MILITARY GRANT ASSISTANCE: US-PANAMA EXCHANGE OF

					  UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PANAMA 000652 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR PM/RSAT BLEE, L/PM MCOFFEE AND L/T DCOOK AND 
FHOLLERAN 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MASS MARR PREL PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL
SUBJECT: MILITARY GRANT ASSISTANCE: US-PANAMA EXCHANGE OF 
NOTES 
 
REF: A. MCOFFEE/TSTEERS-GONZALEZ 3/17 TELCON 
     
B. STATE 56959 
 
 
					

1. The following US diplomatic note no. 325, dated March 17,
2004, was presented by Embassy to the GOP (text per ref B
with changes per ref A). Begin text:


No. 325


The Embassy of the United States of America presents
its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the
Republic of Panama and, referring to an Agreement done by
exchange of notes on March 26 and May 23, 1962, at Panama,
concerning the furnishing of defense articles and services to
Panama for the purpose of contributing to its internal
security and an Agreement done by exchange of notes on May 20
and December 6, 1974, at Panama, concerning payment to the
United States of net proceeds from the sale of defense
articles furnished on a grant basis, proposes that these
agreements be amended.


The 1962 Agreement concerning the furnishing of defense
articles and services to Panama for the purpose of
contributing to its internal security would be amended by
inserting ", related training" after "defense articles,"
wherever mentioned.


The 1974 Agreement concerning payment to the United
States of net proceeds from the sale of defense articles
furnished on a grant basis would be amended by replacing
"under the Military Assistance Program of" with "from" in the
third paragraph of the note.


If this proposal is acceptable to the Government of the
Republic of Panama, the Embassy proposes that this note and
the Ministry's affirmative note in reply shall constitute an
agreement between the two Governments which shall enter into
force on the date of the Ministry's reply.


The Embassy of the United States of America avails
itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of
Foreign Relations of the Republic of Panama the assurances of
its highest consideration.


Embassy of the United States of America,
Panama, March 17, 2004.


End text.




2. The following Panamanian diplomatic note no. DT/088, dated
March 19, 2004, was presented by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA) to Embassy. Unofficial translation:


DT/088


The Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Republic of Panama
presents it compliments to the Honorable Embassy of the United
States of America and has the honor to acknowledge receipt of
its Note No. 325, dated March 17, 2004, which reads as
follows:


"The Embassy of the United States of America presents
its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the
Republic of Panama and, referring to an Agreement done by
exchange of notes on March 26 and May 23, 1962, at Panama,
concerning the furnishing of defense articles and services to
Panama for the purpose of contributing to its internal
security and an Agreement done by exchange of notes on May 20
and December 6, 1974, at Panama, concerning payment to the
United States of net proceeds from the sale of defense
articles furnished on a grant basis, proposes that these
agreements be amended.


The 1962 Agreement concerning the furnishing of defense
articles and services to Panama for the purpose of
contributing to its internal security would be amended by
inserting ", related training" after "defense articles,"
wherever mentioned.


The 1974 Agreement concerning payment to the United
States of net proceeds from the sale of defense articles
furnished on a grant basis would be amended by replacing
"under the Military Assistance Program of" with "from" in the
third paragraph of the note.


If this proposal is acceptable to the Government of the
Republic of Panama, the Embassy proposes that this note and
the Ministry's affirmative note in reply shall constitute an
agreement between the two Governments which shall enter into
force on the date of the Ministry's reply.


The Embassy of the United States of America avails
itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of
Foreign Relations of the Republic of Panama the assurances of
its highest consideration."


Regarding the same, the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the
Government of the Republic of Panama has the honor to confirm
to the Honorable Embassy of the United States of America that
the above proposal is acceptable to the Government of the
Republic of Panama and that the Honorable Embassy's Note and
this Note shall constitute an agreement between the two
Governments which shall enter into force on the date of
this Note.


The Ministry of Foreign Relations avails itself of this
opportunity
renew to the Honorable Embassy of the United States of America
the assurances of its highest consideration.


Panama, March 19, 2004.


End unofficial translation.




3. Per ref B, the original MFA note together with a certified
copy of Embassy's note has been pouched to L/T, attention
Daphne Cook or Frank Holleran, unclassified registry no.


6168004. Copies have been faxed to L/PM Mike Coffee and
PM/RSAT Berneta Lee at the numbers provided.




WATT