lead to be reelected president on February 5. Polls taken in late January show Arias, considered a centrist candidate, to have the support of 45-49 percent of [...] |
2006-01-26 22:16:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE1933 |
REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE ON PROPOSED COSTA RICAN ARMS [...] Post requests Department's guidance in responding to Costa Rica's latest proposal for a framework treaty on arms trading. Ref A conveyed Department's opposition to Costa Rica's efforts to propose an earlier version of the treaty at the OAS more than a year and a half ago. The original propo [...] |
2006-08-30 23:03:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PARM KTIA ETRD CS |
| 06SANJOSE1952 |
DUE DILIGENCE FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S 2006 AWARD FOR [...] Embassy San Jos is pleased to respond to Ref. A questions regarding our nomination of Starbucks for the Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) in the Multinational Enterprise (MNE) category (refs b and c), as follows: A) Could there possibly be any downside or embarrassme [...] |
2006-08-31 23:05:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ECON ETRD ELAB SENV KSEP CS |
| 06SANJOSE1955 |
COSTA RICA ON CUBAN TRANSITION: WE,LL DO IT OUR WAY [...] (C) SUMMARY: On August 28, Ambassador and DCM called on FM Bruno Stagno to discuss how to further bilateral and regional cooperation in support of a democratic transition in Cuba. Stagno was receptive to the suggestion that Arias and the GOCR use Costa Rica,s "moral stature" to advocate chan [...] |
2006-09-01 17:24:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CU CI CS |
| 06SANJOSE197 |
COSTA RICA: SAICM DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] Requested demarche on the February 4-6 International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) was delivered on January 27 to Enid Chaverri, the Environment Ministry's Acting Director of the Office for International Coop [...] |
2006-01-27 21:07:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV ETRD ECON PREL PGOV |
| 06SANJOSE1975 |
NSDD 38 DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, OFFICE OF TECHNICAL [...] This cable responds to reftel in which the U.S. Treasury Department requests to establish a resident budget advisor in Costa Rica's Ministry of Finance. Embassy San Jose welcomes the initiative to assist the GOCR with budget formulation, execution and analysis. Responses are in accordance with [...] |
2006-09-05 22:12:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | AODE APER AMGT ASEC KCOM KMRS KSPR CS |
| 06SANJOSE2004 |
COSTA RICA'S INCREASING ECONOMIC INEQUALITY [...] The World Bank's recent report on poverty in Costa Rica stressed the widening gap in incomes between skilled and unskilled workers. The report cited external as well as internal factors as the cause. The World Bank recommended increasing the quality of secondary education; a wiser, more targ [...] |
2006-09-11 22:01:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE2037 |
ARIAS ACCEPTS FIRST RESIGNATION: TELECOM MONOPOLY GETS NEW [...] (U) SUMMARY. The Board President of Costa Rica's telecommunications monopoly, ICE, resigned on September 12 and was replaced almost immediately by a new head whose nomination improves CAFTA ratification and implementation prospects. Introduction of the long-promised telecom legislative packag [...] |
2006-09-13 18:44:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EINV ECIN PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE204 |
"COSTA RICA CONSENSUS:" OSCAR ARIAS'S [...] (SBU) Summary: Oscar Arias, the likely next president of Costa Rica, appears poised to call for a "Costa Rica Consensus," a debt-relief initiative that would be a centerpiece of a promised "active and progressive" foreign policy. He plans to convene an international summit in San Jose to pe [...] |
2006-01-27 22:38:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ECON EAID CS |
| 06SANJOSE2041 |
(CORRECTED COPY) ARIAS ACCEPTS FIRST RESIGNATION: TELECOM [...] (U) SUMMARY. The Board President of Costa Rica's telecommunications monopoly, ICE, resigned on September 12 and was replaced almost immediately by a new head whose nomination improves CAFTA ratification and implementation prospects. Introduction of the long-promised telecom legislative packag [...] |
2006-09-13 21:19:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EINV ECIN PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE2060 |
SECURITY MINISTER ON DMA PARTICIPATION AND [...] (C) The GOCR has not decided to downgrade its participation in the upcoming Defense Ministerial of the Americas (DMA), according to Security Minister Fernando Berrocal; the minister told the Ambassador on September 8 that he saw no reason not to attend at least part of the DMA. On other issu [...] |
2006-09-14 23:06:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PGOV SNAR XK CS |
| 06SANJOSE2113 |
NATIONAL GUARD STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FOR COSTA [...] (U) See action request, para 7. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Public Security Minister Berrocal is enthusiastic about the National Guard,s State Partnership Program (SPP). Using his relationship with Governor Richardson, which dates from their service as UN Permreps, Berrocal believes he has a partn [...] |
2006-09-25 19:50:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL MARR PGOV SNAR XK CS |
| 06SANJOSE2162 |
JOINT STOCK EXCHANGE PLANNED FOR PANAMA, COSTA RICA AND EL [...] No summary [...] |
2006-09-29 15:03:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EINV ECIN CS |
| 06SANJOSE2188 |
FAKE T-SHIRTS PROMPT RARE IPR CONVICTION IN COSTA RICA [...] No summary [...] |
2006-10-03 18:31:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EINV ECIN CS |
| 06SANJOSE2237 |
