PANAMA SUPPORTS THE SECRETARY'S COMMUNITY OF

UNCLAS PANAMA 000898

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PM POL CHIEF
SUBJECT: PANAMA SUPPORTS THE SECRETARY'S COMMUNITY OF
DEMOCRACIES ELECTION STANDARDS INITIATIVE

REF: STATE 71931

Panama views positively Reftel concept paper and will support
the Secretary's initiative to develop universal election
standards and to create an impartial body to analyze
electoral practices. Vice Foreign Minister Ricardo Duran
told POL Counselor on April 20 that he would support the
initiative in Santiago. Duran said he had discussed the
initiative with Panamanian Electoral Commission President
Eduardo Valdes, who also liked the idea. Duran pointed out
that Panama's electoral commission gained international
stature when it was asked to participate in Iraq's electoral
steering committee that organized the recent Iraqi elections.
Since 1989 and the ouster of military dictator Manuel
Noriega, Panama has held three free and fair national
elections, Duran added.

WATT