

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 09SANJOSE365, AMCHAM'S DISCONTENT: OECD BLACKLISTS 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. #09SANJOSE365.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09SANJOSE365 | 2009-04-30 22:10 | 2011-03-21 16:04 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy San Jose |
VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSJ #0365/01 1202210
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 302210Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0804
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RAYWEED/AUSTOECD PARIS OECD
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000365
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EEB/IFD/OIA:GHICKS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND WHA/EPSC:AWONG
TREASURY FOR SSENICH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON PGOV PREL CS
SUBJECT: AMCHAM'S DISCONTENT: OECD BLACKLISTS COSTA RICA
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce
(AmCham) met with DCM and Emboffs on April 17 to make a strong case
against the recent OECD listing of Costa Rica on the tax haven
"blacklist". They argued that the OECD's decision, which seemed to
ignore the transparency of the 1991 Costa Rican-U.S. Tax Exchange
Information Agreement (TEIA), was totally inappropriate:
substantively incorrect, procedurally mishandled, and politically
motivated. In addition, AmCham expressed dismay at how quickly
Finance Minister Guillermo Zuniga acceded to the OECD listing by
submitting a letter pledging that the GOCR would consider new
legislation eliminating the need for a court order in order to open
bank account records (a prominent OECD complaint). Ostensibly,
Zuniga's action changed Costa Rica's OECD classification from the
"black list" to the "grey list." AmCham -- deeply concerned about
Costa Rica's reputation after the initial OECD announcement --
requested that the USG make a statement on Costa Rica's behalf.
Post countered that Zuniga could raise the issue (at his discretion)
in his meeting with Treasury officials on April 27 (on the margins
of the World Bank meeting in Washington). Of note, the GOCR has not
approached us about the "black list." See Action Request, para 11.
END SUMMARY.
-------------------------
AN EXPERIENCED DELEGATION
-------------------------
¶2. (U) Executive Director Lynda Solar, President Luis Gamboa, and
ex-presidents Humberto Pacheco and Hernan Pacheco represented
AmCham. Given that Humberto Pacheco negotiated the GOCR's TIEA in
the 80's, he led AmCham's presentation. Pacheco seemed personally
offended by the OECD's failure to acknowledge the effectiveness of
the existing TIEA with the US (in effect since 1991) and emphasized
the difficult five-year process of gaining legislative approval for
the TIEA.
¶3. (U) The AmCham representatives' believed the OECD decision was
based on the following factors (which also figured prominently in
local media reporting about the black listing):
-- Costa Rica does not tax overseas income; and
-- Costa Rica requires a court order to be obtained in order to open
any bank account records.
---------------------------
A DELEGATION WITH A MISSION
---------------------------
¶4. (U) AmCham adamantly disagreed with Costa Rica's classification
as a tax haven by the OECD and pressed that there are "no
technically valid reasons" to place Costa Rica on any tax haven
black list for three reasons:
-- Humberto Pacheco noted that a characteristic of a tax haven is
low taxes. Quite the contrary, Costa Rica has a high tax regime;
-- Typical tax havens do not disclose tax information to the proper
foreign counterparts. Pacheco claimed that Costa Rica consistently
cooperated with U.S. counterparts, abided by the TIEA with the US,
and exercised considerable control over its banking system through a
regulator. (NOTE: Pacheco was unaware of any European disclosure
requests. END NOTE.) He stated that, to his knowledge, never in
the history of the TIEA with the United States had a request for
information been denied. That is, judicial permission to access
account information requested by the IRS has always been
forthcoming; and
-- Costa Rica purposely designed its foreign tax regime to eliminate
any appearance of "ring fencing," the issue of treating foreign
source income differently, based on the residency of the taxpayer.
The GOCR made a conscious decision to exempt taxation of all foreign
source income for all taxpayers; thus, the law treats all taxpayers
the same on this issue, which, in Pacheco's words, "is a choice that
the government made. . . very wisely."
