PANAMA: MNF-I UNSCR DEMARCHE DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 001874 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2017 TAGS: PARM PREL UNSCR EFIN MARR IZ PM SUBJECT: PANAMA: MNF-I UNSCR DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: A. (A) STATE 165490 ¶B. (B) STATE 159862 ¶C. (C) PANAMA 1806 Classified By: Ambassador William A. Eaton. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- First VP and FM Generally Supportive -------------- ¶1. (C) US and UK Ambassadors jointly presented reftel A demarche to First VP and FM Samuel Lewis on December 14 regarding the extension of the mandates for the Multinational Forces - Iraq (MNF-I),the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) and the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB). Lewis expressed general support for this mandate renewal effort and remarked that he did not believe that this resolution would be problematic. Lewis asked whether the U.S. and Iraq were pressing ahead with efforts to normalize their bilateral security relationship; he was pleased to learn that Iraq and the U.S. were continuing to work on this issue. POLCOUNS shared a copy of reftel B demarche regarding the Declaration of Principles for a Long-Term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America that been provided to VFM Ricardo Duran (reftel C). Asked that Panama co-sponsor this resolution, Lewis inquired as to whether any UN Security Council members had voiced opposition to this resolution. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶2. (C) If a broad enough consensus can be assembled, Panama would likely co-sponsor this UNSCR. As usual, Panama will seek to run for the middle of as broad a consensus as possible to avoid being singled out or isolated on this issue. EATON