Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12433 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
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
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04

### 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 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
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 Consulate Naha
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
AORC AF AR ASEC AEMR AMGT AE ABLD AL AJ AU AO AFIN ASUP AUC APECO AM AG APER AGMT AMED ADCO AS AID AND AMBASSADOR ARM ABUD AODE AMG ASCH ARF ASEAN ADPM ACABQ AFFAIRS ATRN ASIG AA AC ACOA ANET APEC AQ AY ASEX ATFN AFU AER ALOW AZ APCS AVERY ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AN AGRICULTURE AMCHAMS AINF AGAO AIT AORL ACS AFSI AFSN ACBAQ AFGHANISTAN ADANA AX AECL AADP AMEX ACAO AORG ADM AGR AROC
BL BR BO BE BK BY BA BILAT BU BM BEXP BF BTIO BC BBSR BMGT BTIU BG BD BWC BH BIDEN BB BT BRUSSELS BP BX BN
CD CH CM CU CBW CS CVIS CF CIA CLINTON CASC CE CR CG CO CJAN CY CMGT CA CI CN CPAS CAN CDG CW CONDOLEEZZA CT CIC CIDA CSW CACM CB CODEL COUNTERTERRORISM CTR COUNTER CWC CONS CITEL CV CFED CBSA CITT CDC COM COE COUNTRY CLEARANCE CDB CKGR CACS CARSON CROS CAPC CHR CL CICTE CIS CNARC CJUS CEUDA CLMT CAC COPUOS CBC CBE CARICOM CTM CVR
DR DPRK DEPT DA DJ DEA DTRA DOMESTIC DHS DAO DCM DO DE DEAX DOE DK DS DISENGAGEMENT DOD DEFENSE
EAGR EAIR ECON ECPS ETRD EUN ENRG EINV EMIN EU EFIN EREL EG EPET ENGY ETTC EIND ECIN EAID ELAB EC EZ ENVR ELTN ELECTIONS ER EINT ES EWWT ENIV EAP EFIS ERD ENERG EAIDS ECUN EI EINVEFIN EN EUC EINVETC ENGR ET ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ECONOMY EUMEM ESA EXTERNAL EINVECONSENVCSJA EINN EEPET ENVI EFTA ESENV ECINECONCS EPA ECONOMIC ETRA EIAR EUREM ETRC EXBS ELN ECA EK ECONEFIN ETC ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH ECIP EINDETRD EUR ENNP EXIM ERNG EFINECONCS ETRDEINVTINTCS ETRO EDU ETRN EFIM EAIG EURN ECONCS ECONOMICS
FR FREEDOM FTA FI FOR FJ FTAA FARC FINANCE FDA FAC FBI FAO FM FMLN FO FISO FOREIGN FOI FAS FINR
GM GE GG GZ GOV GT GR GAERC GV GH GA GY GOI GTIP GCC GERARD GAZA GTMO GL GLOBAL GANGS GF
HO HA HILLARY HUMAN HR HURI HEBRON HU HK HUMOR HSTC HI HYMPSK
IS ICRC IN IR IZ IT INRB IAEA ICAO ITALY ITALIAN IRAQI IC IL ID IV IMO INMARSAT IQ IRAJ IO ICTY IPR IWC ILC INTELSAT IBRD IMF IRC IRS ILO ITU IDA IAHRC ICJ ITRA ISRAELI ITF IACI IDP ICTR IIP IA IF IZPREL IGAD INTERPOL INTERNAL ISRAEL ISLAMISTS INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV IBET IEFIN INR INRA INRO IEA
JA JAMES JO JM JOSEPH JP JOHNNIE JOHN JUS
