

Currently released so far... 12478 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AU
ASEC
AE
AF
AORC
AEMR
AMGT
ABUD
AFFAIRS
APER
AS
AMED
AY
AG
AR
AJ
AL
AID
AM
AODE
ABLD
AMG
AFIN
ATRN
AGAO
AFU
AN
AA
ALOW
APECO
ADM
ARF
ASEAN
APEC
AMBASSADOR
AO
ASUP
AZ
AADP
ACOA
ANET
AMCHAMS
ACABQ
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APCS
AGMT
AINF
AIT
AORL
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
ADANA
ADPM
AX
ADCO
AECL
AMEX
ACAO
ASCH
AORG
AGR
AROC
ASIG
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
BL
BR
BO
BA
BD
BM
BK
BG
BU
BB
BH
BTIO
BY
BEXP
BP
BE
BRUSSELS
BF
BIDEN
BT
BX
BC
BILAT
BN
BBSR
BTIU
BWC
BMGT
CA
CASC
CVIS
CM
CH
CO
CU
CD
CWC
CI
CS
CY
CMGT
CF
CG
CR
CB
CV
CW
CE
CBW
CT
CPAS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CJAN
CODEL
CIDA
CDG
CDC
CIA
CTR
CNARC
CSW
CN
CONS
CLINTON
COE
CROS
CARICOM
CONDOLEEZZA
COUNTER
CL
COM
CICTE
CIS
CFED
COUNTRY
CJUS
CBSA
CEUDA
CLMT
CAC
COPUOS
CIC
CBE
CHR
CTM
CVR
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CACS
CAN
CITT
CARSON
CACM
CDB
CAPC
CKGR
CBC
EC
EG
EPET
ECON
ETRD
EFIN
EIND
EMIN
ENRG
EAID
EAGR
EUN
ETTC
EAIR
ENIV
ES
EU
EINV
ELAB
ECIN
EFIS
ELTN
EWWT
ECPS
ECONOMIC
ENGR
EN
EINT
EPA
ELN
ESA
EZ
ER
ET
EFTA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
EXTERNAL
EI
EUR
EK
ERNG
ENGY
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENERG
EINVEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELECTIONS
ETC
EUREM
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EURN
ECINECONCS
EEPET
EXIM
ERD
ENVI
ETRC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EAIG
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
EIAR
EXBS
ECUN
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINVETC
IZ
IT
IR
IS
IN
IC
IAEA
IO
ICAO
IWC
ID
IV
ISRAEL
IAHRC
IQ
ICTR
IMF
IRS
IDP
IGAD
ICRC
ICTY
IMO
IL
INRA
INRO
ICJ
ITU
IBRD
INMARSAT
IIP
ITALY
IEFIN
IACI
ILO
INTELSAT
ILC
ITRA
IDA
INRB
IRC
INTERPOL
IA
IPR
IRAQI
ISRAELI
INTERNAL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IBET
INR
IEA
IZPREL
IRAJ
ITF
IF
KDEM
KU
KPAL
KNNP
KCRM
KZ
KN
KS
KJUS
KTFN
KSCA
KV
KISL
KPAO
KPKO
KIRF
KTIA
KIPR
KFLO
KFRD
KTIP
KAWC
KSUM
KCOM
KAID
KE
KTDB
KMDR
KOMC
KWBG
KDRG
KVPR
KTEX
KGIC
KWMN
KSCI
KCOR
KACT
KDDG
KHLS
KSAF
KFLU
KSEO
KMRS
KSPR
KOLY
KSEP
KVIR
KGHG
KIRC
KUNR
KIFR
KCIP
KMCA
KMPI
KBCT
KHSA
KICC
KIDE
KCRS
KMFO
KRVC
KRGY
KR
KAWK
KG
KFIN
KHIV
KBIO
KOCI
KBTR
KNEI
KPOA
KCFE
KPLS
KSTC
KHDP
KPRP
KCRCM
KLIG
KCFC
KTER
KREC
KTBT
KPRV
KSTH
KRIM
KRAD
KWAC
KWMM
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KOMS
KX
KMIG
KRCM
KVRP
KBTS
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNAR
KPWR
KNPP
KDEMAF
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KGIT
KPAI
KTLA
KFSC
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KOM
KMOC
KJUST
KGCC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KO
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KCMR
KCHG
KICA
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KCGC
KWWMN
KPAK
KWNM
KWMNCS
KRFD
MOPS
MCAP
MPOS
MARR
MO
MNUC
MX
MASS
MG
MY
MU
ML
MR
MILITARY
MTCRE
MT
MEPP
MA
MDC
MP
MAR
MASSMNUC
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MD
