

Currently released so far... 12404 / 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
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 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 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
ASEC
AE
AF
AM
AR
AJ
AU
AORC
AG
AEMR
AMGT
APER
AGMT
AL
AFIN
AO
AMED
ADCO
AS
ABUD
ABLD
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APECO
AID
AND
AMBASSADOR
AN
ARM
AY
AODE
AMG
ASCH
AMCHAMS
ARF
APCS
APEC
ASEAN
AGAO
ANET
ADPM
ACOA
ACABQ
AORL
AFFAIRS
ATRN
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ADANA
ASIG
AA
AX
AUC
AC
AECL
AADP
AGRICULTURE
AMEX
ACAO
ACBAQ
AQ
AORG
ADM
AINF
AIT
ASEX
AGR
AROC
ATFN
AFGHANISTAN
AFU
AER
ALOW
AZ
AVERY
BA
BY
BU
BR
BE
BL
BO
BK
BM
BILAT
BH
BEXP
BF
BTIO
BC
BBSR
BMGT
BTIU
BG
BWC
BB
BD
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BN
BIDEN
BT
CW
CH
CF
CD
CV
CVIS
CM
CE
CA
CJAN
CLINTON
CIA
CU
CASC
CI
CO
CACM
CDB
CN
CMGT
CS
CG
CBW
CIS
CR
CONDOLEEZZA
CPAS
CAN
CWC
CY
COUNTER
CDG
CL
CT
CIC
CIDA
CSW
CHR
CB
CODEL
COUNTERTERRORISM
CTR
COM
CICTE
CFED
CJUS
CKGR
CBSA
CEUDA
CARSON
CONS
CITEL
CLMT
CROS
CITT
CAC
CVR
CDC
CAPC
COPUOS
CBC
CBE
CARICOM
COE
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CTM
CNARC
ECON
EFIN
ETRD
EUN
EFIS
EG
ETTC
EZ
EPET
EAID
EAGR
ENRG
ECUN
EU
ELAB
ECPS
EAIR
EINV
ELTN
EWWT
EIND
EMIN
EI
ECIN
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EINVEFIN
EN
ES
ER
EC
EUC
EINT
EINVETC
ENGR
ET
EK
ENIV
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ECONOMY
EAP
EFTA
EUR
EUMEM
EXIM
ERD
ENERG
EUREM
ESA
ERNG
EXTERNAL
EPA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
ECONOMICS
ELN
EINN
EFINECONCS
ENNP
EEPET
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ETRO
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ECONOMIC
EAIDS
EDU
ETRA
ETRN
EFIM
EIAR
ETRC
EAIG
EXBS
EURN
ECIP
EREL
ECA
ENGY
ECONCS
ECONEFIN
ETC
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINDETRD
IR
IZ
IS
IAEA
INRB
IRAJ
IQ
IN
IT
IMO
INTERPOL
ICAO
IO
IC
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
ICTY
ID
IPR
IWC
ILC
INTELSAT
IL
IBRD
IMF
IA
IRC
ICRC
ILO
ITU
ITRA
IV
IDA
IAHRC
ICJ
ISRAELI
IRS
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
IZPREL
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITF
IBET
IEFIN
INR
IACI
INTERNAL
IDP
IGAD
IEA
ICTR
IIP
INRA
INRO
IF
KJUS
KSCA
KNNP
KU
KCOR
KCRM
KDEM
KTFN
KHLS
KPAL
KWBG
KACT
KGHG
KPAO
KTIA
KIRF
KWMN
KS
KG
KZ
KN
KMDR
KISL
KSPR
KHIV
KPRP
KAWK
KR
KUNR
KDRG
KCIP
KGCC
KTIP
KSUM
KPKO
KVIR
KAWC
KPIN
KGIC
KRAD
KIPR
KOLY
KCFE
KMCA
KE
KV
KICC
KNPP
KBCT
KSEP
KFRD
KFLU
KVPR
KOCI
KBIO
KSTH
KMPI
KCRS
KOMC
KTBT
KPLS
KIRC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLO
KBTS
KSTC
KTDB
KFSC
KX
KFTFN
KNEI
KIDE
KREC
KMRS
KICA
KPAONZ
KCGC
KSAF
KRGY
KCMR
KRVC
KVRP