SECURITY MINISTER TO VISIT U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND [...] (C) Minister of Public Security Fernando Berrocal has requested Embassy assistance in organizing an official visit to U.S. Southern Command, preferably on Wednesday, November 15, 2006. The visit would coincide with an official visit with Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico that will take [...] |
2006-10-11 23:00:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PGOV SNAR CS |
| 06SANJOSE2259 |
RESPONSE TO ACTION REQUEST REGARDING [...] Summary. Energy production and distribution in Costa Rica are controlled by two parastatal entities. If the U.S.- Central America-DR Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) is ratified and comes into force before the March 2008 deadline, CAFTA-DR will require opening of some sectors of the economy, b [...] |
2006-10-13 19:59:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PREL PGOV XK XL XM |
| 06SANJOSE2263 |
COSTA RICA REESTABLISHING TIES TO ARAB WORLD; ALSO [...] SUMMARY: Costa Rica has restored diplomatic relations with Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain and Yemen, following its decision to move its embassy in Israel from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. The GOCR also plans to open embassies in India and Singapore. The GOCR will use these newly-expanded ties to seek addi [...] |
2006-10-14 10:32:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL XF BA EG KU YMCS |
| 06SANJOSE227 |
ARIAS FIRST-ROUND VICTORY ASSURED ON FEBRUARY 5; [...] The most scientific poll on the February 5 elections shows that Oscar Arias has twice the support of his closest rival, Otton Solis -- 49.6 percent to Solis's 25.4 percent. (Arias needs only 40 percent to avoid a runoff election.) Arias leads among all socioeconomic (education and income) gro [...] |
2006-01-31 16:41:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE2312 |
PORT WORKERS PROTEST CONCESSIONS, TEST GOCR RESOLVE [...] A show-down between the government and unionized dock workers in the country,s Atlantic ports may serve as a harbinger of GOCR resolve and capacity for dealing with promised mobilization against the country,s CAFTA-DR commitments. Since September 23, the government and port workers have been [...] |
2006-10-20 19:38:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB ECON PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE2316 |
128 CHINESE AND PERUVIAN MIGRANTS INTERCEPTED BY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: October 11-18, in an international, inter-agency operation involving the Costa Rican Coast Guard (SNGC), the US Coast Guard, the Peruvian Air Force, the GOCR's Directorate of Immigration (and MOTR Plan participants in Washington), 128 Chinese and Peruvian intending immigrants we [...] |
2006-10-23 14:10:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREL KCRM CS PE |
| 06SANJOSE2320 |
NATIONAL ANTI-CAFTA PROTEST OCTOBER 23-24 [...] (C) SUMMARY: A broad coalition of union and student groups is posed to square off against the GOCR October 23-24, protesting mostly CAFTA but also pay increases below the rate of inflation and the high cost of living. Both sides have much at stake. The anti-CAFTA forces want to shake GOCR r [...] |
2006-10-23 21:36:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB ETRD PGOV ASEC CS |
| 06SANJOSE2371 |
UNSC RACE: DUELING DIP NOTES IN COSTA RICA [...] (U) In the past week, both Venezuela and Guatemala continued their diplomatic lobbying efforts in Costa Rica for the 2007 GRULAC UNSC seat. In a circular Diplomatic Note dated 18 October (Ref A), the GOV reiterated that "it was maintaining and would maintain until the end" its candidacy, beca [...] |
2006-10-26 17:19:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL UNSC GT VE CS |
| 06SANJOSE2373 |
POLICE DIRECTOR RESIGNS, REPLACED BY PILOT [...] (U) SUMMARY: On October 19, Police Director Osvaldo Alpizar Nunez resigned to face an investigation into charges he used official cellphones to make death threats against former policeman Alexis Ugalde. Alpizar is the first high-ranking official in the Ministry of Public Security to leave off [...] |
2006-10-26 18:29:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MOPS PINR CS |
| 06SANJOSE2379 |
COSTA RICAN IMMIGRATION DIRECTOR PLANS MAJOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: Costa Rican Immigration Director Mario Zamora recently told us that months of intense work with 2nd Vice President Kevin Casas (a personal friend who also functions as Minister of Planning) were about to bear fruit in the form of fundamental reforms to the information systems and [...] |
2006-10-27 10:32:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREF KFRD CASC CS |
| 06SANJOSE2431 |
ANTI-CAFTA PROTEST IN COSTA RICA: TACTICAL VICTORY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On October 23 and 24, a two-day strike and associated demonstrations against CAFTA ratification took place throughout Costa Rica. The peaceful demonstrations fell short of organizers, expectations and disruptions in basic services and transit were largely avoided. Costa Rican [...] |
2006-10-31 23:51:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE2511 |
MICHAEL ERIC KITE/USAID TDY REPORTING CABLE [...] Summary: USAID/W Democracy Officer, Eric Kite, from the DCHA/DG/Strategic Planning and Research Division (SAR) completed a five-day TDY (November 2 to November 6) for USAID. Mr. Kite worked with USAID grantees University of Costa Rica and Vanderbilt University and an associated multi-nationa [...] |
2006-11-07 19:54:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE2523 |
Costa Rica: TFCA Eligibility and the Gesling Ranch case [...] No summary [...] |
2006-11-07 22:44:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV KIDE CS |
| 06SANJOSE2543 |
