Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 11214 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
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

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
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 Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
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 New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
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
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
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 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
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AF AM AJ ASEC AS AFIN AMGT AU AE AR ABLD AG AY AORC ASIG AEMR APER AMBASSADOR ASEAN AA AL ASUP ABUD AMED AX APECO AID AUC ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG ADANA AFFAIRS AND AN ADCO ARM ATRN AECL AADP ACOA APEC AGRICULTURE ACS ADPM ASCH AMEX ACAO ANET AODE ARF ACBAQ APCS AMG AQ AMCHAMS AORG AGAO ADM AFSI AFSN AINF AIT ASEX AO ATFN AROC AFGHANISTAN AFU AER ALOW AC AZ AVERY AGMT
BA BRUSSELS BR BL BM BEXP BH BTIO BIDEN BO BT BC BU BY BX BG BK BF BBSR BMGT BTIU BE BD BWC BB BP BILAT
CA CW CH CO CONDOLEEZZA CR CASC CSW CVIS CPAS CMGT CS CI CU CJUS CY CDG CE CG CBW COUNTER CN CKGR COUNTERTERRORISM CODEL CWC CJAN CIA CD CLINTON CT CARSON CONS CB CM CFED CLMT CROS CNARC CIDA CBSA CIC CEUDA CHR CITT CAC CACM CVR CDC CAPC COPUOS CBC CBE COM CDB CAN COE COUNTRY CLEARANCE CACS CF CL CIS CTM CV CICTE
DR DEA DA DOMESTIC DHS DAO DCM DEPT DTRA DPRK DEFENSE DE DJ DISENGAGEMENT DOD DEAX DOE DK DS
ENRG EPET ETRD EFIS ECON EK EAID EUN ES EFIN EWWT ECIN EINV ETTC EAGR EC ELAB ECPS EN EG ELTN EAIR EPA ER EI EU EZ ET EIND EINVECONSENVCSJA ECONOMICS EXTERNAL ELN ELECTIONS EMIN EINN EFINECONCS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENIV ECUN EINT ENGR ENNP EUR EAP EEPET ETRDEINVTINTCS ENVI EFTA ETRO ESENV ECINECONCS ENVR ECONOMY ECONOMIC EUMEM EAIDS ETRA ETRN EUREM EFIM EIAR EXIM ERD EAIG ETRC EXBS EINVEFIN ECIP EINDETRD EUC EREL ECA ENERG ENGY ECONCS EINVETC ECONEFIN ESA ETC ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH
FI FR FREEDOM FTAA FARC FAO FJ FMLN FBI FOR FTA FOREIGN FINANCE FO FISO FDA FAC FOI FM FINR
GG GT GM GV GH GOI GA GTIP GR GZ GE GCC GY GOV GAERC GANGS GL GLOBAL GERARD GF GAZA GTMO
HO HA HK HUMAN HU HR HILLARY HSTC HUMOR HEBRON HI HURI HYMPSK
IWC IR IZ ICAO IV IRS IC IS IT IZPREL IRAQI IO IN IAEA ID ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN IPR INRB IMO ITALY ICRC INTERPOL IQ ICTY INTELSAT IEFIN IA INR IRC IACI ITRA IL ICJ INTERNAL ISRAELI INMARSAT ITU ILC IBRD IMF ILO IDP ITF IBET IGAD IEA IAHRC ICTR IDA IIP INRA INRO IRAJ IF
JP JA JO JOSEPH JOHNNIE JM JUS JAMES
KSCA KNNP KIPR KOLY KS KPAO KMPI KDEM KZ KG KJUS KRVC KICC KTIA KISL KTIP KCRM KWMN KMDR KVPR KV KHLS KU KTFN KIRF KR KPKO KTDB KIRC KGHG KFRD KCOR KE KSUM KPAL KSEP KSTC KGIC KOMC KFLO KAWC KUNR KNPP KIDE KNEI KBIO KPRP KN KWBG KMCA KCIP KTEX KGIT KNSD KCFE KLIG KFLU KBCT KOMS KBTS KACT KCRS KGCC KDRG KWMM KAWK KHIV KSPR KRAD KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOCI KSTH KPAI KHSA KTLA KO KFSC KVIR KX KFTFN KHDP KPLS KSAF KMFO KRCM KCSY KSAC KPWR KTRD KID KWNM KMRS KICA KRIM KSEO KPOA KCHG KREC KOM KRGY KCMR KSCI KFIN KVRP KPAONZ KCGC KNAR KMOC KWAC KMIG KSEC KIFR KDEMAF KNUC KPIN KPRV KBTR KERG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNUP KTER KDDG KPAK KREL KCOM KNNPMNUC KRFD KHUM KDEV KCFC KWWMN KTBT KWMNCS KJUST
