PANAMA POSITION ON G-4 VOTE

UNCLAS PANAMA 001552

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN AND IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KSEP OTRA OVIP PREL PM UNGA UNSC POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY
SUBJECT: PANAMA POSITION ON G-4 VOTE

REF: STATE 132429

(SBU) On July 21, PolOffs visited MFA International
Organizations (IO) Director Javier Bonagas to follow-up on
reftel demarche delivered on July 18. On the G-4 proposal,
Bonagas reiterated the GOP position, similar to our own, that
UNSC reform should be one part of an integral reform package.
He said that different groups of countries were seeking GOP
support for their proposals, but he added that the GOP was
not inclined to support the G-4 proposal. He also
underscored the importance of consensus on UN reform issues,
saying that the GOP wishes to avoid deep divisions on reform
issues. Bonagas said the GOP hopes that the G-4 proposal
will not come to a vote, but if it does, the Foreign Minister
will have to decide what action to take. Bonagas had nothing
new to share on other UN demarche issues. Embassy will
report any updates to the Department.

WATT