“The Costa Rican government will investigate undercover US programmes operated from the Central American country and using its citizens in a ploy to destabilise the government in Cuba, Costa Rica’s director of intelligence and security has said. Mariano Figueres told the Associated Press news agency on Friday that the new administration, which took office May 8, has found no records or information from their predecessors about the US Agency for International Development project, which starting in 2009 sent young Venezuelans, Costa Ricans and Peruvians to Cuba in hopes of stirring opposition to the island’s communist government. Figueres said Costa Rica’s only information came from an August 4 Associated Press article, which said USAID and a contractor, Creative Associates International, used the cover of health and civic programmes, some operating out of Costa Rica, in hopes of provoking political change in Cuba. “If we can confirm all this, of course we’re not going to agree that our national territory be used to attack a friendly government, regardless of what ideological side you’re on,” said Figueres. “It’s a matter of sovereignty and respect … and we’re very alarmed that they used Costa Rican citizens and put them at risk.” Figueres said that Costa Rica has yet to ask the US about the programme and that any findings would be relayed through the Foreign Ministry.”

Costa Rica to probe US anti-Cuba programme - Americas - Al Jazeera English (via aboriginalnewswire)

(Source: aljazeera.com)