JULY 4 MESSAGE FROM VICE PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN

UNCLAS PANAMA 001446 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S/CPR AND WHA/CEN E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: ODIP OPDC PM POL SPECIALIST SUBJECT: JULY 4 MESSAGE FROM VICE PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN MINISTER TO SECRETARY RICE ¶1. ON MONDAY, JULY 4, EMBASSY PANAMA RECEIVED ORIGINAL NOTE DGPCE NO. 795/2005 TRANSMITTING A CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM VICE PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN MINISTER SAMUEL LEWIS NAVARRO TO SECRETARY CONDOLEEZZA RICE ON A NEW CELEBRATION OF THE U.S. INDEPENDENCE DAY. EMBASSY TRANSLATION OF TEXT FOLLOWS: BEGIN TEXT. ON THE HAPPY OCCASION OF CELEBRATING TODAY THE CCXXIX ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, I AM PLEASED TO SEND TO YOUR EXCELLENCY MY MOST CORDIAL AND SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS ON BEHALF OF THIS MINISTRY AND MYSELF, WISHING FOR YOUR HEALTH AND THE CONTINUOUS PROSPERITY AND WELFARE OF THE STRONG PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. I TAKE THIS OCCASION TO SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS DURING OUR LAST VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND ALSO, TO EXPRESS THE INTEREST THAT MOTIVATES ME TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOUR EXCELLENCY TO CONSOLIDATE EVEN MORE, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, THE TIES OF EXCELLENT RELATIONS, ENVIABLE FRIENDSHIP AND OF GOOD NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY EXISTED BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES AND THAT WILL SOON CULMINATE WITH A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF BOTH NATIONS. I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REITERATE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY THE ASSURANCES OF MY HIGHEST CONSIDERATION. SAMUEL LEWIS NAVARRO VICE PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA END TEXT. ¶2. EMBASSY WILL POUCH SIGNED ORIGINAL. WATT