PANAMA: NO TO GITMO DETAINEES

C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 001177 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017 TAGS: PHUM PINR PM PREL PTER SUBJECT: PANAMA: NO TO GITMO DETAINEES REF: STATE 89994 ¶1. (C) The GOP was unlikely to reconsider its previous decision to not accept Chinese Uighur detainees currently being held in Guantanamo, Panamanaian MFA Sub-Director for Political Affairs Vladimir Franco told POLOFFs on July 10 in response to delivery of reftel demarche. Franco asked for clarification on the meaning of "receiving" these refugees and asserted that the 1951 Convention on Refugees stated that refugees should be placed in a community that was similar to their own interests and identity. Franco voiced concern on Panama's ability to integrate these detainees into Panamanian society, since there was no community in which to place them. He undertook to brief his superiors on the demarche. Eaton