Cablegate: Panama: Close to Centam Deal On Kosovo Recognition

VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHZP #0328 1161520
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 251520Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1978
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 0948
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2679
RUEHSN/AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR 1475
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0006
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0317
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0017

C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000328

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNMIK YI EU ES CO EC PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: CLOSE TO CENTAM DEAL ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION

REF: STATE 41979

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

1. (C) "I think that we are close to a deal on joint
recognition of Kosovo," First VP and FM Samuel Lewis told
Ambassador on April 25 in response to reftel demarche.
Except for Nicaragua, which was unlikely to recognize, and
Costa Rica, which already had, Lewis acknowledged that El
Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala were interested in joining
their partners in the region to recognize Kosovo. Asked how
close at hand such a joint recognition was, Lewis said, "It
should happen shortly," and added, "I will talk with my
colleagues."

2. (C) Comment: Post has heard "soon," "shortly," and
"close" for several weeks -- indeed a couple of months --
regarding Panama's intention to recognize Kosovo. Lewis is
likely growing weary of our repeated inquiries, but post will
stay engaged and urges Department to consider pressing other
Central American countries that might join with Panama in a
joint recognition move.
EATON

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