¶5. (SBU) In addition to the specific arguments on tax havens,
AmCham cited Costa Rica's role as a good neighbor in the war against
drugs and its fight against money laundering (it passed an
anti-money laundering law earlier this year). AmCham further argued
on the issue of the OECD's "Eurocentric" outlook. AmCham contended
that the four countries on the OECD's black list -- Costa Rica,
Uruguay, Malaysia, and Philippines -- had no ties to Europe. Thus,
the OCED selected easy targets -- countries without direct European
ties -- while overlooking European counties with questionable
practices on bank secrecy, i.e. Belgium, Switzerland, and/or
Luxembourg.
¶6. (SBU) AmCham disapproved of the "easy way out of this," as
proposed by Finance Minister Zuniga, of simply proposing changes in
the law regulating bank secrecy. Hernan Pacheco stated that AmCham
strongly opposed eliminating the requirement that a judge review any
request to open bank account records. Real or perceived abuses of
the power to open bank records, Pacheco added, could do enormous
harm to Costa Rica's democracy by altering Costa Ricans' perceptions
of (and confidence in) government. Furthermore, it isn't clear how
the government would truly guarantee the protection of privacy
rights (without the requirement for a judicial order).
---------------
SAY IT ISN'T SO
---------------
¶7. (SBU) Humberto Pacheco argued that "the US should not have
allowed [Angel] Guria [OECD Secretary General] to denigrate Costa
Rica's reputation, since there is not a technical reason [for Costa
Rica's presence on a black list]". Pacheco noted that the term "tax
haven black list" still lingers in the air, in spite of the OECD
elevating Costa Rica to the "grey list" five days after the "black
list" announcement. Pacheco, the ex-TIEA negotiator, continued,
"We're looking for a face-saving comment from the USG that helps
clear Costa Rica's reputation." "Whatever the inner workings of
this situation," Pacheco continued, "it was made to look like the
G20 originated this." He suggested the following points: "Costa
Rica has a TIEA with the US, has cooperated with the United States,
and has never denied access to requested bank information."
¶8. (SBU) We listened to the presentation and noted that GOCR's
delinquency on many issues, such as passing the anti-money
laundering law, could have played a part in the OECD decision.
Also, the DCM shared some of the findings provided informally to us
by Treasury (TREAS) prior to the AmCham meeting: (1) TREAS is not
comfortable with the OECD list-making, (2) nonetheless, TREAS
generally agreed with OECD's underlying goals, and (3) the US
Internal Revenue Service is reasonably comfortable with Costa Rica's
cooperation through the framework of the TIEA. However, we were
noncommittal about any USG statement in defense of Costa Rica, urged
AmCham to voice their concerns directly to the GOCR, and suggested
that Zuniga raise the issue at his meeting with Treasury on the
margins of the IMF/World Bank meeting April 27. We also said we
would report AmCham's concerns to Washington.
¶9. (SBU) In one notable follow-up, Finance Vice Minister Jenny
Phillips has invited Jeffrey Owens of the OECD's Center for Tax
Policy and Administration to Costa Rica for a review session of the
proposed legislation. The Ministry is girding itself for the
session by publicly noting that several other Latin American
countries also have bank secrecy laws, while stressing the GOCR's
cooperation on information requests.
--------------------------
COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST
--------------------------
¶10. (SBU) The GOCR evidently does not share AmCham's concerns and
has not approached us. (In fact, we understand that Zuniga did not
discuss the issue during his meetings in Washington). We respect
AmCham's enthusiasm for (and expertise on) this issue, but believe
that the GOCR decided to quickly dispense with the issue by
promising to introduce legislation that would eliminate the need for
a court order to open bank account records. We doubt such
legislation could be passed quickly or easily (if at all) in Costa
Rica, but the pledge alone seemed to have satisfied the OECD.
Though an OECD designation can sully the reputation of a designee,
we understand that a designation carries no penalties or sanctions.
¶11. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: In the aftermath of the controversy (which
we expect may re-surface here given the pending OECD review session,
we remain interested in others' views of the transparency and
fairness of the OECD ranking process. We would appreciate insight
from the Department, USEU, and/or Treasury. We cannot judge from
here, but AmCham makes a persuasive case against OECD's objectivity.
Why, for example, did the OECD rating seem to discount the
importance of a functioning TIEA between the GOCR and the USG?
CIANCHETTE