KSCA KUNR KHLS KAWK KISL KPAO KSPR KGHG KPKO KDEM KNNP KN KS KPAL KACT KCRM KDRG KJUS KGIC KRAD KU KTFN KV KMDR KWBG KSUM KSEP KCOR KHIV KG KGCC KTIP KIRF KE KIPR KMCA KCIP KTIA KAWC KBCT KVPR KPLS KREL KCFE KOMC KFRD KWMN KTDB KPRP KMFO KZ KVIR KOCI KMPI KFLU KSTH KCRS KTBT KIRC KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFLO KSTC KFSC KFTFN KIDE KOLY KMRS KICA KCGC KSAF KRVC KVRP KCOM KAID KTEX KICC KNSD KBIO KOMS KGIT KHDP KNEI KTRD KWNM KRIM KSEO KR KWAC KMIG KIFR KBTR KTER KDDG KPRV KPAK KO KRFD KHUM KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KREC KCFC KLIG KWMNCS KSEC KPIN KPOA KWWMN KX KCMR KPWR KCHG KRGY KSCI KNAR KFIN KBTS KPAONZ KNUC KNPP KDEMAF KNUP KNNPMNUC KERG KCRCM KWMM KPAI KHSA KTLA KRCM KCSY KSAC KID KOM KMOC KESS KDEV KJUST
LE LY LI LH LAB LU LG LOG LTTE LA LO LABOR LT
MARR MOPS MX MASS MNUC MCAP MO MU ML MA MTCRE MY MOPPS MASC MIL MR MTS MLS MILI MK MEPP MD MAR MP MTRE MCC MZ MDC MRCRE MV MI MEPN MAPP MEETINGS MAS MTCR MG MEPI MT MEDIA MASSMNUC MQADHAFI MPOS MAPS MARAD MC MIK MUCN MILITARY MERCOSUR MW
NZ NL NATO NO NI NU NATIONAL NG NP NPT NPG NS NA NSG NAFTA NC NH NE NSF NSSP NDP NORAD NK NEW NR NASA NT NIPP NAR NGO NW NV NATOPREL NPA NRR NSC NSFO NZUS
OTRA OVIP OEXC OIIP OSAC OPRC OVP OFFICIALS OAS OREP OPIC OSCE OECD OSCI OFDP OPDC OIC OFDA ODIP OBSP ON OCII OES OPCW OPAD OIE OHUM OCS OMIG OTR
PGOV PREL PARM PHUM PREF PTER PINS PK PINR PROP PBTS PKFK PL PE PSOE PEPR PM PAK POLITICS POL PHSA PPA PA PBIO PINT PF PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PNAT POLINT PRAM PMAR PG PAO PROG PRELP PCUL PSEPC PGIV PO PREFA PALESTINIAN PGOVLO PGOVE PLN PINF PAS PDEM PHUMPGOV PNG PHUH PMIL POGOV PHUMPREL PHUS PRL PGOC PNR PGGV PROV PHUMBA PEL PECON POV PSA PREO PAHO PP PSI PINL PU PARMS PRGOV PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS PTBS PORG PUNE POLICY PDOV PCI PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PS PY PTERE PGOF
QA
RS RO RU RW REGION RIGHTS RSP ROBERT RP RICE REACTION RCMP RFE RM RIGHTSPOLMIL RF ROOD RUPREL RSO RELATIONS REPORT
SENV SZ SOCI SNAR SP SCUL SU SY SA SO SF SMIG SW STEINBERG SG SIPRS SR SI SPCE SN SYRIA SL SC SHI SNARIZ SIPDIS SPCVIS SH SOFA SK ST SEVN SYR SHUM SAN SNARCS SAARC SARS SEN SANC SCRS SENVKGHG SNARN SWE SSA
TPHY TW TS TU TX TRGY TIP TSPA TSPL TBIO TNGD TI TFIN TC TRSY TZ TINT TT TF TN TERRORISM TP TURKEY TD TH TBID TL TV TAGS TK TR THPY TO
UNGA UNSC UNCHR UK US UP UNEP UNMIK UN UAE UZ UG UNESCO UNHRC USTR UNHCR UY USOAS UNDC UNCHC UNO UNFICYP USEU UNDP UNODC UNCND UNAUS UNCHS UV USUN USNC UNIDROIT UNCSD UNICEF UE UNC USPS UNDESCO UNPUOS USAID UNVIE
VE VT VZ VTPREL VM VN VTIZ VAT VC VTEG VI
WMO WTRQ WB WI WWARD WA WBG WITH WHA WTO WMD WTRO WIPO WHO WS WHTI WEU WZ WFP
XB XG XT XH XA XM XF XE XR XK XL XW XY XS XX XV XD XTAG XQ XU XZ XC XI
YM YE YI YMCS
ZI ZP ZR ZO ZF ZANU ZOELLICK ZU ZL ZEALAND ZN ZB ZA ZK 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 05SANJOSE2908, CODEL BLUNT URGES PROMPT RATIFICATION OF CAFTA-DR

