Cablegate: Costa Rica and Global Maritime Partnership: Many

VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSJ #0500 1641408
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121408Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9833
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000500

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS MASS MCAP SNAR CS
SUBJECT: COSTA RICA AND GLOBAL MARITIME PARTNERSHIP: MANY
ELEMENTS ALREADY IN PLACE

REF: STATE 50488

1. On June 10, we briefed Director Martin Arias of the Costa
Rican Coast Guard (SNGC) on the Global Maritime Partnership
(GMP) initiative. Arias seemed positive about Costa Rica's
support of the GMP principles, but will provide us further
feedback once the GOCR's Ministry of Public Security (MPS),
the SNGC's parent agency, has reviewed the initiative.

2. Arias noted, and Post agrees, that the GOCR already
supports many, if not all, of the GMP principles as outlined
in reftel.

3. Post notes that the USG has a dynamic maritime
relationship with the GOCR and the SNGC, including the
following examples of existing and/or future cooperation:

-- a Bilateral Maritime Agreement, ratified in 1999 and good
for 10 years, which is primarily counternarcotics focused;

-- a Search and Rescue (SAR) Memorandum of Agreement, which
is about to be signed with the GOCR;

-- plans to bring the USS Swift (HSV) to Costa Rica in
FY2009 to provide some training to the SNGC (reftel);

-- Costa Rica's first-ever participation in this year's
PANAMAX exercise; and

-- a USCG conducted survey of the SNGC and the GOCR's
capabilities, practices and port activities, intended to
assist Costa Rica in the management of its coast guard and
maritime/port operations.

4. Arias asked if there was/would be a website with more
information on the GMP. Please advise.
CIANCHETTE

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