PANAMA'S CANDIDATE FOR A POSITION WITHIN THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PANAMA 002416

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN/SCHIFFER AND IO/UNP

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: AORC PREL PGOV PM UNDP POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY
SUBJECT: PANAMA'S CANDIDATE FOR A POSITION WITHIN THE
COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF RACIAL
DISCRIMINATION.



1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4.


2. (U) On November 15, Embassy Panama received GOP
Diplomatic Note DGOCI/DGca/896/05, dated November 2, 2005,
by which the Ministry of Foreign Relations informs the USG
that the Government of Panama has decided to submit
Guillermo Castro Herrera as a candidate for a position on
the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination, and seeks USG support for Castro.

(Begin informal translation:)

The Ministry of Foreign Relations -Directorate General of
International Organizations and Conferences- presents its
compliments to the Honorable Embassy of the United States of
America and has the honor to inform the Embassy that the
Government of the Republic of Panama has decided to present
the candidacy of Guillermo Castro Herrera to serve on the
Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination, in the elections that will be held at the
XXI Assembly of the Committee on January 12, 2006.

As shown in his resume, the knowledge and experience of Mr.
Castro Herrera in these matters would effectively contribute
to the work of the Committee. Taking into consideration
this and the ties of friendship and cooperation between both
governments, the Ministry of Foreign Relations -Directorate
General of International Organizations and Conferences-
requests the valuable support of your Government in favor of
the Panamanian candidate.

The Ministry of Foreign Relations -Directorate General of
International Organizations and Conferences- takes this
opportunity to reiterate to the Embassy of the United States
of America the assurances of its highest and most
distinguished considerations.

Panama, November 2, 2005.

Following is an unofficial Embassy translation of Castro
Herrera's resume as sent by the Government of Panama:

Surnames and name: Castro Herrera, Guillermo
Place and date of birth: Panama, 1950
Working languages: Spanish, English

Current Position or duties:

Associate Academic Director, City of Knowledge Foundation,
Panama.

Professor, Master's in Higher Education, University of the
Isthmus, Panama.

Main professional activities:

Director of the Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies
(ICGES),Ministry of Health, Republic of Panama. September
1997 - September 1999;

Technical Secretary of Panama's Social Cabinet, July 1995 -
May 1998;

Social Participation Director, Ministry of Health, Republic
of Panama, February 1995 - March 1996;

Coordinator of Degree courses and the B.A. in International
Relations, University of the Americas, C.A., Department of
International Studies. Mexico, D.F., February 15, 1993 to
January 1, 1994.

Academic titles:

Doctorate in Latin American Studies, School of Philosophy,
National Autonomous University of Mexico, 1993-1995;

Master's in Latin American Studies, School of Political and
Social Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico,
1976-1979;

Bachelor of Arts, School of Arts, University of Orient,
Santiago of Cuba, 1968-1973.

Other main activities in the field related to the
corresponding body:

Researcher. Political Ecology Working Group. Latin American
Council of Social Sciences;

Member. "Jos Mart" International Solidarity Committee.
National Culture Distinction, granted by the Republic of
Cuba's Ministry of Culture. Resolution No. 107, Havana,
Cuba, July 10, 2002;

Il. Report on Ecology, Culture and Society. Antonio Nez
Jimnez Foundation on Nature and Man, Havana. Member of the
Advisory Board;

"Justo Arosemena" Latin American Studies Center, Panama.
Associate Researcher and Governing Committee Member;
"Tareas", magazine of the "Justo Arosemena" Latin American
rican
Studies Center: member of the Drafting Board, Panama.

Most recent publications in that field:

"Pro Mundi Beneficio. Elements for Panama's environmental
history, II" and "The Isthmus in the World. Elements for a
general history of Panama," in Panama's General History.
Director Alfredo Castillero. National Committee of the
Republic's Centennial. Panama, 2004;

"Nature, society and history in Latin America," in Political
Ecology. Nature, society and utopia. Latin American Council
of Social Sciences, Buenos Aires, March 2002;

The Works of Adjustment and Combat. Nature and society in
Latin America's history. 1994 House of the Americas Award
for socio-historical essay. Havana/Bogota, 1994;

(End informal translation.)


3. (U) Post will fax a copy of the note to the Panama Desk.


4. (U) Embassy welcomes Department's guidance on Panama's
request for U.S. support for its candidate to the Committee
on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Eaton