Cablegate: Costa Rica: Food Aid and the Wto

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 002071

SIPDIS

WHA/CEN
EB FOR WCRAFT, BLAMPRON, JSHANNON
E FOR DEDWARDS
WHA/EPSC FOR KURS, LGUMBINER
USDA/FAS FOR EAUTRY
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR DSKORIC, LWITTE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD ECPS ECON CS WTO AID
SUBJECT: COSTA RICA: FOOD AID AND THE WTO

REF: (A) SECSTATE 155973

(B) SAN JOSE 1549

1. On August 29, 2005, Econoff delivered non-paper to
Doris Osterlof, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade (COMEX),
Melissa Delgado, Advisor to the Minister, and Ronald
Obaldia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. COMEX is the
lead GOCR organization on this issue and shared the
information with other Ministries involved in the matter of
food aid.

2. In a letter dated September 1, 2005 in which he
responded to the non-paper, COMEX Minister Manuel Gonzalez
wrote "... as discussed in the Agriculture Committee, food
aid disciplines should ensure that such aid does not distort
local markets of beneficiary nations nor displace exports
from other member countries, nor be used in such a manner as
to elude complying with export agreements or requirements."
He further offered that "...Costa Rica will continue to
focus on food aid in the following areas: evaluation of
needs, role of organizations, food aid in the form of
donations and grants, transparency, and emergency food aid."
He specifically addressed the non-paper topic as follows:
"With respect to the proposal presented by your government,
we will study it and expect to make pertinent comments at
the next special meeting of the Agriculture Committee in
September."
FRISBIE

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