COSTA RICA NOT LIKELY TO OPPOSE CUBA EMBARGO [...] (SBU) Late afternoon of November 7, Polcouns discussed reftel talking points regarding the Cuba embargo resolution and the proposed Australian human rights amendment with Antonio Alarcon, chief of staff for Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Stagno. Post also delivered talking points to the Mi [...] |
2006-11-09 16:59:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | UNGA PREL PHUM UN CS |
| 06SANJOSE258 |
COSTA RICA 2005 END-USE MONITORING REPORT [...] Per Reftel Embassy San Jose provides the following information regarding end-use monitoring of resources acquired with U.S. Department of State International Narcotics Control (INL) funds. 2. Procedures: Embassy San Jose INL section maintains an inventory of donated property using an Excel s [...] |
2006-02-01 21:14:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR AMGT PGOV PINR PREL CS |
| 06SANJOSE2581 |
CARIBBEAN PORT SLOWDOWN ENDS POSITIVELY FOR [...] (U) SUMMARY: On October 27, a month-long standoff between dockworkers in the Caribbean ports of Limon and Moin ended. A full strike over the last four days of the slowdown added to the financial losses the region was already suffering, causing a cruise ship with 3,000 passengers to cancel a p [...] |
2006-11-15 10:33:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB ECON PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE2614 |
COSTA RICAN RESPONSES TO UN-RELATED DEMARCHES [...] (U) On November 14, PolCouns and Poloff met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials to discuss pending Third Committee country-specific human rights resolutions, the upcoming International Law Commission election, and the recent Costa Rican UNGA votes concerning Cuba. In attendance were D [...] |
2006-11-17 19:54:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ILC PHUM PREL UNGA UNHRC CS |
| 06SANJOSE2617 |
CAFTA RATIFICATION ADVANCES IN COSTA RICA [...] (U) Summary. Although President Arias has made it a top priority, Costa Rican efforts to ratify and implement CAFTA-DR have proceeded at a slow pace, but are picking up speed. After more than five months of committee deliberations, the President of the legislative assembly (the Asamblea), wi [...] |
2006-11-17 20:50:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON PGOV KIPR CS |
| 06SANJOSE2646 |
COSTA RICA: EMERGENCY SPECIAL SESSION OF UNGA [...] No summary [...] |
2006-11-21 16:30:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UNGA CS |
| 06SANJOSE2649 |
COSTA RICAN VIEWS ON ECUADOR WTO CASE ON BANANAS [...] Vice Minister for Foreign Trade Amparo Pacheco gave the following answers to us when we inquired about whether the GOCR planned to join Ecuador's WTO case against the EU on bananas. 2. Question: Will Costa Rica join Ecuador in the arbitration panel against the European Union? Answer: No [...] |
2006-11-21 17:15:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EAGR ECIN ECON CS |
| 06SANJOSE2671 |
COSTA RICA MINI-DUBLIN GROUP REPORT [...] Summary: Post convened a mini-Dublin Group meeting on November 17, 2006 with representatives of the embassies of Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The U.S. counternarcotics program remains the largest among Dublin Group members in Costa [...] |
2006-11-24 13:36:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR PREL KCRM CS |
| 06SANJOSE2685 |
SCENESETTER FOR PRESIDENT ARIAS VISIT [...] (C) President Arias and his administration are making progress on the ambitious agenda outlined in his inaugural address. In October, long-planned, union-led national anti-CAFTA protests fizzled, a costly dockworkers, strike in a major port was resolved, and the legislature set a date certain [...] |
2006-11-28 23:14:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR ETRD ECON CS |
| 06SANJOSE2690 |
COSTA RICA: AVIAN INFLUENZA MEETING [...] No summary [...] |
2006-11-30 16:49:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV TBIO CS |
| 06SANJOSE270 |
ARIAS'S LEAD DECLINING IN FINAL DAYS BEFORE [...] Three different polls conducted in the last days of January show that the gap in support between presidential frontrunner Oscar Arias and his principal rival Otton Solis is narrowing. The spread between the two is still 11 percentage points or more, but the possibility of a runoff election ( [...] |
2006-02-02 22:59:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE2702 |
PRESIDENT ARIAS ON HIS VISIT TO WASHINGTON [...] (C) SUMMARY: On November 29, the Ambassador met with President Arias to discuss the latter,s upcoming visit to Washington. The Ambassador noted Arias,s position as a leader with regional stature, and suggested President Bush would be interested in Arias,s views on developments in Nicaragua [...] |
2006-12-01 21:41:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR ETRD ECON CS US |
| 06SANJOSE2707 |
COSTA RICA: SANTA CRUZ MINISTERIAL ON SUSTAINABLE [...] No summary [...] |
2006-12-04 13:11:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV EAGR ECON CS |
| 06SANJOSE272 |
SAN JOSE FLASH REPORT - FEBRUARY 2006 [...] Embassy San Jose's cumulative allotments and obligations for current fiscal year INL funds are as follows: Project Number:011122101 Project Title: PD&S Cumulative Allotments: $12,084.00 Cumulative Obligations: $12,045.58 LANGDALE [...] |
2006-02-03 21:44:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR AFIN CS |
| 06SANJOSE2734 |
COSTA RICA: SUSPENSION OF TTLE III OF THE [...] Since returning to the presidency i May 2006, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias has een one of the region's leading critics of the Cstro government and a strong advocate for democrtic change and human rights reforms in Cuba. Costa Rica shows absolutely no signs that it would consider re-estab [...] |
2006-12-07 23:49:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ETC PREL CS |
| 06SANJOSE2735 |