LE LY LU LTTE LI LO LH LG LAB LA LABOR LOG LT
MNUC MARR MASS MCAP MIL MO MOPS MU MX MEPI MR MDC MPOS MEETINGS MD MTCRE MK MUCN MY MASC MRCRE ML MA MEPP MAR MAPP MP MT MAS MTS MLS MI MERCOSUR MC MV MEDIA MILI MEPN MG MW MIK MTCR MARAD MZ MOPPS MAPS MCC MASSMNUC MQADHAFI MTRE
NZ NL NATO NO NAFTA NDP NIPP NP NS NPT NU NI NATIONAL NPG NGO NG NK NA NSSP NRR NSG NSC NPA NORAD NT NW NEW NH NSF NV NR NE NSFO NC NAR NASA NZUS
OTRA OEXC OIIP OVIP OAS OREP OSCE OPRC ODIP OSAC OPIC OPDC OFDP OIE OECD OPCW OVP OPAD OFDA OIC OSCI OMIG OBSP ON OCS OCII OHUM OTR OFFICIALS
PGOV PARM PREL PHUM PTER PINR PK PREF POL PINS PSOE PAK PBTS PHSA PAO PM PF PNAT PE POLITICS PARMS PBIO PSI POLINT POLITICAL PARTIES PL PA PROP PO PGOVLO PORG PGOVE PLN PINF PRELP PAS PPA PRGOV PUNE PG PALESTINIAN POLICY PROG PDEM PREFA PDOV PCI PRAM PTBS PSA POSTS PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PGIV PHUMPGOV PCUL PSEPC PREO PAHO PMIL PNG PP PS PHUH PEPR PINT PU PECON POGOV PINL PKFK PY PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PMAR PHUMPREL PHUS PRL PGOC PNR PGGV PROV PTERE PGOF PHUMBA PEL POV
QA
RICE RUPREL RU RS RIGHTS RO RW RSP RP REACTION REPORT RCMP RSO RF RFE RM RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT REGION
SENV SCUL SNAR SOCI SW SMIG SP SZ SA SY SENVKGHG SU SF SAN SR SO SHUM SYR SAARC SL SI SNARCS SWE SN SARS SPCE SNARIZ SCRS SC SIPDIS SEN SNARN SPCVIS STEINBERG SG SIPRS SH SOFA SANC SK ST SEVN
TPHY TW TC TX TU TI TN TS TT TRGY TO TH TBIO TSPL TIP TP TERRORISM TURKEY TSPA TD TZ TFIN TNGD TINT THPY TBID TF TL TV TAGS TK TR TRSY
UNSC UZ USEU US UN UK UP USTR UNGA UNMIK USUN UNESCO UNHRC UY UNO UG UNDC UAE UNAUS UNDESCO UNHCR UNEP UNCHC UNFICYP UNCHR USNC UNIDROIT UNCSD UNDP UNC UNODC USOAS UNPUOS UNCND USPS UNICEF UV UNCHS UNVIE UE USAID
VZ VT VE VTPREL VM VI VAT VN
WS WTRO WITH WHO WTRQ WBG WI WTO WHA WMD WMO WIPO WHTI WFP WB WWARD WA WEU WZ
XM XV XF XR XA XK XH XL XS XG XW XY XE XT XD XZ XX XTAG XQ XB XU XI XC
YM YI YMCS YE
ZR ZI ZANU ZU ZO ZP ZB ZL ZK ZF ZEALAND ZN ZA ZOELLICK ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

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.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
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.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05SANJOSE1746 | 2005-08-04 14:02 | 2011-03-08 16:04 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy San Jose

Appears in these articles:
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-07/Investigacion/NotasDestacadas/Investigacion2704388.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-07/Investigacion/NotaPrincipal/Investigacion2704402.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-07/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2704436.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-07/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2705536.aspx

`

    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

`