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