SOUTHERN COMMAND'S HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVE; [...] SUMMARY: The U.S. Southern Command, as part of its Human Rights Initiative (HRI), sponsored a human rights conference in Costa Rica for 77 personnel, mainly from the public security force, November 28-December 1. Building on the work of an initial conference in August, this event sought to [...] |
2006-12-08 00:13:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL MASS XM CS |
| 06SANJOSE2737 |
COSTA RICA: SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE [...] Since returning to the presidency in May 2006, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias has been one of the region's leading critics of the Castro government and a strong advocate for democratic change and human rights reforms in Cuba. Costa Rica shows absolutely no signs that it would consider re- [...] |
2006-12-08 15:45:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ETTC PREL CS |
| 06SANJOSE2750 |
COSTA RICA'S TELECOM MONOPOLY PREPARES FOR CHANGE [...] SUMMARY. With CAFTA-DR ratification slowly moving forward, and telecom competition on the horizon, Costa Rica's telecom monopoly, ICE, (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad) is making moves to modernize under new ICE President, Pedro Pablo Quiros. The new ICE leadership is clearly engaged i [...] |
2006-12-12 21:52:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EINV ECIN ELAB PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE2778 |
GWOT: COSTA RICAN COLLECTION OF IDENTIFYING [...] No summary [...] |
2006-12-18 22:26:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PREL PGOV PINR CVIS ASEC KVPR CS |
| 06SANJOSE2779 |
CAFTA RATIFICATION BILL FINALLY CLEARS COMMITTEE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. The bill to ratify CAFTA-DR was approved by the legislative assembly's Committee on International Relations by a 6-3 vote on December 12, ending over a year of hearings and debate. Although the results were anticipated, the atmosphere during the vote was tense, with a small grou [...] |
2006-12-19 22:28:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EINV ECIN PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE2798 |
COSTA RICA: UNGA VOTE ON DECEMBER 19 [...] No summary [...] |
2006-12-21 15:10:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | CS PGOV PHUM PREL UNGA |
| 06SANJOSE2799 |
COSTA RICA ON UN SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS [...] (SBU) PolOff discussed reftel points with the Foreign Ministry's Director for Multilateral Affairs, Carlos Cordero, on December 18. Cordero claimed to be unaware of any G-77 position or proposals for increasing the dues ceiling from 22 to 25 percent. Cordero stated that Costa Rica would prefe [...] |
2006-12-21 16:15:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL UNGA AMGT AORC CS |
| 06SANJOSE280 |
NEW LAW STRENGTHENS COSTA RICAN IMMIGRATION [...] (SBU) On October 27, 2005 the Legislative Assembly approved a draft law that criminalizes alien smuggling; increases fines on airlines carrying passengers without correct documentation; and fines individuals who aid, abet, harbor, transport, and/or employ illegal migrants. After nearly four y [...] |
2006-02-06 21:14:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | CASC KFRD CS |
| 06SANJOSE2800 |
BELIZE: TROPICAL FOREST CONSERVATION ACT OVERSIGHT BOARD [...] SUMMARY. REO attended the November 2, 2006 meeting of the Belize Tropical Forest Conservation Act Oversight Committee in remote Punta Gorda. The meeting provided an opportunity to review 2006 NGO reports, which focused on community outreach and enforcement activities, and approve 2007 workpl [...] |
2006-12-21 16:33:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV ECON PGOV EAGR SOCI BH |
| 06SANJOSE2802 |
COSTA RICA'S INSURANCE MONOPOLY PREPARES FOR COMPETITION [...] SUMMARY. Costa Rica's legislature has commenced hearings on legislation to open up the government's insurance monopoly to competition, a requirement of CAFTA-DR. Meanwhile Costa Rica's Instituto Nacional de Seguros,(INS,)is making plans to modernize and prepare for an open market. INS plans [...] |
2006-12-21 21:49:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EINV ECIN PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE2803 |
REMITTANCES TO COSTA RICA UP 18% IN 2006 [...] Remittances to Costa Rica increased by 18% in the first six months of 2006 over the amount received in the same period of 2005. The total through the first six months of 2006 is $234 million with the majority coming from the USA. People in Costa Rica remitted some $108 million, representing a [...] |
2006-12-22 12:42:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ECON CS |
| 06SANJOSE281 |
DEMARCHE RESPONSE: P5+2 STATEMENT ON IRAN [...] Post delivered reftel talking points to Carlos Cordero, Deputy Director of Multilateral Affairs at the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry, and followed up by telephone on February 3. According to Mr. Cordero, Costa Rica has never had diplomatic relations with Iran, so official communication is unl [...] |
2006-02-06 22:09:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM KNNP PREL IR EU AORC CS |
| 06SANJOSE283 |
ARIAS MAINTAINS SLIGHT LEAD THE DAY AFTER THE [...] (U) With 89 percent of the polls reporting by the afternoon of February 6, Oscar Arias of the National Liberation Party (PLN) has 40.5 percent of the vote for president and Otton Solis of the Citizens' Action Party (PAC) 40.3 percent. With only 3,250 votes separating the two candidates, the f [...] |
2006-02-06 23:15:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE2834 |
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: MARINE RESOURCES VICE MINISTER FLAGS [...] SUMMARY. While meeting with the Dominican Vice Minister for Coastal and Marine Resources Idalia Acevedo on November 17, NOAA officer Nancy Daves and REO discussed fisheries-related CAFTA-DR environmental capacity-building projects, fisheries law reform, and the illegal trade in hawksbill turt [...] |