KSEO
KCOM
KAID
KTEX
KNUC
KNAR
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KLIG
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KHDP
KGIT
KNSD
KOMS
KWMM
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KO
KMFO
KRCM
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KPWR
KID
KWNM
KRIM
KPOA
KCHG
KOM
KSCI
KFIN
KMOC
KESS
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KPRV
KBTR
KERG
KTER
KDDG
KPAK
KRFD
KHUM
KDEV
KCFC
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KJUST
MARR
MOPS
MU
MTCRE
MNUC
MY
MASS
MCAP
MOPPS
MAR
MPOS
MO
ML
MR
MASC
MX
MD
MP
MA
MTRE
MIL
MCC
MZ
MK
MDC
MRCRE
MAPS
MV
MI
MEPN
MAPP
MEETINGS
MAS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTCR
MG
MC
MARAD
MIK
MILITARY
MEDIA
MEPI
MUCN
MEPP
MT
MERCOSUR
MW
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
NZ
NATO
NG
NI
NO
NATIONAL
NU
NPT
NIPP
NL
NPG
NS
NA
NGO
NP
NSG
NDP
NAFTA
NR
NC
NH
NE
NSF
NPA
NK
NSSP
NRR
NATOPREL
NSC
NT
NW
NORAD
NEW
NV
NSFO
NAR
NASA
NZUS
OTRA
OVIP
OPRC
OPDC
OSCE
OAS
ODIP
OIIP
OFDP
OVP
OREP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXC
OPCW
OIE
OIC
OFDA
OSCI
OPIC
OBSP
OECD
ON
OCII
OHUM
OES
OCS
OMIG
OPAD
OTR
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PSOE
PINS
PARM
PK
PBTS
PEPR
PM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PREF
PBIO
PROP
PA
PSI
PINT
PO
PKFK
PL
PAK
PE
POLITICS
PINL
POL
PHSA
PU
PF
POV
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PARMS
PRGOV
PNAT
POLINT
PRAM
PMAR
PG
PAO
PROG
PRELP
PPA
PCUL
PSEPC
PSA
PREO
PAHO
PGIV
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POSTS
PTBS
PGOVLO
PORG
PGOVE
PLN
PINF
PAS
PUNE
POLICY
PDEM
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PHUMPGOV
PMIL
PNG
PP
PS
PHUH
PECON
POGOV
PY
PHUMPREL
PHUS
PRL
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
PEL
RS
RU
RW
REGION
RP
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RUPREL
RM
RO
RCMP
RSO
RELATIONS
REACTION
REPORT
RIGHTS
ROOD
RF
RFE
RIGHTSPOLMIL
SP
SA
SY
SF
SYR
SENV
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SO
SU
SG
STEINBERG
SHUM
SW
SMIG
SR
SZ
SIPRS
SI
SAARC
SPCE
SARS
SN
SYRIA
SANC
SL
SCRS
SC
SENVKGHG
SAN
SNARCS
SHI
SWE
SNARIZ
SIPDIS
SEN
SNARN
SPCVIS
SEVN
SSA
SH
SOFA
SK
ST
TPHY
TU
TRGY
TI
TX
TS
TW
TC
TFIN
TD
TSPA
TH
TT
TIP
TBIO
TSPL
TZ
TERRORISM
TRSY
TN
THPY
TINT
TF
TL
TV
TK
TO
TP
TURKEY
TNGD
TBID
TAGS
TR
UP
US
UNSC
UK
UZ
UE
UNESCO
UV
UNGA
UN
UNMIK
UNO
UY
UAE
UNEP
UG
UNHCR
UNHRC
USUN
UNAUS
USTR
USNC
USOAS
UNCHR
UNCSD
UNDP
USEU
USPS
UNDC
UNDESCO
UNCHC
UNFICYP
UNC
UNODC
UNPUOS
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCHS
UNVIE
USAID
UNIDROIT
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09SANJOSE890, COSTA RICA: VISIT OF SOUTHCOM AMB. TRIVELLI
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. #09SANJOSE890.