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. #05SANJOSE2908.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05SANJOSE2908 | 2005-12-22 10:10 | 2011-03-03 16:04 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy San Jose

Appears in these articles:
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-03/Investigacion/NotasDestacadas/Investigacion2697430.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-03/Investigacion/NotaPrincipal/Investigacion2697496.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-03/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2697489.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-03/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2697532.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-03/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2697535.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-03/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2701964.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-03/Investigacion/Relacionados/Investigacion2701965.aspx

`

    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 002908

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: OREP PREL ETRD CS
    SUBJECT: CODEL BLUNT URGES PROMPT RATIFICATION OF CAFTA-DR

    Summary
    --------
    ¶1. (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) will
    fall away whether Costa Rica ratifies CAFTA-DR or not.  The
    CODEL also met with members of the GOCR cabinet and the
    president of the central bank, and were hosted for dinner by
    the American Chamber of Commerce.  The visit received wide
    and favorable press coverage.  Embassy is following up on the
    visit with activities to hasten ratification of CAFTA-DR in
    Costa Rica.  End Summary.

    Meeting with Counterparts
    -------------------------
    ¶2. (U)  CODEL Blunt arrived in Costa Rica early in the
    afternoon of December 19.  Members of the CODEL were:
    Roy Blunt (R-MO); Solomon Ortiz (D-TX); Mark Foley (R-FL);
    Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX); Gregory Meeks (D-NY); Dennis Moore
    (D-KS); and Mike Conaway (R-TX).

    ¶3. (U)  The CODEL's first meeting was at the Legislative
    Assembly and with the members of the International Relations
    and Trade Committee, which is now holding hearings on
    CAFTA-DR.  Rolando Lacle, president of the committee,
    presided.  With him were Laura Chinchilla, Luis Ramirez,
    Federico Malavassi, Bernal Jimenez, Ruth Montoya, Juan Jose
    Vargas, Mario Calderon, Gerardo Vargas, Carlos Salazar, and
    Epsy Campbell.

    ¶4. (U)  Representative Blunt opened the discussion by noting
    that the delegation of four Democrats and three Republicans
    all voted in favor of CAFTA-DR, but only after a hard-fought
    and vigorous debate in Congress.  In the end, a majority of
    Congress recognized the importance of strengthening the bonds
    with our neighbors through increased and freer trade.

    Costa Rican Concerns
    --------------------
    ¶5. (U)  Laura Chinchilla, vice presidential candidate in the
    February 6, 2006, elections, said that Costa Rica wants to
    compete and export, not receive aid.  She said that her
    party, the National Liberation Party (PLN), wants to ratify
    CAFTA-DR as quickly as possible, but that the administration
    has been obstructing discussion of the treaty.

    ¶6. (U)  Luis Ramirez, also of the PLN, raised two questions
    for the U.S. Congressmen:  how much longer will the United
    States subsidize its farmers, and why not negotiate a
    bilateral free trade agreement between the United States and
    Costa Rica?

    ¶7. (U)  Federico Malavassi of the Libertarian Movement Party
    said that his party not only supports CAFTA-DR, but wishes
    that the treaty had gone further to eliminate trade barriers
    in the region and with the United States.  He said he was
    disappointed that Costa Rica was so slow in ratifying an
    agreement that was so obviously beneficial.

    ¶8. (U)  PLN legislator Bernal Jimenez asked whether in the
    future it would be possible to renegotiate some aspects of
    CAFTA-DR.

    ¶9. (U)  Ruth Montoya of the Citizens' Action Party (PAC),
    which opposes CAFTA-DR, noted that President Bush, according
    to President Pacheco, said that Costa Rica should "take its
    time" in ratifying CAFTA-DR.  She said her party was not
    against free trade, per se, citing its support for the free
    trade agreement with Canada, but is against CAFTA-DR.

