

Currently released so far... 12553 / 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
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
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
APECO
ASEC
AMGT
AFIN
APER
ACABQ
AORC
AEMR
AF
AE
AR
AGMT
AU
AY
ABLD
AS
AG
AJ
APCS
AX
AM
AMEX
ATRN
ADM
AMED
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AL
ASUP
AND
ARM
ASEAN
AFFAIRS
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AODE
APEC
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AO
ABUD
AC
ADPM
ADCO
ASIG
ARF
AUC
ASEX
AGAO
AA
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AIT
AADP
ASCH
AORL
AROC
ACOA
ANET
AID
AMCHAMS
AINF
AMG
AFU
AN
ALOW
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ACS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AGR
BEXP
BR
BM
BG
BL
BA
BTIO
BO
BP
BC
BILAT
BK
BU
BD
BRUSSELS
BB
BF
BBSR
BIDEN
BX
BE
BH
BT
BY
BMGT
BWC
BTIU
BN
CA
CASC
CFED
CO
CH
CS
CU
CE
CI
CM
CMGT
CJAN
COM
CG
CIS
CVIS
CR
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTER
CIA
CLINTON
CY
CPAS
CD
CBW
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CDG
CW
CODEL
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CARICOM
CB
CONDOLEEZZA
CWC
CACS
CSW
CIDA
CIC
CITT
CONS
CL
CACM
CDB
CDC
CAN
CF
CJUS
CTM
CBSA
CARSON
CT
CLMT
CBC
CEUDA
CV
COPUOS
CTR
CROS
CAPC
CAC
CNARC
CICTE
CBE
ECON
ETRD
EIND
ENRG
EC
ELAB
EAGR
EAID
EFIS
EFIN
EINV
EUN
EG
EPET
EAIR
EU
ELTN
EWWT
ECIN
ERD
EI
ETTC
EUR
EN
EZ
ETC
ENVI
EMIN
ET
ENVR
ER
ECPS
EINT
EAP
ES
ENIV
ECONOMY
EXTERNAL
EINN
EFTA
ECONOMIC
EPA
EXBS
ECA
ELN
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENGR
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
ELECTIONS
EIAR
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
ENERG
EFIM
EAIDS
EK
ETRDECONWTOCS
EINVETC
ECONCS
EUNCH
ESA
ECINECONCS
EUREM
ESENV
EFINECONCS
ETRC
ENNP
EAIG
EXIM
EEPET
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
ERNG
ETRO
ETRN
EINVEFIN
ICTY
IN
IS
IR
IC
IZ
IA
INTERPOL
IAEA
IT
IMO
IO
IV
ID
IRAQI
IEA
INRB
IL
IWC
ITU
ICAO
ISRAELI
ICRC
IIP
IMF
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
ILO
IPR
IQ
IRS
IAHRC
IZPREL
IRAJ
IDP
ILC
ITF
ICJ
IF
ITPHUM
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
IACI
IBET
ITRA
INR
IRC
IDA
ICTR
IGAD
INRA
INRO
IEFIN
INTELSAT
INTERNAL
INDO
ITPGOV
KWMN
KSCA
KDEM
KTFN
KIPR
KCRM
KPAL
KE
KPAO
KPKO
KS
KN
KISL
KFRD
KJUS
KIRF
KFLO
KG
KTIP
KTER
KRCM
KTIA
KGHG
KIRC
KU
KPRP
KMCA
KMPI
KSEO
KNNP
KZ
KNEI
KCOR
KOMC
KCFC
KSTC
KMDR
KFLU
KSAF
KSEP
KSAC
KR
KGIC
KSUM
KWBG
KCIP
KDRG
KOLY
KAWC
KCHG
KHDP
KRVC
KBIO
KAWK
KGCC
KHLS
KBCT
KPLS
KREL
KCFE
KMFO
KV
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVPR
KTDB
KSPR
KIDE
KVRP
KTEX
KBTR
KTRD
KICC
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KDEMAF
KMRS
KRAD
KOCI
KSTH
KUNR
KNSD
KGIT
KFSC
KHIV
KPAI
KICA
KACT
KHUM
KREC
KSEC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCMR
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KNAR
KNUC
KPWR
KENV
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KPRV
KOM
KBTS
KCRS
KNPP
KWNM
KRFD
KVIR
KTBT
KAID
KRIM
KDDG
KRGY
KHSA
KWMM
KMOC
KSCI
KPAK
KX
KPAONZ
KCGC
KID
KPOA
KIFR
KFIN
KWAC
KOMS
KCRCM
KNUP
KMIG
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KJUST
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MX
MCAP
MO
MR
MI
MD
MK
MA
MP
MY
MTCRE
MOPPS
MASC
MIL
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MU
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MZ
MEETINGS
MG
MW
MAS