2006-12-29 23:42:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV EFIS PGOV DR |
| 06SANJOSE293 |
COSTA RICA SAYS IT HAS SURPLUS SUGAR [...] On February 6, 2006, in response to reftel request for information, AgAtt received from Vice Minister of Foreign Trade Doris Osterlof the following letter regarding Costa Rica's plans to fill its allocation of the U.S. sugar TRQ, and the country's supply situation. 2. Beging text of letter [...] |
2006-02-08 15:13:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ETRD |
| 06SANJOSE304 |
SLOW VOTE COUNT DELAYS ELECTION RESULTS [...] Less than 24 hours after polls closed, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) stopped posting updates to its webpage with results from 88.4 percent of voting stations already reported. At that point the leading candidates were virtually tied with 3,250 votes separating them out of the 1.4 mil [...] |
2006-02-08 23:09:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE305 |
VOTER DISAFFECTION WITH POLITICAL CLASS LEADS TO [...] (SBU) Although the two leading candidates for president have clearly defined and well known positions on CAFTA-DR -- Oscar Arias is for, and Otton Solis against -- treaty ratification was not the key issue in the election or the cause for Solis's higher-than-expected showing in the presidentia [...] |
2006-02-08 23:28:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE309 |
REPORT ON SAN JOSE ANTI-CORRUPTION [...] No summary [...] |
2006-02-09 15:17:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | CS OIIP KPAO |
| 06SANJOSE319 |
COSTA RICA CONTINUES TO STUMBLE TOWARD ELECTION [...] Summary: Oscar Arias appeared to have gotten a boost during the initial stages of a full manual vote recount from the February 5 national elections. Going into the manual count, Arias led chief rival Otton Solis by a slim 3,250 votes, with 89 percent of precincts counted. Results from the ma [...] |
2006-02-09 23:06:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE327 |
CRIME STATISTICS FOR COSTA RICA: 2005 [...] Per referenced crime statistics provided by the Judicial Police (OIJ), RSO is providing a comparison for major crime categories to the 2004 crime statistics for Costa Rica: 2005 Change from 2004 Theft of Vehicles 5403 cases 18.2% Assaults (Robbery) 7500 cases [...] |
2006-02-10 19:40:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC CASC KCRM |
| 06SANJOSE331 |
ELECTION RESULTS EMBOLDEN ANTI-CAFTA-DR FORCES [...] (U) Public sector labor unions and other opponents of CAFTA-DR are trying to capitalize on the February 5 election results to stop treaty ratification in Costa Rica. They claim that the better-than-expected showing for presidential candidate Otton Solis, a treaty critic, nullifies the Legisla [...] |
2006-02-10 23:24:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ELAB PGOV PREL CS |
| 06SANJOSE337 |
ARMED ROBBERY OF AMCIT 2/10/2006: MORE THAN JUST [...] (SBU) On February 13, 2006 Post was informed of the fifth reported armed vehicle robbery (since December 2005) of individuals coming from the Juan Santamaria Airport in San Jose. RSO believes that thieves are targeting cars from the airport and following them until they have reached an iso [...] |
2006-02-13 21:54:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC CASC |
| 06SANJOSE344 |
DONATION TO IRAQI AND AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES: [...] No summary [...] |
2006-02-14 21:01:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS MOPS PINS PREL AF IZ CS |
| 06SANJOSE354 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR THE U.S. DELEGATION [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to the following members of the U.S. delegation to the CITEL Assembly: Marian Gordon EB/CIP/MA, Cecily Holiday EB/CIP/MA, Amal Abdallah FCC, Cathy Handley Commerce/NTIA, Vernita Harris Commerce/NTIA, Daniel Martinez WH [...] |
2006-02-16 15:35:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | OTRA ECPS CITEL CR |
| 06SANJOSE359 |
COSTA RICANS PATIENTLY AWAIT ELECTION RESULTS, BUT [...] (C) Summary: Although the unofficial preliminary tabulations of election results show Oscar Arias to have won the February 5 election by more than 10,000 votes, the current interim, cumulative total of the official recount (which eleven days after the election has passed the half-way point) n [...] |
2006-02-16 18:06:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE383 |
AMBASSADOR'S RETURN TO POST [...] No summary [...] |
2006-02-21 15:38:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE395 |
CORRECTION: AMBASSADOR'S RETURN TO POST [...] No summary [...] |
2006-02-21 19:11:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE410 |
SOLIS ALLEGES "SERIOUS ANOMALIES AND VIOLATIONS" [...] (U) On the eve of finishing the recount of presidential ballots (and Oscar Arias returning to the lead), rival Otton Solis cried foul in a televised address to all Costa Ricans. Solis claimed "serious anomalies and violations" in the voting but did not make a direct accusation of fraud. He u [...] |
2006-02-22 23:26:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL CS |
| 06SANJOSE434 |
ARIAS WINS FINAL COUNT FOR PRESIDENCY, BUT WINNER [...] The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) finished its mandatory manual recount of all votes in the presidential election at 4:00 pm on February 22. At the end of the count, Arias defeated Solis by 18,167 votes. Arias narrowly avoided a run-off election by winning 40.92 percent of the vote (40 pe [...] |
2006-02-23 23:33:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL CS |
| 06SANJOSE443 |
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON OSCAR ARIAS [...] (U) Oscar Arias Sanchez was elected on February 5, 2006, as the first repeat president in Costa Rica since 1970. Winning by a 1.12 percent margin (18,000 votes out of 1.62 million cast), Arias comes to office without the sweeping mandate he expected. He was permitted to run for president beca [...] |