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSJ #0890/01 2892312
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 162312Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1314
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/DIRJIATF SOUTH PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/DIRJIATF SOUTH J3 PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN JOSE 000890
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN, ALSO FOR SOUTHCOM AMB. TRIVELLI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS SNAR CS HO
SUBJECT: COSTA RICA: VISIT OF SOUTHCOM AMB. TRIVELLI
Classified By: CDA Peter M. Brennan for reason 1.4 (d).
¶1. (C) SUMMARY. On October 6-7, SOUTHCOM Civilian Deputy
Commander Ambassador Paul Trivelli visited Costa Rica and met
with senior GOCR officials, including President Arias. The
consistent theme throughout Amb. Trivelli's visit was GOCR
requests for further security-related assistance via the
Merida Initiative, SOUTHCOM, or other funding sources. On
Honduras, President Arias told Amb. Trivelli he believed the
visa revocations for top de facto government leaders were
having an effect and added that even more visa sanctions
might pressure the de factos to sign the San Jose Accord.
END SUMMARY.
----------------------------
MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ARIAS
----------------------------
¶2. (C) In his meeting with President Arias and Minister of
Public Security Janina Del Vecchio, Amb. Trivelli described
how US SOUTHCOM had transformed over the past two years and
that its relationship with Costa Rica had grown, especially
in humanitarian assistance. President Arias seemed satisfied
with the increased cooperation and appreciated Amb.
Trivelli's briefing on how SOUTHCOM was engaging with Latin
America.
¶3. (C) Turning to Honduras, President Arias believed that
U.S. visa revocations of senior de facto government officials
was having an affect. He encouraged the USG to further its
visa sanctions against some former Honduran presidents who
were "siding" with Micheletti and four "well-known"
businessmen involved with the June 28 removal of Zelaya from
power. Arias believed that further pressure on the de facto
Honduran government might push them towards signing the San
Jose Accord.
--------------------------------
"WE NEED MORE DIRECT ASSISTANCE"
--------------------------------
¶4. (C) Amb. Trivelli also met separately with Minister Del
Vecchio and other senior officials from Costa Rica's Ministry
of Public Security (MPS) to discuss strategic and
counter-narcotics cooperation. (MPS is charged with both
domestic and national security as Costa Rica has no
military.) Del Vecchio highlighted the success of the
USG-GOCR bilateral maritime agreement that has been largely
responsible for successful narcotics interdiction efforts in
Costa Rican waters. She appreciated the role of the U.S. as
a real partner in counternarcotics cooperation.
¶5. (C) Del Vecchio requested additional USG security
assistance in many areas including community policing,
however, she specifically was seeking assistance in the
following areas:
-- To participate in SOUTHCOM's possible Regional Aircraft
Modernization Plan (RAMP) to modernize and perhaps obtain new
aircraft for Costa Rica's Air Wing that is mostly focused on
counter-drug, search and rescue, and air ambulance operations;
-- Receiving, via donation, older U.S. Coast Guard 110-foot
patrol boats to eventually replace Costa Rica's aging three
82-foot patrol boats (NOTE: via Merida FMF funding those
82-foot patrol boats will be renovated/modernized. END
NOTE.); and
-- Creation of a police intelligence platform in terms of
both infrastructure and technology.
¶6. (C) One of Del Vecchio's operational commanders, Allan
Solano of the Drug Control Police (PCD, a rough equivalent to
the DEA), briefed Amb. Trivelli on increased drug-trafficking
violence taking place in Costa Rica. He said there was firm
evidence that the Sinoloa Cartel was operating in Costa Rica
and that most of the violence was between competing drug
trafficking organizations (DTOs). He also said that internal
drug consumption amongst Costa Ricans was increasing and that
Costa Rica no longer was just a "drug transit" country.
--------------------------------------------
NATIONAL LEGISLATORS: MORE ASSISTANCE PLEASE
--------------------------------------------
¶7. (SBU) During a meeting with Costa Rican national
legislators from their counter-narcotics and public security
committees, lawmakers echoed what Amb. Trivelli heard from
MPS regarding the need for further security assistance.
Evita Arguedas, an independent, told us that Costa Rica
needed increased Merida Initiative assistance to roll back
the tide of crime. She also highlighted that cooperation
between Costa Rica's various police forces (over 10 in total,
depending on jurisdiction/mission) needed to cooperate more
smoothly and be less "stove-piped." Luis Barrantes, from
Libertarian Movement (ML), said that after neglecting
security issues for nearly 30 years, Costa Rica was far
behind but that the solution to the problem must be a "whole"
approach and not in any one area alone.