MI
MEETINGS
MK
MCC
MEPN
MRCRE
MAS
MIL
MASC
MC
MV
MTCR
MIK
MUCN
MEDIA
MERCOSUR
MW
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTRE
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
NO
NATO
NL
NP
NZ
NSF
NI
NH
NG
NAFTA
NU
NASA
NR
NATOPREL
NSSP
NSG
NA
NT
NW
NK
NPT
NPA
NATIONAL
NPG
NSFO
NS
NSC
NE
NGO
NDP
NIPP
NRR
NEW
NZUS
NC
NAR
NV
NORAD
OTRA
OPCW
OVIP
OAS
OREP
OPIC
OIIP
OPRC
ODIP
OEXC
OPDC
OSCE
OIC
OSCI
OECD
OFDP
OFDA
OMIG
OPAD
OFFICIALS
OVP
OIE
OHUM
OCS
OBSP
OTR
OSAC
ON
OCII
OES
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PTER
PINS
PINR
PREF
PK
PROP
PA
PARM
PBTS
PMAR
PM
PGIV
PE
PRAM
PHUH
PHSA
PL
PNAT
PO
PLN
PAO
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PF
PEL
PBIO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PAS
POL
PREO
PAHO
PMIL
POGOV
POV
PAK
PNR
PRL
PG
PREFA
PSI
PINL
PU
PARMS
PRGOV
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
PROG
PORG
PTBS
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PRELP
PSEPC
PGOVE
PINF
PNG
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
POLINT
PGGV
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RELATIONS
RW
RO
RM
RP
ROOD
RICE
RUPREL
RSO
RCMP
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RF
RFE
RSP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
SU
SCUL
SNAR
SOCI
SF
SA
SHUM
SENV
SP
SR
SY
SANC
SC
SMIG
SZ
SARS
SW
SEVN
SO
SEN
SL
SNARCS
SNARN
SI
SG
SN
SH
SYR
SAARC
SPCE
SHI
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SYRIA
SWE
STEINBERG
SIPRS
ST
SNARIZ
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SIPDIS
SAN
TC
TI
TBIO
TH
TSPL
TRGY
TSPA
TPHY
TU
TW
TS
TAGS
TK
TX
TNGD
TZ
TF
TL
TV
TN
TD
TIP
TR
TP
TO
TT
TFIN
THPY
TERRORISM
TINT
TRSY
TURKEY
TBID
US
UK
UNGA
UP
UZ
UNMIK
USTR
UNO
UNSC
UN
UNESCO
UNAUS
UNHRC
UY
UG
UNHCR
UNCND
USOAS
USEU
UNICEF
UNEP
UV
UNPUOS
UNCSD
USUN
UNCHR
UNDC
USNC
UE
UNDP
UNC
USPS
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
UNFICYP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05SANJOSE1720, CHORUS OF VOICES SINGING SEND CAFTA-DR TO THE
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05SANJOSE1720.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SAN JOSE 001720
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
WHA/CEN
EB FOR WCRAFT
E FOR TSMITHAM
WHA FOR WMIELE
WHA/EPSC FOR KURS
H FOR JHAGAN
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR JYOUNG, CPADILLA, AMALITO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECPS ECON PREL PGOV SOCI CS
SUBJECT: CHORUS OF VOICES SINGING SEND CAFTA-DR TO THE
COSTA RICAN ASSEMBLY
REF: A. (A) SAN JOSE 01713
¶B. (B) SAN JOSE 01636
¶C. (C) SAN JOSE 01455
¶1. (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
hasten the process include many of the 57-member Assembly,
including its president, Gerardo Gonzalez, at least four
candidates in the upcoming presidential election,
representatives of business, and many members of the
President,s own party, the Social Christian Union Party
(PUSC). Statements from the administration remain consistent
with its previous position; that the President will send
CAFTA-DR for ratification at the time he deems appropriate.
