UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 21—Costa Rica ordered its U.N. ambassador to resign this week for failing to staunchly back U.S. policy on Iraq. But he was reinstated a day later after pledging to more faithfully implement his government’s pro-American stance.
Costa Rican Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar called for the resignation
of Ambassador Bruno Stagno on Wednesday on the grounds that he had
delivered an unauthorized speech urging that inspectors be given
sufficient time
to carry out their work in Iraq. Stagno, one of
more than 60 foreign delegates who addressed the U.N. Security Council
during a two-day open debate this week, was reprimanded for failing to
endorse U.S. demands that the council authorize serious
consequences
—a diplomatic euphemism for military
action—against Iraq.
But today, Tovar told reporters that he decided to give Stagno a
second chance
after he admitted his error
and pledged to
support the foreign ministry’s policies. Speaking with President
Abel Pacheco at his side, Tovar said that Costa’s Rica’s
Iraq policy is absolutely clear: We believe in peace, we believe
that war is the last resort, but that Iraq is to blame if there is a
war.
It was the second time this year that a foreign ambassador to the
United Nations has been reprimanded for differing with his
government’s fervently pro-American positions toward
Iraq. Jagdish Koonjul, Mauritius’s U.N. ambassador, was recalled
in November because he did not fully convey his government’s
unyielding support for a resolution calling for tough
U.N. inspections. We support the United States,
Mauritian
Foreign Minister Anil Gayan said at the time. Our position is not
neutral.
The latest diplomatic spat underscores the degree to which envoys to the United Nations often freelance, pursuing positions that are odds with their own political leadership. It comes as the United States is stepping up its campaign to pressure Security Council members in their capitals to back a U.S.-sponsored resolution authorizing the use of force if Iraq fails to disarm.
The U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Tony Garza, warned today that Mexico
could alienate members of Congress if it does not support U.S. efforts
against Iraq in the Security Council. Garza, a longtime ally of
President Bush’s, said Mexico would face no direct
reprisals,
but warned that lack of support might harden the views
of U.S. legislators already skeptical of immigration reform and other
issues important to Mexico. In that climate, Garza said, even
relatively straightforward issues related to Mexico
might be
difficult to pass.
How many members of Congress are looking for any reason at all
not to support Mexico, Garza told a group of U.S. reporters
today. This could be that reason. I don’t know. But
that’s my concern.
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