Cablegate: Panama: No to Gitmo Detainees

VZCZCXYZ0877
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHZP #1177 1921616
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 111616Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0798
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 001177

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017

TAGS: PHUM PINR PM PREL PTER
SUBJECT: PANAMA: NO TO GITMO DETAINEES

REF: STATE 89994

1. (C) The GOP was unlikely to reconsider its previous
decision to not accept Chinese Uighur detainees currently
being held in Guantanamo, Panamanaian MFA Sub-Director for
Political Affairs Vladimir Franco told POLOFFs on July 10 in
response to delivery of reftel demarche. Franco asked for
clarification on the meaning of "receiving" these refugees
and asserted that the 1951 Convention on Refugees stated that
refugees should be placed in a community that was similar to
their own interests and identity. Franco voiced concern on
Panama's ability to integrate these detainees into Panamanian
society, since there was no community in which to place them.
He undertook to brief his superiors on the demarche.
Eaton

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