UNCLAS PANAMA 001173

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN
IO/T FOR DRISCOLL, IO/S FOR JOHNSTON, GENEVA FOR CHAMBERLIN
AND KRUGLIKOVA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC CU ELAB PGOV PHUM PM PREL ILO POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY
SUBJECT: PANAMA RESPONSE TO ILO DEMARCHES

REF: A. STATE 94764

B. STATE 94818

(SBU) On May 25 and May 26, PolOffs delivered Reftel B
talking points to Labor Ministry Director of External Affairs
Ricardo Aguilar and Reftel A and B talking points to
Arramenta Torres in the MFA's Office of Candidacies and
Quotas. Aguilar received talking points before departing for
the International Labor Organization (ILO) Conference, but
could not be reached for comment. Torres referred a final
decision on Cuba's candidacy to Aguilar in Labor, and said
that a final decision on either the proposed 2006-2007 ILO
budget or on Cuba's candidacy for the ILO Governing Body
would not be made until early this week.

WATT