PANAMA: SUPPORT LEBANON NOW DEMARCHE DELIVERED

UNCLAS PANAMA 000125 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/PPC, WHA/CEN, IO/UNP, AND NEA/ELA. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM EFIN EINV LE SY PM SUBJECT: PANAMA: SUPPORT LEBANON NOW DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: STATE 10786 "Panama will continue to support efforts to address the situation in Lebanon in the Security Council," Acting FM Ricardo "Dicky" Duran told POLCOUNS on February 11 in response to reftel demarche. (Note: Due to Panama's Carnival celebrations, post was unable to deliver this demarche to an appropriate senior GOP official prior to Department's February 7 deadline.) Duran undertook to consult with First VP and FM Samuel Lewis to consider issuing a public declaration condemning Syrian and Iranian interference in Lebanon. On other proposals, Duran summarized that: (1) economic assistance was unlikely to be forthcoming, (2) military assistance was impossible given that Panama does not have a military, (3) no high-level visits by GOP officials to Damascus were expected, and (4) Panama would continue to fulfill its UN obligations to impose financial and other sanctions against entities that sought to undermine Lebanon. (Comment: Panama is unlikely to do anything unilateral to support Lebanese PM Siniora's government or to increase pressure against Syria and its proxies in Lebanon. That said, Panama will continue to be supportive of U.S. positions in the UNSC.) EATON