    ¶10. (U)  Juan Jose Vargas, who recently founded a new party
    and is now a minor candidate for president, complained that
    CAFTA-DR is surrounded by ignorance, divisiveness,
    propaganda, and lies.  He said there had been a total lack of
    transparency during negotiations and that the
    telecommunications and insurance sectors became subjects of
    negotiations only at the last minute and under extreme
    pressure.  He said maintaining social peace is more important
    than free trade.

    ¶11. (U)  Mario Calderon said that his Social Christian Unity
    Party (PUSC) supports CAFTA-DR but is troubled by the
    question of U.S. subsidies.

    ¶12. (U)  Gerardo Vargas of PAC said that CAFTA-DR will hurt
    small business in Costa Rica, especially farmers, and put at
    risk the nation's "food security."  If CAFTA-DR passes, he
    said, Costa Rica will be at the mercy of U.S. farmers.  He
    urged renegotiation of the treaty and the continuation of CBI
    benefits for Costa Rica.

    CODEL Responds
    --------------
    ¶13. (U)  Representative Blunt said that the U.S. Congress's
    vote on CAFTA-DR was its most important foreign policy vote
    for the hemisphere in more than a decade.  The idea was to
    replace a temporary, unilateral concession (CBI) with a
    permanent, negotiated, mutually-binding agreement (CAFTA-DR).
     CBI will not last, he said, and if Costa Rica rejects
    CAFTA-DR, the United States will not then negotiate a
    separate bilateral agreement with Costa Rica.

    ¶14. (U)  Representative Ortiz said that his vote in favor of
    CAFTA-DR was influenced by his border district's positive
    experience with NAFTA.  He said that before NAFTA,
    unemployment in his district was 22 percent; today it is 6
    percent.  He noted that people are always afraid of change.

    ¶15. (U)  Representative Foley said that there was a lot of
    pressure on him in his sugar-growing district to vote against
    CAFTA-DR.  But he was persuaded by President Bush to think
    about how important trade and economic development were to
    ensure peace and stability in Central America.  He said Costa
    Rica must ratify CAFTA-DR now and not gamble on some
    theoretical future, better agreement.  He said, "Free trade
    agreements in the United States will not get easier to pass,
    but only harder."  He said it is important for politicians to
    put their country's interests above their own political
    self-interest as he had done.

    ¶16. (U)  Representative Hinojosa, like Ortiz from a Texas
    border district, said that employment in his district
    improved dramatically with the implementation of NAFTA; there
    are more and better jobs.  He said it was not realistic for
    Costa Rica to hope for a new, separate, bilateral treaty; it
    will not happen, he said.  Costa Rica had to get on the train
    now because it is leaving the station.

    ¶17. (U)  Representative Moore said that trade not only brings
    economic benefits, but also helps consolidate democracy.  He
    said that CBI is a temporary measure and will not be extended
    for Costa Rica.  He said that former President Carter's
    letter which characterized CAFTA-DR as an opportunity to help
    fledging democracies was influential in his decision to vote
    in favor of the agreement.

    ¶18. (U)  Representative Meeks said that Costa Rica, because
    of the level of education of its people, stood to benefit
    more from CAFTA-DR than any other country.  He said
    renegotiation of the treaty was out of the question and that
    CBI benefits will be phased out.  He reminded the Costa Rican
    legislators that in negotiations neither side gets what it
    considers to be the perfect result.  He said they should
    trade "short-term pain for long-term gain;" the question is
    whether their children will be better off with or without
    CAFTA-DR.  Meeks said it is clear that while CAFTA-DR will
    not solve all of Costa Rica's economic problems, "it is a
    giant step in the right direction."

    ¶19. (U)  Representative Conaway urged the Costa Rican
    legislators to consider what is in the best interest of their
    country as a whole and to "push back" against special
    interest groups.  He said there must be no illusions that
    CAFTA-DR will be renegotiated or that CBI will go on forever.
     He noted that the U.S. Congress voted the night before to
    eliminate subsidies across the board in 2007.

