CODEL Boehner Warmly Recieved in Panama to Discuss Security

UNCLAS PANAMA 000914 SENSITIVE SIPDIS USTR PASS TO DAVID OLIVER COMMERCE PASS TO MATT GAISFORD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ECON PM ETRD PREL USTR SUBJECT: CODEL Boehner Warmly Recieved in Panama to Discuss Security and FTA ¶1. (SBU) Summary. From December 11 to 14, CODEL Boehner was received like an old friend by the Government of Panama as the first U.S. Congressional delegation to visit since the July 1 inauguration of the Martinelli Administration. The message from the President and his ministers to the CODEL was straightforward - the government and people of Panama are the best friends and allies of the United States in the region, Panama faces significant security/organized crime challenges which the government is fighting with USG assistance, and it hopes that the US-Panama Free Trade Agreement can win Congressional approval so it can assist Panama obtain foreign direct investment. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) CODEL Boehner was in Panama December 11-14, and was composed of House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH),Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK),Ranking Rules Committee Member David Dreier (R-CA), Ranking Foreign Affairs Committee Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL),Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX),Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA),Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL),and staff. The delegation met with President Martinelli, Vice President and Foreign Minister Varela, and other key Cabinet officials for a series of in-depth briefings and question and answer on Saturday afternoon. President Martinelli demonstrated his hospitality and the depth of the close bilateral relations by hosting drinks on Friday night at the Presidential Palace and dinner on Sunday with a large portion of the Cabinet. The delegation also met with representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce and visited the Panama Canal. Security is a Challenge but GOP is Facing It with USG Assistance -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) President Martinelli reiterated that Panama is a good friend of the United States and a reliable partner in the fight against drug trafficking. Minister of Government and Justice Mulino stated that the GOP, with significant USG assistance, is on track to seize around 60 tons of cocaine, or almost 6 percent of estimated global production. [Comment: Post believes the final figure for this calendar year will be closer to 50.] However, he recognized that more must be done to counter the flow of narcotics, and outlined the GOP plan to establish eleven coast guard bases. He said that the GOP's goal is to push drug traffickers out of Panamanian territorial waters and into international waters where "more developed actors" (i.e. the United States) can interdict. Mulino explained that the drug trafficking taking place in Panama's territorial waters and on land have caused the spike in the murder rate and gang activity over the past 18 months. While not as violent as its northern neighbors, he said that Panama has seen its murder rate double since 2006 to 730 murders so far in 2009 (press estimates 799 murders to date),of which he estimated 85 to 90 percent were drug and/or gang-related executions; he noted there were approximately 220 gangs with 3,500 members in Panama. Security issues top polls as the number one concern of the Panamanian people. Mulino said that he is very pleased with the collaboration with Southcom, the Joint Inter-Agency Task Force-South (JIATF-South),and the Embassy, especially the daily interaction with DEA. Minister of the Presidency Papadimitriu said that the GOP recognizes that unless it addresses this security threat, it will not achieve its economic goals. Economy is Strong -------------- ¶4. (SBU) President Martinelli and Minister for Economy and Finance Vallarino trumpeted the economic policies which have allowed Panama to continue recording positive economic growth and plan to become the Singapore of Latin America. For 2009, the GOP estimates 3 percent GDP growth and is projecting 5 percent growth for 2010, both above Latin America average growth rate. As a result of this growth, government deficit as a percentage of GDP has dropped to 43 percent in 2009, which has been a key reason Standard and Poors has granted them a BB+ positive rating (one step below investment grade, which Vallarino hopes will be granted by the end of 2010). The GOP plans to introduce tax reform and increase collection efforts to reduce the national deficit in order to achieve a debt/GDP ratio below 30 percent within ten years. That said, the President said that they will have next month five to six billion dollars in the Treasury which they need to push into the economy. Vallarino said that the GOP would focus their domestic infrastructure investment and attention on achieving growth in financial services, luxury tourism, high value agriculture, and value-added logistical services. FTA Remains Important, but Redlines Exist -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) President Martinelli informed the CODEL that the main reason Panama remains interested in the FTA is to attract foreign direct investment. Speaking frankly, he admitted that Panama's judiciary system is not reliable (a view backed by World Bank and World Economic Forum analysis) so the investor-State dispute settlement mechanism is a key factor for increasing investor confidence. President Martinelli reiterated his willingness to sign a tax information exchange agreement. However, he said that Panamanian unions object to decreasing the number of employees required to establish a union from 40 to 20. Minister of Commerce (Trade) Henriquez elaborated by saying that lead trade negotiator Alvarez De Soto will be in Washington to deliver four letters from leading Panamanian unions objecting to the change. Additionally, he said that there were deadly protests the last two times the government opened the labor code, so while he is willing to make other labor changes, he cannot change the 40-20 rule. While Henriquez said that the FTA is the most important bilateral issue, he said that Panama is not standing still while the United States considers the FTA. He said that they will open negotiations with Colombia and Mexico soon and are continuing to press for inclusion in the Central America-EU FTA negotiations. He also asked why the United States would not do an FTA with its best and most reliable ally in Latin America who stands up against the radical left in the region, particularly if the agreement won't cost American jobs. Minority Leader Boehner expressed his doubts that the FTA would move soon, and Rep. Boren, the lone Democrat on the delegation, said that President Obama would need to advocate for the FTA if the necessary 60 Democrats are to vote for it. Rep. Brady advised the Panamanians to be prepared to move quickly on the FTA, but not to get their hopes up in the short term. Canal is a Modern Technical (and Profit) Marvel -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The delegation visited the Panama Canal where they observed ongoing operations and were briefed on the expansion. Canal Authority officials told the delegation that the construction of the third set of locks is on schedule to be completed by 2014. They estimate that Canal revenues will increase from $2 billion in 2014 to almost $5 billion in 2024 once the expansion is completed. ¶7. (SBU) CODEL Boehner did not clear this message before departing post. STEPHENSON