End Summary.
¶2. (U) The amount of media coverage given to the status of
CAFTA-DR in Costa Rica has increased since the U.S. Congress
approved it on July 27, 2005 (local time). This coincides
with a definite growing intensity of the debate about the
status of CAFTA-DR ratification. Local media coverage has
shifted its focus from the vote in the U.S. to the GOCR,s
plan and timetable to ratify CAFTA-DR. The daily La Nacion
not only placed this issue on the front page but
also dedicated its first 8 pages to it. The call for
President Pacheco to send the agreement to the Assembly as
soon as possible was the common theme of many articles.
Those advocating this position, among many others, include,
Gerardo Gonzalez, a PUSC Assembly member (deputy) and
President of the Assembly, Oscar Arias, ex-president of the
country and front-runner in the next presidential election,
and Alberto Trejos, the ex-Minister of Foreign Trade (COMEX).
Of course, there are still those who oppose the agreement
and who have made their opinions known in the media.
--------------------------------------------- ---
THE CHORUS SINGS SEND CAFTA-DR TO THE ASSEMBLY
--------------------------------------------- ---
¶3. (U) On July 28, deputies from the National Liberation
Party (PLN), the Libertarian Movement Party (ML), and the
National Renovation (RN) Party requested the president to
send CAFTA-DR to the Assembly so that the deputies could
start studying it in preparation for the ratification
process. The PLN, in a letter to the President wrote, we
find ourselves in a critical situation where the country
cannot delay a decision on this issue. You cannot continue
to ignore Costa Rican society,s right to debate and decide
its future on an issue this important(. The PLN
representatives specifically stated that they would like
President Pacheco to introduce CAFTA-DR by August 1, 2005.
Rolando Lacle, a PUSC deputy who is President of the
Assembly,s International Relations Commission, recommended
that President Pacheco not delay in this matter because the
country could suffer consequences.
¶4. (U) Gerardo Gonzalez, the PUSC Assembly President,
believes that this issue is so important that he is exploring
Assembly rules and regulations to determine if it is possible
for a deputy to introduce CAFTA-DR to the Assembly if
President Pacheco will not. Gonzalez stated that if it is
permitted, he will present the agreement in September 2005.
(Note: Most political observers and legal scholars agree that
only the President can introduce a treaty for ratification.)
¶5. (U) Five of the top presidential candidates in the next
election, including front-runner Oscar Arias (PLN), Ricardo
Toledo (PUSC), Otto Guevara, (ML), Antonio Alvarez
Desanti(UPC), and Jose Manuel Echandi (UN), also expressed
the need for President Pacheco to take action. Oscar Arias
stated, I call upon the Administration and Assembly to
start discussions of CAFTA-DR as soon as possible. Ricardo
Toledo, the PUSC presidential candidate and a fellow
party-member of President Pacheco, stated that the country is
lagging behind, and he is worried because the necessary
legislation to prepare for CAFTA-DR has not been presented.
¶6. (U) Ex-Minister of COMEX, Alberto Trejos, warns that it
would be devastating for the country to remain outside
CAFTA-DR. When asked what he would recommend to President
Pacheco, he stated that he would recommend that he send the
agreement to the Assembly immediately. The President is the
author of this agreement, he gave instructions on its
negotiation, he authorized the initiation of the
negotiations. He was consulted and gave recommendations; it
was presented to him. We have an excellent agreement because
of this; he played his role.
