VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSJ #1747 2212236
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 092236Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5780
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN JOSE 001747
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN JASON MACK AND WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CU CR
SUBJECT: COSTA RICA ON CASTRO SUCCESSION
REF: STATE 125684
Classified By: A/DCM Scott McAdoo for reasons 1.4 (B)
1. (C) Ambassador discussed reftel talking points with
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Stagno on August 4, 2006.
Stagno indicated that he would discuss the situation with
Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
Thomas Shannon when they were in Bogota, Colombia, on August
7 for the inauguration of President Alvaro Uribe. President
Oscar Arias commented publicly on August 1 that he would like
to see Cuba evolve towards a representative democracy.
2. (U) According to the Costa Rican newspaper, La Nacion,
Arias planned to meet Cuban vice-president Carlos Luge the
evening of Uribe's inauguration. Arias intended to pass a
message to Raul Castro encouraging him to promote a
transition to democracy in Cuba. However, during the
inauguration ceremony, Lage approached Arias and informed him
that he was not willing to discuss this subject at their
meeting. Arias would not accept this condition and canceled
the meeting.
LANGDALE