Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12439 / 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 2011/05/05

### 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
ASEC AORC AMGT APER AU AF AS ACBAQ AFGHANISTAN AFIN AR AE AMED AEMR AJ ADANA AG ATRN ADPM APECO AGAO AX AM AL ADCO AA AECL AADP ABUD AMEX ACAO ANET AODE ASCH AY APEC AID AORG ASEAN AFSI AFSN AINF AGR AROC AO AFFAIRS ASIG ABLD ASUP AND ARM ARF AC AQ ATFN ACOA ADM AUC AGMT AMBASSADOR AMG ACABQ ASEX AFU AER ALOW AZ APCS AVERY AN AGRICULTURE AORL ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AMCHAMS AIT ACS
BR BA BD BL BTIO BO BF BU BEXP BX BILAT BRUSSELS BK BN BM BT BY BIDEN BG BH BB BE BP BC BBSR BTIU BWC BMGT
CH CY CA CU CS CO CVIS CPAS CMGT CE COUNTER CASC CR COUNTRY CJAN COUNTERTERRORISM CBW CNARC CG CI CWC CB CD CDC CIDA CJUS CDG CBSA CEUDA CM CLMT CAC CODEL COPUOS CIC CW CBE CHR CFED CT CONS CIA CTM CVR CF CLINTON CSW CITEL CLEARANCE COE CN CACM CDB CACS CBC CARICOM CAN CONDOLEEZZA CV CITT COM CKGR CARSON CROS CAPC CTR CL CICTE CIS
DR DHS DEA DTRA DA DJ DPRK DEPT DO DOMESTIC DAO DCM DE DK DEAX DOE DS DEFENSE DISENGAGEMENT DOD
ECON EFIN ELAB ETRD EIND EC EINV EAGR ENRG ETTC EAID EPET ELTN EWWT EAIR EFIS EMIN EG EU ER EUN EPA ENVI EXTERNAL ECPS ENGR ETRC ECIN EN ES ELN ET EI EFINECONCS EINT ETRDEINVTINTCS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EZ ETRO EDU ETRN EFIM EFTA EAIG EK EUREM EURN ECONCS ECONOMICS ENVR ELECTIONS EAP ERD ENIV ECONOMY ESA EINN ECONOMIC EIAR EXBS ECA ECUN EINDETRD EUR EREL ENGY EAIDS ENERG EINVEFIN EUC EINVETC EUMEM EINVECONSENVCSJA ESENV ETRA ECONEFIN ETC ECIP ENNP ERNG ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH ECINECONCS EXIM EEPET
FR FREEDOM FTA FJ FARC FI FTAA FAC FBI FOREIGN FOI FDA FM FAO FAS FINR FOR FINANCE FMLN FO FISO
GM GV GOI GT GY GOV GL GAERC GH GG GA GR GF GCC GE GZ GTIP GANGS GERARD GLOBAL GAZA GTMO
HA HK HR HUMAN HO HU HILLARY HUMOR HI HURI HEBRON HSTC HYMPSK
IR IS IZ IAEA IO IAHRC ID IPR IC IT IRAQI IWC IN IRS IL ISLAMISTS IV ICAO INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN ICRC INTERPOL IQ IMO IBET INR ITRA INTERNAL ICJ INMARSAT ICTY IMF ILO INRA INRO ISRAELI IEA INRB ITALY IRC ITU IACI IBRD IIP IRAJ ILC INTELSAT IDA ICTR IA IZPREL IGAD IF IEFIN IDP ITF ISRAEL
JA JUS JP JO JOSEPH JM JAMES JOHNNIE JOHN
KN KCRM KOMC KNNPMNUC KIPR KPAL KWBG KSCA KFRD KNNP KUNR KTIP KWMN KSTC KFLU KOLY KISL KPAO KMDR KJUS KDEM KS KSTH KCOR KIRF KAWC KU KTFN KWAC KNPP KERG KSEO KACT KHLS KPRP KTDB KZ KFLO KBIO KGHG KTIA KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KCRCM KE KOCI KPKO KHDP KIFR KCIP KDRG KRVC KVPR KV KMPI KCFC KIDE KICC KSUM KGIT KCFE KG KBTS KSEP KGIC KPAI KHSA KTLA KTEX KFSC KPLS KHIV KCSY KSAC KTRD KID KMRS KOM KSAF KR KMOC KNAR KIRC KBCT KSPR KFIN KBTR KJUST KNEI KAWK KGCC KMCA KREL KMFO KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFTFN KICA KVRP KCOM KO KLIG KPIN KAID KRAD KSCI KESS KDEV KVIR KCRS KTBT KCGC KNSD KOMS KRIM KMIG KTER KDDG KPRV KRFD KHUM KREC KWMNCS KSEC KPOA KWWMN KX KCMR KPWR KCHG KRGY KPAK KWMM KRCM KWNM KPAONZ KNUC KDEMAF KNUP
LY LE LO LG LH LI LTTE LAB LOG LA LABOR LT LU
MARR MOPS MASS MCAP MTCRE MNUC MIL MX MEDIA MEPP MA MR MO MASSMNUC MPOS MU ML MAR MP MY MERCOSUR MG MD MW MK MAS MT MI MOPPS MASC MTS MLS MILI MTRE MV MEPN MAPP MTCR MEPI MCC MZ MDC MEETINGS MQADHAFI MAPS MARAD MRCRE MILITARY MC MIK MUCN
NATO NL NZ NPT NI NSF NE NU NG NAFTA NS NDP NIPP NP NPA NO NK NRR NSC NEW NH NR NA NZUS NATIONAL NSG NC NSFO NSSP NASA NT NAR NGO NW NV NPG NORAD NATOPREL
OTRA OAS OPRC OIIP OVIP OREP OPDC OMIG OEXC OPIC OSCE OFFICIALS ODIP OFDP OECD OBSP OPCW OTR OSAC OSCI ON OIC OFDA OCII OES OPAD OIE OVP OHUM OCS
PREL PGOV PK PHUM PINS PARM PA PTER PINR PREF PHSA PBTS PBIO PO POL PE PARMS PM PGIV PROG PL PAK POLITICS PORG PTBS PNAT PUNE POLICY PDOV PCI PROP PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PP PS PAO PG PY PTERE PGOF PALESTINIAN PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PSEPC PREFA PGOVE PINF PHUMPGOV PNG PMIL PGOC PFOR PF POLINT PRAM PCUL PLN PAS PHUH POGOV PHUMPREL PRL PROV PHUMBA PEL PECON PSA PGGV PNR POV PHALANAGE PARTY PGOVLO PHUS PDEM PREO PAHO PSI PINL PU PRGOV PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS
QA
RS RU REACTION REPORT REGION RW RP RIGHTS RO RCMP RF RM RFE RSP ROBERT RICE RIGHTSPOLMIL ROOD RELATIONS RUPREL RSO
SU SNAR SO SOCI SW SENV SMIG SCUL SP SZ SK SENVKGHG SR SY SNARN SA SI SN SPCVIS SL SYRIA SF SC SWE SARS SHUM STEINBERG SG SIPRS ST SEVN SIPDIS SSA SPCE SHI SNARIZ SH SOFA SAN SNARCS SEN SYR SAARC SANC SCRS
TRGY TBIO TU TF TERRORISM TI TSPL TPHY TH TIP TW TSPA TC TO TX TZ TNGD TT TL TV TS TRSY TINT TN TURKEY TBID TD TFIN TP TAGS TK TR THPY
UNGA UN UK US UNC UNSC USUN USTR UG UP UY USEU UNESCO USPS UNMIK UZ UNHRC UNO UNAUS UNHCR UNCHR USAID UNVIE UAE USOAS UNFICYP UV UNDESCO UNEP UNDC UNCHC UNDP UNODC UNCND UNCHS UNIDROIT UNCSD UNICEF USNC UNPUOS UE
VT VE VTPREL VM VAT VZ VI VN VTIZ VC VTEG
WS WTRO WTO WTRQ WI WZ WHO WFP WBG WHA WWARD WB WA WMO WITH WMD WIPO WHTI WEU
XA XF XM XL XW XV XB XU XR XY XS XG XT XH XE XK XX XD XI XTAG XQ XZ XC
YE YM YI YMCS
ZI ZP ZB ZO ZU ZEALAND ZK ZR ZF ZOELLICK ZN ZANU ZL ZA 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 06SANJOSE2617, CAFTA RATIFICATION ADVANCES IN COSTA RICA

