Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PANAMA147
2006-01-24 18:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Panama
Cable title:
VP/FORMIN ON EVO MORALES AND U.S.-PANAMA FTA MOOD
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHZP #0147 0241841 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 241841Z JAN 06 FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7239 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 2132 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0262 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0920 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JAN 0209 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 0594 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO PRIORITY 0177 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASH DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000147
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - SCHIFFER
ALSO FOR WHA/EPSC - URS AND GUMBINER
ALSO FOR EB/TPP/BTA - LAMPRON
STATE PASS USTR - SCHWAB, CROWDER, AND MALITO
ALSO PASS USDA/FAS/ITP - SPITZER
USDOC/MAC FOR GAISFORD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2016
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD PREL PGOV PM
SUBJECT: VP/FORMIN ON EVO MORALES AND U.S.-PANAMA FTA MOOD
REF: PANAMA 0127
Classified By: Ambassador William A. Eaton for
Reasons 1.5(b and d)
(C) Just back from attending Evo Morales' presidential
inauguration in Bolivia, First Vice President and Foreign
Minister Samuel Lewis Navarro opined to the Ambassador on
January 23 that Morales had delivered a "fairly moderate"
inaugural address. Lewis hoped this signaled Morales' desire
to "open a bridge of dialog" to the U.S. Lewis also said
that during President Torrijos' swing through Chile and
Bolivia, the GOP discussed its free trade prospects in a
series of meetings other counterparts. He said the GOP sees
the window of opportunity for its bilateral FTA with the U.S.
closing rapidly. Noting that some within the GOP see a
fading of USG will to close the deal, Lewis wondered aloud if
"perhaps it's time postpone the FTA." (As reported reftel,
old-guard PRD party members, including some in Torrijos'
cabinet, want to put the FTA on ice - perhaps permanently -
and put the Panama Canal expansion effort to the front of the
GOP's agenda.) Lewis complained that, absent a strong
political will in Washington to overcome obstacles to the
FTA, the FTA will languish. Ambassador responded that the
political will exists in Washington to conclude the
agreement, but the remaining issues are substantive, not
political.
EATON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - SCHIFFER
ALSO FOR WHA/EPSC - URS AND GUMBINER
ALSO FOR EB/TPP/BTA - LAMPRON
STATE PASS USTR - SCHWAB, CROWDER, AND MALITO
ALSO PASS USDA/FAS/ITP - SPITZER
USDOC/MAC FOR GAISFORD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2016
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD PREL PGOV PM
SUBJECT: VP/FORMIN ON EVO MORALES AND U.S.-PANAMA FTA MOOD
REF: PANAMA 0127
Classified By: Ambassador William A. Eaton for
Reasons 1.5(b and d)
(C) Just back from attending Evo Morales' presidential
inauguration in Bolivia, First Vice President and Foreign
Minister Samuel Lewis Navarro opined to the Ambassador on
January 23 that Morales had delivered a "fairly moderate"
inaugural address. Lewis hoped this signaled Morales' desire
to "open a bridge of dialog" to the U.S. Lewis also said
that during President Torrijos' swing through Chile and
Bolivia, the GOP discussed its free trade prospects in a
series of meetings other counterparts. He said the GOP sees
the window of opportunity for its bilateral FTA with the U.S.
closing rapidly. Noting that some within the GOP see a
fading of USG will to close the deal, Lewis wondered aloud if
"perhaps it's time postpone the FTA." (As reported reftel,
old-guard PRD party members, including some in Torrijos'
cabinet, want to put the FTA on ice - perhaps permanently -
and put the Panama Canal expansion effort to the front of the
GOP's agenda.) Lewis complained that, absent a strong
political will in Washington to overcome obstacles to the
FTA, the FTA will languish. Ambassador responded that the
political will exists in Washington to conclude the
agreement, but the remaining issues are substantive, not
political.
EATON