Cablegate: Panama: Iran Nie Demarche Delivered

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHZP #1829 3372234
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 032234Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1502
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0299
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0021

C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 001829

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2022
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL UNSC IR PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: IRAN NIE DEMARCHE DELIVERED

REF: STATE 162558

Classified By: Ambassador William A. Eaton. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)

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Never Let Your Guard Down
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1. (C) "You can never let your guard down with Iran,"
Panamanian First VP and FM Samuel Lewis told Ambassador in
response to delivery of reftel demarche. "We are working
well with the U.S. a various levels on this issue."
Concurring that it remained important to ensure that Iran
respected Chapter VII UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions
and that Iran fulfilled its obligations to the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Lewis underscored the
"importance of maintaining P-5 cohesion on this issue." MFA
Senior Advisor for UNSC Matters Nils Castro, who accompanied
Lewis, thanked the U.S. for facilitating a technical briefing
on Iran's nuclear program by a Department expert scheduled
for December 5. "We have great difficulty understanding much
of the technical issues concerning Iran's nuclear program,"
Castro said. "We appreciate the U.S.'s willingness to help
educate us."

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Comment
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2. (C) Lewis' willingness to see Ambassador on about two
hours notice highlights his desire to be helpful to the U.S.
on the Iran issue in the UNSC. Lewis was also very
appreciative of U.S. efforts to engage the GOP as a partner
in the UNSC and to share extensive information regarding the
U.S. views on Iran. "I have been following closely the
various communications from your government concerning Iran
over the past few weeks," Lewis added. The December 5
briefing by an ISN expert provides a sterling opportunity to
consolidate Panamanian support for the U.S. position, recruit
an E-10 member willing to carry water for the U.S. in the
UNSC, and ascertain in greater depth Panama's views on Iran's
nuclear program.
EATON

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