2006-02-24 20:58:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PGOV PREL CS |
| 06SANJOSE444 |
"MORAL POWER:" ARIAS AND NATIONAL SECURITY [...] (C) National security in an Oscar Arias administration will be pursued at three levels: (1) Internationally, Arias will use his prestige as a Nobel laureate to be an advocate for multilateralism, international law, and disarmament. (2) At home the principal external security issues will be [...] |
2006-02-24 21:13:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PINS PREL MASS SNAR SMIG SOCI PBTS NI CS |
| 06SANJOSE478 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR POLITICAL OFFICER, JENNIFER [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to Jennifer Isakoff, who will be in Costa Rica from March 10-14, 2006. The purpose of this trip is for consultations with Embassy officials. 2. Control Officer: POC is Robert Copley, Political Officer, who can be reached at the offic [...] |
2006-03-01 22:38:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE481 |
COSTA RICA 2005 TIP REPORT [...] No summary [...] |
2006-03-02 14:45:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM KCRM SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB CS |
| 06SANJOSE486 |
BIOTECHNOLOGY EXPERT WILLIAM PARROTT VISIT [...] Summary. On November 7th and 8th, 2005 Dr. William Parrott, University of Georgia Professor and biotechnology expert, visited Costa Rica to meet with GOCR officials from the Ministries of Health and Economy as well as with Legislative Assembly staff. Dr. Parrott was also interviewed by the [...] |
2006-03-03 20:32:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ECON TBIO ETRD KPAO CS BEXP SENV |
| 06SANJOSE488 |
COSTA RICA: GUATEMALAN CAMPAIGN LOOKS WEAK FOR [...] (C) Summary: Costa Rica will support Guatemala's efforts to win the rotational Latin seat on the UNSC. The Foreign Minister and Director of Foreign Policy told us separately that Guatemala needs to campaign more aggressively, particularly in the Caribbean, and offered to assist. These offici [...] |
2006-03-03 20:53:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CS PGOC UNSC |
| 06SANJOSE489 |
COSTA RICA ON UNSYG SUCCESSION [...] Ambassador Langdale discussed reftel points with Foreign Minster Tovar on March 2, 2006. Tovar said that Costa Rica has not committed to supporting any candidate at this time. Tovar added that Costa Rica's vote will soon be courted, and said that the sooner the USG settles on a candidate, the [...] |
2006-03-03 20:55:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV CS UN |
| 06SANJOSE525 |
SOLIS "ACCEPTS" THAT ARIAS WILL BE NEXT PRESIDENT [...] On March 3, Otton Solis finally conceded that he had lost the presidential election and asked the country to "accept" Oscar Arias as the next president. Solis at the same time reiterated his complaints about the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) and his charges of voting "irregularities." Ari [...] |
2006-03-07 15:47:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL CS |
| 06SANJOSE536 |
IT'S FINALLY OFFICIAL--ARIAS IS THE NEXT PRESIDENT [...] Summary: In a short statement at midday on March 7, Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) Chief Magistrate Oscar Fonseca formally declared Oscar Arias the winner of the February 5, 2006 presidential election. Arias will take office on May 8. Ref A contains biographical information on Arias. En [...] |
2006-03-07 22:50:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE538 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR FOUR U.S.DOL OFFICIALS AND [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to Dr. Eilenn Muirragi, Supervisory International Relations Officer; Ms. Sharon Heller Jordan, International Relations Officer; Ms. Rachel E Spring, Analyst; Dr. Donna E Chung, Analyst; Ms. Ruth Anne Mota, Consultant; Ms. Paula Thompson Wo [...] |
2006-03-08 14:24:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE549 |
COSTA RICA RESPONSE TO U.S./INDIA NUCLEAR AGREEMENT [...] No summary [...] |
2006-03-08 19:30:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL ENRG KSCA IN PARM KNNP ETTC CS |
| 06SANJOSE550 |
MAGEN DAVID ADOM: COSTA RICA SIGNING MECHANISM [...] No summary [...] |
2006-03-08 19:31:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC PHUM PREF PREL CS ICRC |
| 06SANJOSE553 |
Armed Robbers Target Tourists Near Airport [...] SUMMARY. Eleven armed robberies of tourists near the San Jose airport took place during a recent eight week period. It appears one group of four armed males is responsible. Post approached the GOCR, tourism officials and the AmCham in support of greater protection for tourists and an in- dept [...] |
2006-03-08 22:00:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | CASC CR |
| 06SANJOSE567 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CYNTHIA HOSTETLER, JAMES [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to OPICs VP for Investment Funds Cynthia Hostetler, Investment Funds Director James F. Hansley and Investment Funds Financial Officer Jennifer Renee Doherty who will be in Costa Rica on TDY assignment from March 25 to March 30. The purpos [...] |
2006-03-10 15:02:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | OTRA |
| 06SANJOSE569 |
LIBERTARIAN MOVEMENT PARTY WILL SUPPORT FREE TRADE [...] Summary: On March 6, Ambassador hosted for breakfast five of the six newly elected legislators from the Libertarian Movement Party (ML) plus one ML candidate who failed to get elected. ML improved its position from fourth party to third party in the Legislative Assembly. The deputies-elect s [...] |
2006-03-10 17:17:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE571 |