¶7. (U) Local business leaders are concerned that they may
begin to lose their competitive edge because of the GOCR,s
delay in the CAFTA-DR ratification process. The many
business chambers are looking for ways to increase pressure
on the Administration, the Assembly, and the Commission of
Eminent Persons (Ref B), all of whom are to make decisions
about CAFTA-DR. Jack Liberman, the manager of Costa Rican
Mills, said that there is a lot at stake here and the only
forum in which to discuss this issue democratically is in the
Assembly. Samuel Yankelewitz, president of UCAAEP, an
association of business chambers, and General Manager of the
plastics company Yanber, said that the discussions about
CAFTA-DR will be a long process ) they will last a minimum
of six or 8 months in the Assembly. For this reason, it is
urgent to send the agreement now in order to have an adequate
debate.
¶8. (U) In an official press release, the pro-
CAFTA-DR, Costa Rican-business-backed group, Por Costa Rica,
stated the 13,886 partners of our organization are
convinced that the time has arrived to have a serious and
responsible debate about CAFTA-DR. The Coalition for
Development Initiatives (CINDE) made clear its position
regarding implications of the current situation on foreign
direct investment (FDI): Our relation with the United
States is vital. In 2004 more that seventy percent of total
FDI ($446.3 million or $617.3 million) came from U.S.
sources. Even more, in the last three years 78.9 percent of
new business in Costa Rica originated with investment from
the U.S.
-------------------------------
THE BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUMMER
-------------------------------
¶9. (U) Those who oppose even sending CAFTA-DR to the
Assembly continue to voice their opinions. Albino Vargas,
President of the approximately 15,000-member National
Association of Private and Public Employees (ANEP),stated
that if the agreement is sent to the Assembly, it would be
taken as a declaration of war. We will use all of our
available resources, including those that we have never used
before, to defeat CAFTA-DR. Prominent trade union leader
Fabio Chavez was equally emphatic: If CAFTA-DR goes to the
Assembly, there will be a general strike, marches, and civil
disobedience never before seen in this country. Otton
Solis, the presidential candidate for the left leaning
Citizens, Action Party (PAC) still pursues the idea of
renegotiating CAFTA-DR. He said that (this agreement is
not good for Costa Rica and we should renegotiate
bilaterally. It shouldn,t be sent to the Assembly until
after it is renegotiated.
--------------------------
THE ADMINISTRATION,S VOICE
--------------------------
¶10. (U) President Pacheco maintains his lukewarm support
for the agreement by saying that we will move at a slow but
sure pace on CAFTA-DR. He further stated that I will not
decide to approve or reject (CAFTA-DR). I will send it to
the Assembly at the right moment which is my duty as
President. In an interview with La Nacion, Manuel
Gonzalez, the Minister of Foreign Trade (COMEX), admitted
that Costa Rica is the country farthest behind in the
ratification process of CAFTA-DR, but he goes on to say that
what is most important is that those who have to make the
decision to approve or reject CAFTA-DR are the deputies who
need to weigh the consequences of saying yes or no to the
agreement. I, at least, am doing an analysis, and see the
balance much more in favor of yes.
¶11. (U) When asked if he had spoken with the President about
this issue since the U.S. House of Representatives, vote,
Gonzalez stated that he had, and that the President,s
position is that the approval in the U.S. was expected and is
a positive and important step. Minister Gonzales further
stated that my objective is to present CAFTA-DR to the
Assembly, let them discuss it and approve it. When asked
if this was also the Government,s objective, Minister
Gonzalez reportedly laughed and said, I believe that it is,
and it continues to be an aspiration of the Executive branch.
It is the goal that I have always shared with the President,
and I have never received any indication otherwise, nor have
I received any instruction to work in another direction(.
-------
COMMENT
-------
¶12. (SBU) The U.S. House of Representative,s vote approving
the CAFTA-DR implementing legislation was heard loud and
clear by those who support CAFTA-DR and those who do not.
The tone of the discussions about the status in Costa Rica
has definitely sharpened. The strength of voices of those in
favor of sending CAFTA-DR to the Costa Rican Assembly is
growing, with support from Assembly members, business people,
and presidential candidates. The Administration of President
Pacheco is maintaining its go-slow approach, still fearful of
the threats from CAFTA-DR opponents.
KAPLAN