PANAMA: INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING UNGA RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 001625 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2017 TAGS: PHUM KWMN AORC SOCI UN UNGA PM SUBJECT: PANAMA: INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING UNGA RESOLUTION "CONDEMNING THE USE OF RAPE AS AN INSTRUMENT OF STATE POLICY" REF: STATE 135255 Classified By: POLCOUNS Brian R. Naranjo. Reason: 1.4 (d). -------------- Interested in Co-Sponsoring -------------- ¶1. (SBU) "Panama would probably like to co-sponsor the proposed U.S. resolution" condemning the use of rape as an instrument of state policy, MFA DG for International Political Affairs Javier Bonagas told POLCOUNS on October 2. Bonagas said that he would ask Panama's Mission to the UN to engage with USUN with an eye to co-sponsoring and "reaching consensus as quickly as possible on the resolution's text." Panama would not "of course" be able to fully commit to support or co-sponsorship until it had seen the proposed text, Bonagas added. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶2. (C) These days Panama is particularly interested in underscoring that it remains a close friend and "strategic ally" of the U.S. On September 1, the Panamanian National Assembly elected governing Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD) Deputy Pedro Miguel Gonzalez -- indicted on five counts in connection with the 1992 murder of U.S. serviceman Zak Hernandez -- as the chamber's president. Gonzalez's election comes at an awkward time for Panama as the recently signed U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) awaits action by the Hill. Panama can be expected to be eager to find ways to be helpful to the U.S. in and effort to mitigate the impact on U.S.-Panamanian relations of Gonzalez's election. The U.S. has an opportunity to harness Panama's increased desire to be our friend to consolidate support for this resolution. EATON