COSTA RICA MEDIA REACTION TO 2005 HUMAN RIGHTS [...] As anticipated, most local news organizations reported on this week's release of the annual Human Rights Report (HRR). Several news dailies published brief synopses of the reports for all Central American countries, and several noted the HRR's overall positive tone. Accounts of the report ge [...] |
2006-03-10 20:24:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM CS |
| 06SANJOSE58 |
COSTA RICA'S RESPONSE ON THE JANUARY 9 MEETING ON [...] (C) Foreign Minister Tovar told us he would not sign a Mexican-authored communique on U.S. immigration proposals merely as a gesture of solidarity, especially if the document is "confrontational." End Summary. Costa Ricans Have Their Own Immigration Problems ------------------------------- [...] |
2006-01-09 21:37:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SMIG ECON ES NU HO EC DR CO GT CS |
| 06SANJOSE584 |
MEDIA COVERAGE OF PRESIDENT BUSH'S CONGRATULATORY [...] Most major news outlets reported on President Bush's congratulatory call to Oscar Arias on his election as president. Arias freely discussed the topics and tenor of his conversation with President Bush, which lasted for approximately five minutes. 2. The press focused on three aspects of [...] |
2006-03-13 22:52:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE589 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR LARRY WESTFALL AND GENARO [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to Larry Westfall and Genaro Martinez, Treasury Advisors who will be in Costa Rica on TDY assignment from March 26 to April 8. The purpose of this visit is to work with officials from the Ministry of Finance on the Tax Administration Proj [...] |
2006-03-14 17:32:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | OTRA |
| 06SANJOSE591 |
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT LAURA CHINCHILLA [...] Summary: Laura Chinchilla was chosen by Oscar Arias to be his first vice presidential running mate in the 2006 election. Along with Kevin Casas as second vice president, Arias and Chinchilla will take office on May 8. Chinchilla, currently a member of the Legislative Assembly and formerly mi [...] |
2006-03-14 19:26:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PINR PINS PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE592 |
KEVIN CASAS, SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT-ELECT [...] (U) Summary: Kevin Casas, chosen by Oscar Arias to be his second vice presidential running mate, will come into the third highest political position in the country on May 8 with scant political credentials. Only 37 years old, Casas is an academic and researcher who has never held office. Int [...] |
2006-03-14 20:28:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PINR PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE606 |
CR RESPONSE TO SUPPORT FOR THE "JOINT PROPOSAL" [...] Embassy delivered demarche to Tania Lopez, Ministry of Commerce's WTO Forum Coordinator on Tuesday, March 14. Ms. Lopez responded in writing on Wednesday, March 15; an unofficial translation follows. Begin Translation: Costa Rica will support the "Joint Proposal" on Geographical Indicati [...] |
2006-03-16 14:32:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KIPR WTRO |
| 06SANJOSE612 |
COSTA RICA: PROPOSED LABOR PROJECTS UNDER CAFTA-DR [...] No summary [...] |
2006-03-16 22:35:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ETRD ELAB CS |
| 06SANJOSE617 |
IN LETTER TO SOLIS, ARIAS CALLS FOR NATIONAL DIALOG [...] (SBU) Summary: On March 17, daily newspaper La Nacion published in its entirety a letter from President-elect Oscar Arias to election runner-up Otton Solis, in which Arias calls upon Solis and his supporters to act in a manner befitting a mature democracy, and to work with Arias during the nex [...] |
2006-03-17 21:46:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ETRD CS |
| 06SANJOSE628 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CAROLYN HEALY, MOLLY [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to Federal Reserve Staff Carolyn Healy, Assistant Vice President, Molly Willison, Director, and Roxana Maneiro, Foreign Banking Analyst who will be in Costa Rica on assignment from March 27 to March 29. The purpose of this visit is to con [...] |
2006-03-21 16:51:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | OTRA |
| 06SANJOSE63 |
NATIONAL SECURITY PLANNING WORKSHOP FOR COSTA RICA [...] (C) Tom: I am writing to seek your support for an inititiative to engage early on with the new Costa Rican leadership team before it enters office and while it is still forming its governing agenda. During my consultations in Washington before coming to post, I met with Dr. Richard Downie o [...] |
2006-01-10 15:53:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PINS MARR PREL CS |
| 06SANJOSE643 |
ANTI-CAFTA-DR GROUPS STAGE PROTEST, "BURY" THE [...] On March 20, several groups jointly staged the first organized protest against the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) since the country's February 5 elections. Unlike in previous demonstrations, labor organizations did not play a major organizational role. [...] |
2006-03-22 17:43:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ELAB PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE656 |
"COSTA RICA, INC.": ANTI-CAFTA-DR FILM MIXES [...] Summary: A slick new film appearing periodically on Costa Rican public television uses a mixture of emotionally laden images, misquotes, and insinuations (probably falling just short of libel) to attack the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). While object [...] |
2006-03-24 17:08:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ETRD SOCI CS |
| 06SANJOSE705 |
COSTA RICA WILL SEEK PANAMANIAN SUPPORT FOR [...] No summary [...] |
2006-03-30 23:04:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC UN GT VE CS |
| 06SANJOSE706 |