MT
MCC
MIK
ML
MARAD
MV
MERCOSUR
MTRE
MPOS
MEPP
MILITARY
MDC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MRCRE
MAPS
MEDIA
MASSMNUC
MC
NZ
NZUS
NL
NU
NATO
NP
NO
NIPP
NE
NH
NR
NA
NPT
NI
NSF
NG
NSG
NAFTA
NC
NDP
NEW
NRR
NATIONAL
NT
NS
NASA
NAR
NV
NORAD
NSSP
NK
NPA
NGO
NSC
NATOPREL
NW
NPG
NSFO
OPDC
OTRA
OIIP
OREP
OVIP
OSCE
OEXC
OIE
OPRC
OAS
OPIC
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFFICIALS
OECD
OSCI
OBSP
OFDA
OPCW
ODIP
OFDP
OES
OPAD
OCII
OHUM
OVP
ON
OIC
OCS
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PINR
PTER
PARM
PREF
PM
PE
PINS
PK
PHSA
PBTS
PRGOV
PA
PORG
PP
PS
PGOF
PL
PO
PARMS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PAK
POL
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PBIO
PINF
PNG
PMIL
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PAO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PTBS
PCUL
PROP
PNAT
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PROG
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
PGOC
PY
PCI
PLN
PDOV
PREO
PGIV
PHUH
PAS
PU
POGOV
PF
PINL
POV
PAHO
PRL
PG
PRAM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLICY
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGGV
PHUS
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PEL
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PBT
PTERE
RS
RU
RW
RM
RO
RP
REGION
RSP
RF
RICE
RCMP
RFE
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
RUPREL
RELATIONS
ROOD
REACTION
RSO
REPORT
SENV
SNAR
SCUL
SR
SC
SOCI
SMIG
SI
SP
SU
SO
SW
SY
SA
SZ
SAN
SF
SN
STEINBERG
SG
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SAARC
SL
SEVN
SARS
SIPRS
SHUM
SANC
SWE
SHI
SYR
SNARCS
SPCE
SYRIA
SEN
SH
SCRS
SENVKGHG
TRGY
TSPL
TPHY
TSPA
TBIO
TI
TW
THPY
TX
TU
TS
TZ
TC
TH
TT
TIP
TO
TERRORISM
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TL
TV
TNGD
TD
TF
TP
TFIN
TAGS
TK
TR
UNSC
UK
UNGA
UN
US
UNHRC
UG
UP
UNMIK
UNHCR
UE
USTR
UNVIE
UAE
UZ
UY
UNO
UNESCO
USEU
USOAS
UV
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNEP
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDP
UNPUOS
UNC
UNAUS
USUN
UNCHC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCSD
UNDC
USNC
USPS
USAID
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 06SANJOSE443, BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON OSCAR ARIAS
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. #06SANJOSE443.
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSJ #0443/01 0552058
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 242058Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4364
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN JOSE 000443
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: PINR PGOV PREL CS
SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON OSCAR ARIAS
Classified By: Ambassador Mark Langdale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
¶1. (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
because of a controversial 2003 Supreme Court ruling that
overturned a ban on reelection. Arias's enemies consider his
reelection to be illegitimate. Fiercely independent,
patriotic, egotistical and idealistic, Arias will face
enormous economic challenges as he attempts to reverse the
damage done by years of ineffective governance. He will
assume office on May 8, 2006, and is clearly looking forward
to returning to the international stage where he will pursue
a "moralistic" foreign policy. Arias speaks fluent English.
