PANAMA: UNSC TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON IRANIANS DEMARCHE DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000780 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/RA (RICHARD NEPHEW AND RISA MONGIELLO), ISA/CPI (MARK FELIPE),AND WHA/CEN (ELIA TELLO) E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2017 TAGS: PARM KNNP PRAM PREL IR RS PM SUBJECT: PANAMA: UNSC TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON IRANIANS DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: A. (A) STATE 61222 ¶B. (B) STATE 61378 Classified By: POLCOUNS BRIAN NARANJO. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D) Panama would continue to exercise vigilance and restraint with respect to travel of UNSC-designated Iranians to our through Panama, MFA DG for International Political Affairs Javier Bonagas told POLCOUNS on May 14 following presentation of reftel A demarche. Bonagas underscored that Panama, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC),was cognizant of UN Member States' responsibilities to uphold UNSC Resolutions 1737 and 1747. Bonagas demurred on whether Panama would encourage Russia to use restraint regarding the travel of UNSC-designated Iranians or to encourage other governments to deny overflight or to require inspections if there were reasons to suspect that such individuals were on board. While post believes Panama would take appropriate action to fulfill its obligations under these UNSCRs should a designated Iranian attempt to travel to or through Panama, post does not believe that Panama is prepared to press other countries, including Russia, to do the same. Reftel A demarche was delivered in conjunction with reftel B demarche concerning the growing Iran-Venezuela relationship (septel). EATON