RODGRIGO ARIAS, MINISTER OF PRESIDENCY [...] (C) Rodrigo is the younger brother and by far the closest adviser to Oscar Arias. He is the only permanent member of Oscar's inner circle and has always been at his brother's side in business and politics. Since Oscar's divorce and the death of his mother, Oscar has come to rely even more on [...] |
2006-03-30 23:12:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CS |
| 06SANJOSE707 |
FUTURE PUSC DEPUTIES STRESS IMPORTANCE OF "SOCIAL [...] (C) On May 29, Ambassador hosted all five deputies-elect of the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) for breakfast. They all expressed support for the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) but were concerned about opposition from labor trade unions, some agricultura [...] |
2006-03-30 23:18:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ETRD CS |
| 06SANJOSE727 |
PAC REITERATES FRIENDSHIP, BUT REMAINS STEADFAST [...] On March 24, Ambassador Langdale hosted a breakfast for the newly elected legislative deputies from the Citizens' Action Party (PAC) at the residence. Conversation was dominated by the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), with all of the deputies-elect sti [...] |
2006-04-04 14:59:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE734 |
URGING COSTA RICA TO ENDORSE PSI [...] (C) On April 3, Polcouns delivered reftel demarche to the MFA's Director General for Foreign Policy, Jose Joaquin Chaverri, emphasizing the importance of controlling the trade in WMD and missile-related materials and noting that endorsement of PSI was a statement of political support and did [...] |
2006-04-05 14:12:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | MNUC PARM PGOV PHSA PREL KNNP CS |
| 06SANJOSE751 |
IRANIAN PRESENCE IN COSTA RICA (C-NE6-00140) [...] No summary [...] |
2006-04-06 21:11:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PINR CS IR |
| 06SANJOSE762 |
HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSWOMAN SLAMS CAFTA-DR [...] Costa Rica's Human Rights Ombudswoman, Dr. Lisbeth Quesada, released a report on March 30 criticizing the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Comparing the relative bargaining power of the U.S. and Costa Rica to "a wild tiger vs. a captive rabbit," the re [...] |
2006-04-07 15:40:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD PHUM PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE777 |
DEPUTIES-ELECT OF RULING NATIONAL LIBERATION PARTY [...] For the fourth and final breakfast honoring newly elected deputies to Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly, the Ambassador hosted the largest faction, the National Liberation Party (PLN), on April 6. While individual conversations tended to focus on security issues and the party's anticipated st [...] |
2006-04-07 22:37:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE789 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR TREASURY ADVISORS [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to Deputy Assistant Secretary for Technical Assistance Policy, Larry McDonald and Tax Advisors, Richard Voskuil and Carmen Garcia-Salgado who will be in Costa Rica on assignment from April 23 to May 1. The purpose of this visit is to meet [...] |
2006-04-10 21:56:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | OTRA |
| 06SANJOSE790 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR TREASURY ADVISORS [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to Alphonso Correa, Financial Enforcement Advisor and Intermittent Financial Enforcement Advisor James Parrott who will be in Costa Rica on assignment from April 19 to April 22. The purpose of this visit is to meet with Embassy personnel [...] |
2006-04-10 21:56:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | OTRA EFIN CS |
| 06SANJOSE805 |
DEMARCHE AND SECRETARY RICE'S LETTER ON THE UN [...] No summary [...] |
2006-04-12 17:16:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | KUNR OPDC PHUM PREL UNGA CS |
| 06SANJOSE812 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR MARIA SOSA [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to contractor Maria Sosa from Booz Allen Hamilton who will be in Costa Rica on assignment from April 17 to April 19. The purpose of this visit is to attend a meeting of the regional technical commision on valuation to review the FASTrade [...] |
2006-04-12 20:30:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE826 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR MARIA SOSA [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to contractor Maria Sosa from Booz Allen Hamilton who will be in Costa Rica on assignment from April 26 to April 29. The purpose of this visit is to attend a regional Customs Directors Meeting. 2. Post understands assistance is not nec [...] |
2006-04-19 22:21:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE827 |
CORRECTION TO BIODATA FOR FIRST VICE PRESIDENT [...] No summary [...] |
2006-04-20 14:59:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | PINR PINS PGOV CS |
| 06SANJOSE875 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CAROLINE BREARLEY [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to Caroline Brearley, USAID Economic Growth office who will be in Costa Rica on TDY assignment from May 3 to May 5. The purpose of this visit is to meet with Vice Presidents of all Latin American AMCHAMS about CAFTA implementation and Emba [...] |
2006-04-25 22:42:00 | Embassy San Jose | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID OTRA CS |
| 06SANJOSE876 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR POITIER & KOODIE [...] Embassy San Jose is pleased to grant country clearance to FAA Aviation Inspectors Harcourt Poitier, and Teeluckdarie Koodie who will be in Costa Rica on assignment from May 8 to May 12. The purpose of this visit is to review compliance of regulations during certification inspection. 2. Tra [...] |
||||