Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PANAMA1193
2007-07-12 20:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Panama
Cable title:
PANAMA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OVERWHELMINGLY RATIFIES
how-toVZCZCXYZ0009 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHZP #1193 1932037 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 122037Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0815 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 2606 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 0701 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3-WHEM/J3-SOD/J5-WHEM// RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
UNCLAS PANAMA 001193
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CEN - TELLO & GREENE & FOR WHA/EPSC ALSO FOR
EB/TPP/BTA -LAMPRON
STATE PASS USTR -EISSENSTAT AND SHIGETOMI USDOC/MAC -
GAISFORD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OVERWHELMINGLY RATIFIES
TPA
REF: PANAMA 01095
UNCLAS PANAMA 001193
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CEN - TELLO & GREENE & FOR WHA/EPSC ALSO FOR
EB/TPP/BTA -LAMPRON
STATE PASS USTR -EISSENSTAT AND SHIGETOMI USDOC/MAC -
GAISFORD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OVERWHELMINGLY RATIFIES
TPA
REF: PANAMA 01095
1. (U) Panama's National Assembly voted overwhelmingly to
ratify the U.S. - Panama TPA on July 11, 2007. Fifty eight
MSI6632 INVALID FORMAT LINE 12
members of the assembly voted in favor of the TPA, three
voted against it (Mireya Lasso, Miguel Fanovich, and Enrique
Garrido),one member (Wigberto Quintero) abstained, and nine
were not present. Those that voted against the TPA said
there was not enough time for representatives to read the
entire contents of the agreement and gain an understanding of
the impact of its implementation. Vice Minister of Trade
Carmen Gisela Vergara noted publicly that she clearly
explained all that transpired during the negotiations, the
gains that were made, and expectations concerning the various
sectors. Vice President Samuel Lewis Navarro said that the
next task will be to obtain ratification by the U.S. Congress
and work along side various sectors to implement the
agreement.
2. (U) The Assembly ratified the TPA minutes before
anti-TPA protesters showed up in front of the Assembly's
building. Led by the National Front for Economic and Social
Rights (Frenadeso),the protesters claimed that the TPA did
not represent the interest of the people and that the U.S.
would have disproportionately larger gains in regard to
tariff reductions than Panama as a result of the TPA.
--------------
COMMENT:
--------------
3. (U) This overwhelming vote for the TPA reflects the
broad political consensus in Panama for further trade
openings. It also reflects the GOP's concerted outreach
campaigns over the past six months to sell the TPA's merits.
As reported in reftel # 01095, the GOP also sought this quick
ratification to signal its seriousness to the U.S. congress.
END COMMENT
Eaton
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CEN - TELLO & GREENE & FOR WHA/EPSC ALSO FOR
EB/TPP/BTA -LAMPRON
STATE PASS USTR -EISSENSTAT AND SHIGETOMI USDOC/MAC -
GAISFORD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OVERWHELMINGLY RATIFIES
TPA
REF: PANAMA 01095
1. (U) Panama's National Assembly voted overwhelmingly to
ratify the U.S. - Panama TPA on July 11, 2007. Fifty eight
MSI6632 INVALID FORMAT LINE 12
members of the assembly voted in favor of the TPA, three
voted against it (Mireya Lasso, Miguel Fanovich, and Enrique
Garrido),one member (Wigberto Quintero) abstained, and nine
were not present. Those that voted against the TPA said
there was not enough time for representatives to read the
entire contents of the agreement and gain an understanding of
the impact of its implementation. Vice Minister of Trade
Carmen Gisela Vergara noted publicly that she clearly
explained all that transpired during the negotiations, the
gains that were made, and expectations concerning the various
sectors. Vice President Samuel Lewis Navarro said that the
next task will be to obtain ratification by the U.S. Congress
and work along side various sectors to implement the
agreement.
2. (U) The Assembly ratified the TPA minutes before
anti-TPA protesters showed up in front of the Assembly's
building. Led by the National Front for Economic and Social
Rights (Frenadeso),the protesters claimed that the TPA did
not represent the interest of the people and that the U.S.
would have disproportionately larger gains in regard to
tariff reductions than Panama as a result of the TPA.
--------------
COMMENT:
--------------
3. (U) This overwhelming vote for the TPA reflects the
broad political consensus in Panama for further trade
openings. It also reflects the GOP's concerted outreach
campaigns over the past six months to sell the TPA's merits.
As reported in reftel # 01095, the GOP also sought this quick
ratification to signal its seriousness to the U.S. congress.
END COMMENT
Eaton