Upbringing
----------
¶2. (U) Arias was born into one of Costa Rica's wealthiest
coffee-producing families on September 13, 1940, in the town
of Heredia, near San Jose. The Arias family had been heavily
involved in politics for several generations at the Cabinet
and Legislative Assembly level. Arias attended a public
primary school and then attended a private high school (Saint
Francis). He briefly enrolled at Boston University where he
intended to study medicine but instead returned home to study
law and economics at the University of Costa Rica, receiving
a bachelor's degree in 1966. At the university, Arias began
his life-long involvement with the National Liberation Party
(PLN). Arias continued his studies in England at the
University of Essex and the London School of Economics. His
graduate thesis, "Pressure Groups in Costa Rica," earned him
the 1971 National Essay Prize. In 1974, he received a
doctoral degree in Political Science at the University of
Essex. While in England, Arias participated in protests
outside the U.S. Embassy against the Vietnam War.
¶3. (U) Arias taught political science at the University of
Costa Rica and married Margarita Penon on April 27, 1972.
They had two children (Sylvia Eugenia born in 1975, and Oscar
Felipe born 1979) before divorcing in 1990. Due to his
rising status within the PLN and work in the third successful
presidential campaign of Jose Figueres, Arias was offered the
Ministry of Planning and Economic Policy in 1972--a post he
retained under the Oduber Administration until stepping down
in 1977 to run successfully for a seat in Congress in 1978.
Arias became Secretary General of the PLN in 1981. In 1986,
Oscar Arias was elected to his first term as president of
Costa Rica.
¶4. (U) In 1987, President Arias drafted a peace plan to end
Central America's multiple armed conflicts. Widely
recognized as the Arias Peace Plan, his initiative culminated
in the signing of the Esquipulas II Accords by all the
Central American presidents on August 7, 1987. In that same
year he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1988, Arias
used the monetary award from the prize to establish the Arias
Foundation for Peace and Human Progress. Under the auspices
of the Foundation, three programs were established: The
Center for Human Progress to promote equal opportunities for
women in Central America; the Center for Organized
Participation to foster change-oriented philanthropy in Latin
America; and the Center for Peace and Reconciliation to work
for demilitarization and conflict resolution in the
developing world.
Family
------
¶5. (C) Arias relies heavily on his brother, Rodrigo, who
managed his campaign and is the only person who has
faithfully remained at his side since he left office 16 years
ago. The brothers are often referred to as one unit, "Los
Arias," even by the likes of Laura Chinchilla, who shared the
ticket with Oscar, and by many of Oscar's handpicked
candidates for the Legislative Assembly. The brothers take
pride in never disclosing differences. According to Rodrigo,
their only difference is that he is more patient and
conciliatory whereas Oscar is more aggressive. A campaign
insider summed up the relationship as, "Oscar reigns and
Rodrigo governs." In a recent interview, Oscar called
himself a dreamer while his brother is the one who "gets
things done." (In the same interview, Oscar claimed that he
and Rodrigo had much in common with JFK and Robert Kennedy.)
Rodrigo will serve as Minister of the Presidency which is
similar to Chief of Staff but with control of the
intelligence service. This was the only cabinet-level
appointment Oscar would acknowledge before the elections.
According to one well informed source, Oscar's dependence on
his brother has grown significantly since the death of his
mother and his divorce deprived him of the constant
protection and encouragement he seems to require.
¶6. (C) Arias's famously bitter divorce from Penon has
apparently become less bitter over the years. He now speaks
highly of her, and she says they have a cordial relationship.
Nevertheless, she supported Otton Solis, Arias's political
opponent, for president. Arias is very proud of his son whom
recently graduated summa cum laude from Harvard and is now
studying at the London School of Economics. He also claims
to have a close relationship with his daughter.