¶8. (C) When Amb. Trivelli asked if there was a clear
"national security plan" in Costa Rica, legislators clearly
agreed that development of one would better focus their
efforts and provide overall "vision" to the country. The
Ambassador linked successful development and investment in
the country with firm commitments to security by the GOCR.
¶9. (SBU) We asked legislators if they would consider
extending USN/USCG ship visit permissions from six months to
one year. They said it would probably be better and
positively received by most legislators but asked that the
USG provide them a briefing on the effectiveness vis-a-vis
narcotics/law enforcement cooperation of the ship visits.
¶10. (SBU) Legislators expressed concern about the recent
opening here, by the Venezuelan Embassy, of so-called "bases
of peace." Seen by most in the media as an effort to counter
the "spread" of "U.S." bases in Colombia, most called the
action a provocation and would be asking the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to find out more information. (NOTE: Amb.
Trivelli also raised this issue with President Arias, who
expressed his concern over the "bases de paz" and
subsequently made public statements instructing the foreign
ministry to investigate thoroughly whether these were in
compliance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Missions.
END NOTE.)
--------------------------------------------- ---------
CID-GALLUP: ONE IN FOUR PER HOUSEHOLD VICTIMS OF CRIME
--------------------------------------------- ---------
¶11. (SBU) In a meeting with Carlos Denton of CID-Gallup and
some members of the security committee of the local Amcham,
briefers detailed the public's prevailing sense of domestic
insecurity in Costa Rica. According to polling done by
CID-Gallup over the past four months, one in four persons in
each household in Costa Rica has been a crime victim,
typically from assault or robbery. Figures similar to these
are reflected throughout Central America per the polling.
This clearly demonstrates, said Denton, that "crime in
Central America is a real problem, it is not perception."
¶12. (SBU) On drug consumption, Denton told us that getting
accurate data from respondents was difficult since few people
would admit to drug use openly. For example, he said that
when the question is asked directly, only about 3 percent of
people would admit to using drugs; however, when asked "do
you know someone who uses drugs?" the response was higher at
around 14 percent.
¶13. (SBU) On possible ways Amcham/CID-Gallup could help the
GOCR in its security efforts, Amb. Trivelli suggested that:
-- When large U.S. companies visit Costa Rica, they should
emphasize how important security is to economic prosperity
and try to seek appointments with senior members of the GOCR,
including President Arias;
-- Amcham might be able to assist the Ministry of Public
Security with their community policing program;
-- Support drug/substance abuse education efforts; and
-- Do a new drug abuse survey to roughly determine number of
drug users/abusers in Costa Rica to better define the problem.
----------------
MEDIA INTERVIEWS
----------------
¶14. (U) During his visit to Costa Rica, Amb. Trivelli had a
successful round of media interviews including exclusives
with La Nacion (most respected Costa Rican daily), Radio
Colombia (center-right station), and Channel 11, one of the
major national television networks. Following his meeting
with President Arias, Amb. Trivelli was interviewed by
Channel 7. He also received additional media coverage by the
Tico Times, a weekly English language newspaper and with A.M.
Costa Rica, an online English language paper.
¶15. (U) During his interviews, Amb. Trivelli highlighted
bilateral initiatives over the past year, including: MEDRETEs
and other humanitarian projects, plans to build a new Costa
Rican Coast Guard Academy, and projects aimed to combat drug
trafficking such as the installation of a communications
platform in Cerro Azul, Costa Rica.
-------
COMMENT
-------
¶16. (C) The clear message received by Amb. Trivelli's visit
to Costa Rica was GOCR requests for further security
cooperation and assistance. Though refraining from being
critical on the relatively small amount of assistance that
Costa Rica is receiving in comparison to Mexico or the war in
Iraq as he has been in the past, President Arias asked for
further assistance and seemed truly grateful for USG security
cooperation. Post believes that targeted assistance in
police professionalization, including community policing, and
further maritime assistance would benefit both Costa Rica and
the U.S. in addressing domestic insecurity issues and
interdicting drug trafficking.
BRENNAN