Cablegate: Panama: Support Lebanon Now Demarche Delivered

VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHZP #0125 0421858
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111858Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1723
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS PANAMA 000125

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/PPC, WHA/CEN, IO/UNP, AND NEA/ELA.

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM EFIN EINV LE SY PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: SUPPORT LEBANON NOW DEMARCHE DELIVERED

REF: STATE 10786

"Panama will continue to support efforts to address the
situation in Lebanon in the Security Council," Acting FM
Ricardo "Dicky" Duran told POLCOUNS on February 11 in
response to reftel demarche. (Note: Due to Panama's
Carnival celebrations, post was unable to deliver this
demarche to an appropriate senior GOP official prior to
Department's February 7 deadline.) Duran undertook to
consult with First VP and FM Samuel Lewis to consider issuing
a public declaration condemning Syrian and Iranian
interference in Lebanon. On other proposals, Duran
summarized that: (1) economic assistance was unlikely to be
forthcoming, (2) military assistance was impossible given
that Panama does not have a military, (3) no high-level
visits by GOP officials to Damascus were expected, and (4)
Panama would continue to fulfill its UN obligations to impose
financial and other sanctions against entities that sought to
undermine Lebanon. (Comment: Panama is unlikely to do
anything unilateral to support Lebanese PM Siniora's
government or to increase pressure against Syria and its
proxies in Lebanon. That said, Panama will continue to be
supportive of U.S. positions in the UNSC.)
EATON

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