PANAMA READY TO FOLLOW-UP ON IAEA CODE OF CONDUCT

UNCLAS PANAMA 000345

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM KNNP PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY
SUBJECT: PANAMA READY TO FOLLOW-UP ON IAEA CODE OF CONDUCT
ON RADIOACTIVE SOURCES


REF: STATE 22020



1. (SBU) On February 9, 2004, Embassy delivered diplomatic
note No. 162 containing reftel letter from Secretary Powell
to Panama's Minister of Foreign Affairs Harmodio Arias. MFA
Director General for International Organizations and
Conferences Rodolfo Aleman Zubieta advised Poloff that same
day that he is "100 percent in agreement with preventing
unfortunate incidents from happening." On February 12,
Aleman added that Panamanian Foreign Minister Harmodio Arias
agrees with the USG approach. Aleman told Poloff to let him
know how the GOP can work with the USG in the IAEA.



2. (SBU) On February 6, 2004, Poloff delivered reftel
demarche, talking points, and nonpaper to Aleman. On
February 5, Econoff delivered reftel talking points to
Ministry of Health Deputy Director for International Affairs
Dr. Claudia Guerrero and Social Security Fund Deputy Director
of Radiology Dr. Elois Gibbs. Guerrero and Gibbs noted the
importance of better control systems for radioactive sources
and indicated the GOP's willingness to work closely with the
USG and IAEA on the issue.


WATT