    Press Conference
    -----------------
    ¶20. (U)  In a press conference immediately following the
    roundtable discussion with Costa Rican legislators,
    Representative Blunt reiterated that the United States wanted
    Costa Rica to be a part of CAFTA-DR, but that the Costa
    Ricans would have to make their own decision in that regard.
    Representative Meeks said that Costa Rica will benefit from
    CAFTA-DR and noted that several Caribbean countries also want
    a free trade agreement with the United States.
    Representative Hinojosa stressed the benefits of NAFTA in his
    district where in the last 12 years unemployment dropped from
    22 percent to 8 percent, despite population growth during
    that period of 48 percent.

    Evening Events
    --------------
    ¶21. (U)  In the evening the CODEL attended a reception at the
    Ambassador's residence and met with Ministry of the Economy
    Gilberto Barrantes, Acting Minister of Foreign Trade Doris
    Osterlof, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Marco Vinicio
    Vargas, adviser to the Economic Council Pedro Quiros, and
    Central Bank President Francisco de Paula Gutierrez.
    Following the reception, the Costa Rican-American Chamber Of
    Commerce (AmCham) hosted the CODEL for dinner.  The CODEL
    departed the morning of December 20 for El Salvador.

    Press Coverage
    --------------
    ¶22. (U)  The CODEL's principal message was featured in the
    headlines of articles in Costa Rica's December 20 daily
    newspapers, as follows.  La Nacion: Congressmen reaffirm that
    CAFTA renegotiation is improbable.  La Republica: U.S.
    Congressmen indicate that bilateral renegotiation is not an
    option.  La Prensa Libre: U.S. Congressmen say, "CAFTA cannot
    be renegotiated."  Al Dia: No to renegotiation.  Both La
    Nacion and La Republica had long articles on December 21
    pointing out the dire consequences for Costa Rican exports if
    CBI were to be terminated.

    ¶23. (U)  On December 21, several commentators noted that the
    CODEL took the wind out of the sails of CAFTA-DR's main
    opponent in Costa Rica, PAC presidential candidate Otton
    Solis, who has been claiming that the treaty can and must be
    renegotiated.  Solis himself, however, was undaunted, saying
    that regardless of what the CODEL members said, CAFTA-DR can
    be modified to protect small and medium-sized businesses in
    Costa Rica.  Solis's companion on the ticket as candidate for
    vice president, Epsy Campbell, told the press that the U.S.
    representatives were trying to put undue pressure on Costa
    Rica, but in fact they had nothing new to say.  (Campbell
    arrived late at the roundtable with the CODEL and did not
    speak.)

    ¶24. (U)  At the same time that the CODEL members were meeting
    with their Costa Rican counterparts, USTR released its 12/19
    statement regarding CAFTA-DR's entry into force.  What
    particularly attracted the attention of the Costa Rican press
    was the part of the statement noting "a seamless transition"
    between CBI and CAFTA-DR and that existing preferences would
    continue to be enjoyed only "during a brief transition
    period."  The statement undercut a main argument of CAFTA-DR
    opponents in Costa Rica, namely that CAFTA-DR was unnecessary
    because Costa Rica already had, and would continue to have,
    CBI.

    Comment
    -------
    ¶25. (SBU)  The USTR statement along with the comments of the
    CODEL members made crystal clear what the Embassy has been
    telling the GOCR, the legislature, and the press all along --
    CBI is not forever, and CAFTA-DR will not be renegotiated
    with Costa Rica.  We know that two thirds of the legislature
    and two thirds of the population support CAFTA-DR.  The
    problem here has been a feckless and indecisive president who
    refused to send CAFTA-DR to the legislature until late
    October, thus starting a process of ratification that
    normally takes at least six months.  Embassy plans to follow
    up the very successful CODEL and USTR announcement with a
    concerted push to get the legislature to act quickly.  The
    first step will be an exclusive interview of the Ambassador
    with La Nacion, Costa Rica's leading daily newspaper.

    ¶26. (U) This cable was not cleared by the CODEL.
    LANGDALE

`