PANAMA RECEPTIVE TO USG PRIORITIES FOR UN REFORM

C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 001343 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2015 TAGS: KUNR PREL PGOV AORC PM UNSC POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY SUBJECT: PANAMA RECEPTIVE TO USG PRIORITIES FOR UN REFORM REF: A. STATE 111637 ¶B. STATE 111657 Classified By: Ambassador Linda Watt for reasons (b) and (d). (C) On June 16, Ambassador Watt delivered reftel A and B talking points on USG priorities for UN reform to Foreign Minister Samuel Lewis. Lewis expressed interest in USG priorities for UN reform and on Security Council (SC) expansion, saying that Panama, as the facilitator for institutional reform and SC reform, takes its role as one of the ten facilitators of the outcome document very seriously. Lewis said that he understands that the Chinese oppose permanent Japanese membership in the SC. He noted the lack of consensus among Latin American countries regarding Brazil's desire for permanent SC membership. As with the OAS, Panama believes it can work effectively to advance many common U.S.-Panama objectives in the UN, particularly in areas where active U.S. advocacy might be counter-productive. Embassy will report any further developments to the Department. WATT