

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 05SANJOSE1746, BORDER DISPUTE WITH NICARAGUA THREATENS TO FLARE
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. #05SANJOSE1746.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SAN JOSE 001746
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2015
TAGS: PBTS PREL PINR ETRD CS NU
SUBJECT: BORDER DISPUTE WITH NICARAGUA THREATENS TO FLARE
UP AGAIN; COSTA RICA SEEKS ARBITRATION
REF: A. 02 SAN JOSE 2260
¶B. 02 SAN JOSE 2589
¶C. 02 SAN JOSE 2818
Classified By: Charge Frederick J. Kaplan for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
SUMMARY
-------
¶1. (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" on
the matter was about to expire and that Costa Rica, to
preserve its rights, would have to either bring a case before
the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or convince
Nicaragua to agree to arbitration of the matter. The GOCR,
Tovar said, far preferred the latter course, which it
regarded as "less confrontational." Tovar asked that the USG
help persuade Nicaragua that an arbitrated resolution of the
issue was in the interest of both parties. End Summary.
IMPLICATIONS FOR CAFTA-DR
-------------------------
¶2. (C) Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar called Charge to his
office on August 1 to discuss, he said, "Nicaragua and
CAFTA." Charge was accompanied by acting DCM and Tovar by
Costa Rican Ambassador to the OAS Javier Sancho. Tovar
explained the relationship between the Costa Rican-Nicaraguan
border dispute and the U.S.-Central American-Dominican
Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) in the following
manner: If Costa Rica asserts its rights to have its police
navigate the San Juan River, the Nicaraguan National Assembly
is liable to retaliate by slapping a 35 percent tariff on
Costa Rican goods, a violation of CAFTA-DR (assuming that
both countries ratify the treaty). Relations between
Nicaraguan President Bolanos and Costa Rican President
Pacheco and between Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Norman
Caldera and Tovar are excellent, and Tovar wants to use the
existing good will in the executive branches of the two
governments to find a face-saving and permanent solution to
the San Juan problem.
COSTA RICAN VERSION OF HISTORY
------------------------------
¶3. (U) Tovar traced the history of the issue to the 1858
Treaty of Canas-Jerez. The treaty granted to Costa Rica the
territory that now constitutes the northwestern portion of
the country and to Nicaragua sovereignty over the San Juan
River (both banks). Approximately 80 miles of the
192-mile-long Nicaragua-Costa Rica boundary runs along the
right bank of the San Juan from the Caribbean Sea upstream to
a point three miles below Castillo Viejo. The treaty grants
to Costa Rica perpetual free navigation "with the object of
trade." Disagreements soon arose because Nicaragua contended
that Costa Ricans could navigate the San Juan only to move
merchandise, while the Costa Ricans claimed also the right to
commercial travel of people. In 1888, according to an
arbitral award of U.S. President Grover Cleveland, Costa Rica
could not put warships on the river but could deploy revenue
service cutters "for the protection of commerce."
¶4. (SBU) Today, Tovar said, the GOCR has a need to use the
river for the transport of its local police, who usually
carry side arms. They are not carrying out a law enforcement
function on the river, which is admittedly Nicaraguan
territory, but are simply using river boats as a form of
transportation from post to post. (There are few roads in
the area.) Nicaragua, however, requires Costa Rica to
request authorization, which Costa Rica believes it doesn't
need. Costa Rica was prepared to take the matter to the
International Court of Justice (ICJ), but on October 23,
2001, then-Nicaraguan President Aleman filed a motion with
the ICJ alleging that the court lacked jurisdiction over
disputes involving treaties signed by the GON before 1901.
The GOCR had one year to answer the motion. If it failed to
do so, it would forfeit the case.
¶5. (C) In August and September 2002, Tovar and Caldera
began working together to find a way to avoid a court battle.
Because of the difficulty of devising a permanent solution
in a short amount of time, the GOCR proposed a "truce," which
preserved the right of Costa Rica to seek ICJ intervention,
but only after three years. During this period, the GOCR and
GON intended on their own to work out their differences
regarding the San Juan River. Negotiations were hard fought,
and the agreement went through 40 drafts but was finally
signed by the GOCR and GON on September 26, 2002.
TOVAR SEES NO CHANCE FOR NEGOTIATED SOLUTION
--------------------------------------------
¶6. (C) It soon became clear, according to Tovar, that a
"political solution" to the San Juan dispute was impossible.
If there is one thing that all Nicaraguans agree on, Tovar
said, whether they are Sandanistas or Somozistas, it is that
ceding anything to Costa Rica with regard to the San Juan is
treason. At the same time, Costa Ricans cannot accept the
status quo. Therefore, having a third party decide, Tovar
believes, is the only way out. Tovar worries, however, that
a full-blown court case in the ICJ would inflame passions in
both countries and ultimately leave one country embittered.
He believes the mere filing of a Costa Rican petition in the
ICJ would provoke a highly nationalistic Nicaraguan National
Assembly and affect nearly USD 300 million in trade between
the two countries.
¶7. (C) Tovar's solution to the problem is arbitration,
which he deems "less confrontational" than going to court.
He thinks the arbitration could be conducted in the ICJ
itself or perhaps the Permanent Court of Arbitration. He did
not warm to Charge's suggestion of the OAS, which he seemed
to think insufficiently authoritative. The problem now is
convincing the GON. Tovar said he was sending Ambassador
Sancho to Managua in ten days to broach the subject with
Nicaraguan MFA adviser Mauricio Herdocia whom both Tovar and
Sancho believe is solid and completely trusted by Minister
Caldera.
CALL FOR U.S. HELP
------------------
¶8. (C) Tovar asked that the USG use its influence with the
GON to help persuade the GON of the wisdom of an arbitrated
resolution of the issue. The alternative is the
"total-warfare" atmosphere of the courtroom, which will not
serve the interests of either country. Tovar harked back to
CAFTA-DR, noting the intention of the parties of the treaty
to break down barriers between member countries and to avoid
conflict. Charge responded that he would report fully to
Washington.
COMMENT
-------
¶9. (U) Tovar is not the only one in Costa Rica worrying
about the San Juan. During a breakfast with tourism industry
leaders on July 27, Oscar Arias, the front-runner in the
February 2006 presidential election, said: "I hope I'm
mistaken, but there seems to be a very big possibility that
this controversy (San Juan) will re-emerge. I hope that
relations between the two countries don't deteriorate. I'm
going to pray that they don't. I would like our differences
not to increase so that it does not become necessary for
either party to resort to international agencies to sort out
this small conflict."
¶10. (C) Costa Rica and Nicaragua squandered most of the
three years allotted for finding a negotiated solution to the
San Juan controversy. Only in the last few months have there
been quiet, low-key, and almost casual discussions between
the countries about the San Juan. The first serious strategy
meeting on the subject in the Costa Rican MFA since the
agreement of 2002 was the very morning of our August 1
meeting and included Tovar, Sancho, and MFA advisers Sergio
Ugalde and Arnoldo Brenes. Their decision was essentially to
wash their hands, say it's impossible and too late to
negotiate, and the matter needs to be turned over to someone
else (an arbitrator). Three years ago (reftels), Tovar was
singing a different tune. We were skeptical then, and,
unfortunately, time has proved us right - - negotiations have
gone nowhere, in part because they never got started.
KAPLAN