Personality
-----------
¶7. (C) Though intelligent and literate, Arias has always
been socially awkward and uncomfortable making public
appearances. He is the antithesis of the gregarious and
back-slapping politician. We suspect he is happiest thinking
deep thoughts in his library/study or plotting political
strategy alone with his brother. A self-described nerd, he
loves books and opera. While waiting for election results,
he said he read Dostoevsky. His heroes include Churchill and
Mother Teresa. If not a politician, he said he would have
like to have been a poet, violinist, or pianist.
¶8. (U) Asthmatic from birth, Arias has publicly acknowledged
that his personality reflects his mother's constant concern
for his health. Arias has said that he grew up "reading
books and wearing sweaters rather than playing football with
other children." Since childhood, his ambition was to become
president. Arias's daughter and members of his previous
cabinet describe him as persistent, ambitious, idealistic,
cultured, but perfectionist and arrogant. He has low
tolerance for those he believes are talking nonsense or
wasting his time.
¶9. (C) Arias has the voice and movements of a man much older
than his 65 years. He often slouches when sitting and is
unexpressive. He is slow to respond to questions. What he
says seems to be carefully measured. He sometimes exhibits
wry and even self-deprecating humor, but with a thin smile,
not a laugh. He often refers to his Nobel Prize and his many
honorary doctorate degrees. He is also a notorious
name-dropper and loves to be linked to the rich and famous,
e.g., Jane Fonda, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Whoopi
Goldberg, the entire Kennedy family, John Kerry, Felipe
Gonzalez, and fellow Nobel laureates. Despite his phlegmatic
and lugubrious bearing, Arias enjoys a reputation as a lady's
man.
Attitude Towards the United States
----------------------------------
¶10. (C) Arias is both an admirer and critic of the United
States. He travels frequently to the United States and has
many contacts there in government, academia, and NGOs, as
well as personal friends. He speaks frankly to USG
interlocutors and does not hesitate to criticize U.S. foreign
policy. His most frequent criticisms concern U.S.
"unilateralism," the "unacceptable and illegal doctrine of
preemptive war," U.S. opposition to wholesale disarmament,
and insufficient generosity to developing countries. On the
other hand, he approves of U.S. efforts to negotiate free
trade agreements that provide developing countries with
greater access to the U.S. market. He calls himself a
"fierce believer" in the importance of a strong private
sector and foreign investment in order to generate
employment. Regarding his friendship with several prominent
Democrats in the U.S. Congress, he expressed disappointment
to us about their position on CAFTA: "They supported my
peace accords because they were against Reagan. Now they
don't support CAFTA because they are against Bush."
Wealth
------
¶11. (U) In the wake of the 2004 corruption scandals that
eventually tainted all Costa Rican ex-presidents since Arias,
many voters seemed attracted to Arias because he presumably
has no need to steal public funds and apparently did not do
so last time he was President. Arias's enemies searched
diligently for evidence of corruption throughout the campaign
without success. In addition to coffee, the Arias family has
large holdings in several sugar plantations and a sugar
refinery (El Tabagon). Arias's personal wealth lies in his
investment portfolio, the true value of which is unknown.
Arias resigned from the board of Grupo Sama, a major
investment firm, before launching his campaign, but still
owns 14.75 percent of the firm. Arias also owns stock in a
number of other investment firms according to the campaign
declaration he was required to file with the Comptroller
General's office. These firms are: Adral Corporation (100
percent), Inversiones La Lillyana (33.3 percent), Montaras
del Norte (33.3 percent), and Futuros Oras (50 percent).
Futuros Oras currently holds an investment account with
Morgan Stanley worth USD 579,000 according to Arias's
declaration. Missing, however, from the declaration is the
value of Arias's house, a local landmark near the U.S.
Embassy. Arias receives roughly USD 2,650 per month in
pension payments plus a dividend of USD 40,000 per year from
his investment in El Tabagon.
LANGDALE