PANAMA: CLOSE TO CENTAM DEAL ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000328 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNMIK YI EU ES CO EC PM SUBJECT: PANAMA: CLOSE TO CENTAM DEAL ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION REF: STATE 41979 Classified By: POLCOUNS Brian R. Naranjo. Reason: 1.4 (d). ¶1. (C) "I think that we are close to a deal on joint recognition of Kosovo," First VP and FM Samuel Lewis told Ambassador on April 25 in response to reftel demarche. Except for Nicaragua, which was unlikely to recognize, and Costa Rica, which already had, Lewis acknowledged that El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala were interested in joining their partners in the region to recognize Kosovo. Asked how close at hand such a joint recognition was, Lewis said, "It should happen shortly," and added, "I will talk with my colleagues." ¶2. (C) Comment: Post has heard "soon," "shortly," and "close" for several weeks -- indeed a couple of months -- regarding Panama's intention to recognize Kosovo. Lewis is likely growing weary of our repeated inquiries, but post will stay engaged and urges Department to consider pressing other Central American countries that might join with Panama in a joint recognition move. EATON