Cablegate: Panama: Interested in Supporting Unga Resolution

VZCZCXYZ0021
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHZP #1625 2761837
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 031837Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1253
INFO RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0284
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0289

C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 001625

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2017
TAGS: PHUM KWMN AORC SOCI UN UNGA PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING UNGA RESOLUTION
"CONDEMNING THE USE OF RAPE AS AN INSTRUMENT OF STATE
POLICY"

REF: STATE 135255

Classified By: POLCOUNS Brian R. Naranjo. Reason: 1.4 (d).

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Interested in Co-Sponsoring
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1. (SBU) "Panama would probably like to co-sponsor the
proposed U.S. resolution" condemning the use of rape as an
instrument of state policy, MFA DG for International
Political Affairs Javier Bonagas told POLCOUNS on October 2.
Bonagas said that he would ask Panama's Mission to the UN to
engage with USUN with an eye to co-sponsoring and "reaching
consensus as quickly as possible on the resolution's text."
Panama would not "of course" be able to fully commit to
support or co-sponsorship until it had seen the proposed
text, Bonagas added.

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Comment
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2. (C) These days Panama is particularly interested in
underscoring that it remains a close friend and "strategic
ally" of the U.S. On September 1, the Panamanian National
Assembly elected governing Revolutionary Democratic Party
(PRD) Deputy Pedro Miguel Gonzalez -- indicted on five counts
in connection with the 1992 murder of U.S. serviceman Zak
Hernandez -- as the chamber's president. Gonzalez's election
comes at an awkward time for Panama as the recently signed
U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) awaits action by
the Hill. Panama can be expected to be eager to find ways to
be helpful to the U.S. in and effort to mitigate the impact
on U.S.-Panamanian relations of Gonzalez's election. The
U.S. has an opportunity to harness Panama's increased desire
to be our friend to consolidate support for this resolution.
EATON

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