

Currently released so far... 6230 / 251,287
Articles
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
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
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 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
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
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 Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
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 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 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 Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
ASEC
AF
AE
AR
AORC
AJ
AU
AM
ABLD
AL
AMGT
ASUP
AFIN
APER
ABUD
AVERY
APCS
AEMR
ADCO
APECO
ASIG
AG
AA
AS
AFFAIRS
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AMED
AO
ACOA
AX
AROC
ATFN
ASEAN
AFGHANISTAN
AFU
AER
ALOW
AODE
ATRN
AID
AC
AGMT
CH
CO
CS
CE
CU
CLINTON
CG
CVIS
CMGT
CI
CJAN
CF
COM
CASC
CA
CBW
CM
CDG
CR
COUNTER
CD
CWC
CKGR
CN
CPAS
CJUS
CV
CONS
CT
CY
COUNTERTERRORISM
CIA
CACM
CDB
CAN
COE
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CONDOLEEZZA
CARSON
CL
CIS
CODEL
CTM
CB
ECON
EFIN
EAIR
EUN
EINV
ENRG
EG
ETRD
EPET
ETTC
ELAB
EU
ER
ET
EAGR
ECPS
ECIN
ELTN
EAID
EMIN
EWWT
EFIS
EIND
EC
ES
EN
EI
ENVR
ENGR
ENIV
EUNCH
ENVI
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ELN
EZ
EXTERNAL
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EINT
EUR
ECINECONCS
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EK
ELECTIONS
ECUN
EINVEFIN
ECIP
EINDETRD
EUC
EREL
ECA
ENERG
ENGY
ETRO
EFTA
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
ECONEFIN
EINVETC
EINN
ESA
ETC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ESENV
ETRDECONWTOCS
IN
IC
IR
IZ
IS
IAEA
IT
ICTY
IO
IA
IWC
ID
ICRC
ILC
INTELSAT
IMO
ISRAELI
IACI
ILO
ITRA
IBRD
IMF
ICJ
ICAO
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
INTERPOL
IV
IQ
IPR
INRB
ITPHUM
IIP
IL
INR
ITPGOV
IZPREL
IRC
INRA
INRO
IRAJ
IEFIN
IF
KDEM
KCRM
KJUS
KTIA
KWBG
KPAL
KIPR
KTIP
KE
KNNP
KGHG
KICC
KV
KTFN
KU
KCFE
KDRG
KWMN
KSCA
KGIC
KCOR
KFRD
KPKO
KSUM
KPRP
KPAO
KBCT
KIRF
KCFC
KISL
KREC
KSPR
KHIV
KBIO
KMCA
KMPI
KFLU
KSTH
KBTR
KS
KOMC
KOMS
KSEP
KPRV
KFLO
KHLS
KN
KWWMN
KUNR
KLIG
KSTC
KZ
KG
KRAD
KOLY
KTBT
KTDB
KOCI
KAWK
KCIP
KNPP
KWAC
KMDR
KAWC
KIDE
KSAF
KX
KWMNCS
KNEI
KCRS
KVPR
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KACT
KO
KFSC
KR
KPWR
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KFIN
KGCC
KPIN
KPLS
KIRC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KGIT
KBTS
KERG
KWMM
KRVC
KNSD
KVIR
KNUP
KTER
KDDG
KHSA
KMRS
KHDP
KTLA
KPAK
KNAR
KREL
KPAI
KTEX
KCOM
KNNPMNUC
KPOA
KRFD
KHUM
KDEV
KNUC
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MO
MX
MCAP
ML
MTCRE
MR
MP
MY
MU
MIL
MAR
MC
MRCRE
MTRE
MA
MEPI
MV
MPOS
MD
MZ
MEPP
MOPPS
MAPP
MASC
MT
MERCOSUR
MK
MDC
MI
MAPS
MCC
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MTCR
MG
OREP
OVIP
OFDP
ODIP
OPDC
OAS
OTRA
OSCE
OECD
OIIP
OEXC
OPCW
OPIC
OPRC
OVP
OSCI
OTR
OSAC
OIC
OFFICIALS
OIE
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PREF
PTER
PARM
PBTS
PINR
PINS
PHSA
PK
POL
PM
PINT
PE
PINF
PEL
PA
PARMS
PO
PLN
PROP
PALESTINIAN
PAO
PL
POV
PG
POLITICS
PEPR
PSI
PSOE
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PBIO
PECON
PAK
POGOV
PINL
PKFK
PMIL
PY
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PRAM
PMAR
PGOVLO
PUNE
PORG
PHUMPREL
PF
POLINT
PHUS
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PNAT
PGOVE
PRGOV
PRL
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
SENV
SY
SZ
SOCI
SO
SR
SNAR
SA
SP
SW
SMIG
SU
SCUL
SC
SAN
SN
SL
SG
SYR
SEVN
SF
SI
STEINBERG
SIPRS
SH
SNARCS
SOFA
SANC
SHUM
SK
ST
TRGY
TU
TBIO
TH
TS
TSPL
TT
TPHY
TSPA
TI
TK
TIP
TERRORISM
TZ
TX
TW
TD
TP
TC
TO
TNGD
TINT
TRSY
TR
TFIN
TURKEY
UK
UNGA
UN
UNHRC
UNMIK
UNO
UZ
UNSC
UP
UG
UNHCR
UNDC
US
UNAUS
USTR
UV
UNEP
UY
UNESCO
USUN
UAE
USEU
UNDP
UNCHS
UNVIE
UNCHC
UE
UNDESCO
USAID
Browse by classification
Community resources
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.
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.
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.