Cablegate: Panama's Plans for Summit Follow-Up

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

142137Z Jul 04

UNCLAS PANAMA 001814

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/EPSC, WHA/CEN, AND USOAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECON KSUM PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY
SUBJECT: PANAMA'S PLANS FOR SUMMIT FOLLOW-UP

REF: STATE 142145

(SBU) Drawing on reftel, DCM discussed USG planning for the
Fourth Summit of the Americas with Foreign Minister-designate
Samuel Lewis Navarro, whose initial response was to note that
the U.S. themes looked very much like his own party's
campaign platform. Indeed, he reiterated what
President-elect Torrijos has told us in recent meetings --
that the incoming PRD government will give priority to
economic growth by encouraging greater domestic and foreign
investment. Lewis said that their goal was "to transform
employees into entrepreneurs," which requires reducing the
time that it takes Panamanians (and foreigners) to open up a
business. He also stressed that another PRD priority was to
improve education, which was closely tied to other themes
like economic growth and democratic governance. In sum,
Lewis said the PRD government that takes power on September 1
will work closely with the United States on these themes,
lending whatever support is necessary during the run-up to
the November 2005 Summit in Argentina.

MCMULLEN

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