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. #06SANJOSE2617.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06SANJOSE2617 | 2006-11-17 20:08 | 2011-03-03 16:04 | UNCLASSIFIED | 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

`

    VZCZCXYZ0000
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHSJ #2617/01 3212050
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 172050Z NOV 06
    FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
    TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6679

` `

    UNCLAS SAN JOSE 002617

    SIPDIS

    DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN

    SIPDIS

    FOR UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE - A.MALITO

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: ETRD ECON PGOV KIPR CS
    SUBJECT: CAFTA RATIFICATION ADVANCES IN COSTA RICA

    REF:  SAN JOSE  1792

    ¶1.  (U) Summary.  Although President Arias has made it a top
    priority, Costa Rican efforts to ratify and implement CAFTA-DR have
    proceeded at a slow pace, but are picking up speed.  After more than
    five months of committee deliberations, the President of the
    legislative assembly (the Asamblea), with the backing of two-thirds
    of the body, has finally given the committee a deadline of midnight
    December 12 for reporting the ratification bill out of committee.
    If this deadline is met (as we anticipate), then full Asamblea
    debate will begin after the holiday recess in January, with the
    first of two required plenary votes expected by mid-February.  If
    there are no glitches, this timetable could lead to the second (and
    ratifying) vote in April, following mandatory review by the Supreme
    Court in March.  Ratification is just the first step, however.
    Twelve of thirteen bills necessary to implement the treaty have been
    introduced, but only three  have been reported out of committee and
    are ready for debate by the full Asamblea.  End Summary.

