PANAMA ON BOARD FOR A PRODUCTIVE SPECIAL SUMMIT OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000023

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR USOAS/MAISTO, WHA/EPSC LISTON, AND
WHA/CEN/BRIGHAM


E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2014
TAGS: PREL KSUM PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY
SUBJECT: PANAMA ON BOARD FOR A PRODUCTIVE SPECIAL SUMMIT OF
THE AMERICAS


REF: A. STATE 0443

B. 03 STATE 348650

C. 03 PANAMA 3151


Classified By: Ambassador Linda E. Watt for Reasons 1.5 (b) & (d)



1. (C) Ambassador Watt delivered reftel B demarche to
Panama's Foreign Minister Harmodio Arias Madrid and Vice
Foreign Minister and Summit of the Americas Coordinator Nivia
Rossana Castrellon on December 30. Ambassador Watt stressed
with FM Arias the four key areas in Reftel A talking points.
On January 6, DCM discussed USG goals for the Special Summit
with Arias, impressing upon him the need for concrete
proposals and solutions to emerge from the Monterrey meeting.
After requesting from Arias that Panama exercise the same
leadership among Latin American countries as it did at the
WTO Summit in Cancun, DCM stressed the need for hemispheric
governments to commit to specific timelines, and to adopt
concrete anti-corruption measures and programs to encourage
small and medium enterprise. Arias said that President
Moscoso fully supports President Bush's policies, and noted
previous productive conversations between Emboffs and
Castrellon regarding the Summit (Reftel C). Arias also said
President Moscoso would seek an opportunity to discuss the
status of Panama's request for designation as a distant
foreign port under the Passenger Vessel Services Act with
President Bush.



2. (U) MFA advised Embassy that Castrellon will lead Panama's
delegation to the January 8-10 Summit Implementation Review
Group meetings. President Moscoso and FM Arias will head
Panama's approximately twelve-member delegation to the
January 12-13 Summit.
WATT