    --------------------------------------
    COMMITTEE ACTION ON CAFTA RATIFICATION
    --------------------------------------

    ¶2.  (U) For more than five months Costa Rica's Asamblea has held
    committee hearings on whether to ratify CAFTA-DR, taking testimony
    from dozens of proponents and opponents.  On October 11, the
    legislature's international relations committee completed its
    hearings in San Jose.  After a one-day blitzkrieg of public fora
    around the country on October 14, the committee turned its attention
    to procedural motions and interpretive clauses intended to clarify
    legislative intent.  The committee has considered approximately 200
    procedural motions, most of which were stalling tactics by
    opponents.  So far 70 interpretive clauses intended to clarify
    legislative intent have been introduced in committee.

    ¶3.  (U) Because of the delays, on October 31, the President of the
    Asamblea, with the backing of two-thirds of the body, set a deadline
    of midnight December 12, 2006, for the committee to vote upon its
    recommendation.  Under legislative rules, any interpretive motions
    not acted upon by the deadline will be forwarded to the full body
    for consideration later.  Post believes a majority of the committee
    will recommend ratification on December 12.

    --------------------------------------------
    THE ASAMBLEA RATIFICATION PROCESS AND TIMING
    --------------------------------------------

    ¶4.  (U) According to legislative and executive branch sources, the
    full 57-member Asamblea (Plenary) is expected to begin deliberations
    in January 2007 with the first of two required plenary votes
    anticipated by mid-February.  Disagreement remains regarding the
    number of votes necessary to ratify the treaty.  While many experts
    believe a simple majority is sufficient, because some provisions of
    the treaty require changes that opponents contend conflict with the
    constitutional protection afforded to parastatal monopolies, the
    Arias administration believes a two-thirds majority (38 votes) is
    politically necessary to avoid a Supreme Court challenge and to
    silence critics.  The  administration remains confident they have 38
    votes.

    ¶5.  (U) If the treaty is voted favorably, it will automatically be
    submitted to the Supreme Court's "Sala IV" chamber for up to 30 days
    for constitutional and procedural review.  Following Supreme Court
    review, the treaty would be returned to the Asamblea for a second
    plenary debate and vote which should take only a few days.  If there
    are no glitches, post's best guess at this point is that CAFTA-DR
    probably will be ratified in Costa Rica in April 2007.

    ¶6.  (U) One potential glitch is the next round of public protests,
    which may take place around the time of the committee vote (in
    mid-December) or the first plenary vote (mid-February).  GOCR
    sources, pleased that the anti-CAFTA protests fell flat in October,
    have admitted to us that broader protests, (e.g., bringing in taxi
    drivers who could block streets, especially in San Jose), or more
    intense protests (e.g., making more use of university students)
    could be problematic.  Another potential glitch is in the Asamblea
    itself, where opposition parties, led by Otton Solis and the PAC
    party, could flood the plenary debate with motions as a stalling
    tactic.  Based on media interviews since November 12, the PAC seems
    to have chosen the plenary as its next battleground.  The third
    potential glitch is the Supreme Court, where opponents could bring a
    number of challenges to the treaty.

    -----------------
    ENTRY INTO FORCE
    -----------------

    ¶7.  (U) Ratification is only the first step in bringing CAFTA-DR
    into force in Costa Rica, however.  The United States Trade
    Representative (USTR) has identified 13 areas of Costa Rican law
    that must be amended to bring the country's laws into compliance
    with the treaty before it can enter into force.  Twelve of the
    necessary thirteen bills have been introduced in the Asamblea.  Of
    those, three relatively non-controversial bills have passed out of
    committee and await action in the Plenary.

    ¶8.  (U) Under Costa Rica's unusual legislative procedure, from
    December 1 until April 30 the executive branch controls the
    legislative agenda.  This week the Arias administration announced
    its first set of priorities for legislative action.  Three of the
    thirteen required CAFTA implementation bills appear on the priority
    list: Priority #3 - Opening of the insurance market; Priority #7 -
    intellectual property rights (IPR) reforms (the third of three
    required); and Priority #11 - opening of the telecommunications
    market.  These three bills are considered the most difficult and
    controversial part of the implementation agenda

    -------
    COMMENT
    -------

    ¶9.  (SBU) One political commentator described the CAFTA process to
    us as a championship bout between evenly matched boxers.  There will be many rounds, and (probably) no knockout by either side.  The
    illustration may be apt.  The Arias administration got off to a slow
    start, but has been gaining ground.  As the legislative process
    continues, the government will have to take more punches -- in our
    view, more likely in the Asamblea than in the Supreme Court or in
    "the streets".  With sufficiently focused and determined politicalQleadership, post believes the Arias administration is up to the challenge of getting CAFTA ratified.

    ¶10.  (SBU) The real challenge will be the race to pass all of the
    legislation necessary implementing legislation before the Feb. 29,Q08 deadline.  If the Asamblea ratifies the agreement in April, the
    GOCR will have approximately 300 days to pass necessary legislation.
     Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic have all taken an average of 450 days (ranging from 396-478 days; in the case of the DR 438 days and counting) after ratification to bring
    the CAFTA into force.  The question remains whether the GOCR follows that pattern or emulates Nicaragua's example (which took only 173 days) of not rearguing the substance of commitments already included in the agreement.

`