Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
89STATE406844
1989-12-22 22:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

OAS "REGRETS" U. S. ACTION

Tags:  PREL PM OAS 
pdf how-to read a cable
O 222213Z DEC 89
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL OECD CAPITALS IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY PANAMA IMMEDIATE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 406844 

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL PM OAS
SUBJECT: OAS "REGRETS" U. S. ACTION

REF: (A) 89 STATE 404719, (B) 89 STATE 406637

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 406844

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL PM OAS
SUBJECT: OAS "REGRETS" U. S. ACTION

REF: (A) 89 STATE 404719, (B) 89 STATE 406637


1. (U) THE PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF
AMERICAN STATE (OAS),IN A MARATHON SPECIAL SESSION,
ADOPTED BY A VOTE OF 20 - 1 (US),WITH 6 ABSTENTIONS
(ANTIGUA, COSTA RICA, EL SALVADOR, HONDURAS, GUATEMALA,
AND VENEZUELA) A RESOLUTION THAT:

--"DEEPLY REGRETS" THE MILITARY INTERVENTION IN PANAMA;
--URGES IMMEDIATE "CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES AND
BLOODSHED;" AND
--CALLS FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF FOREIGN TROOPS "USED FOR THE
MILITARY INTERVENTION." (THIS WORDING IMPLICITLY
RECOGNIZES THE LEGITIMATE PRESENCE OF US FORCES IN PANAMA
PURSUANT TO CANAL TREATIES BY NOT REFERRING TO ALL U.S.
FORCES.) THE RESOLUTION STOPS SHORT OF CONDEMNING U.S.
ACTION, AND NICARAGUA WAS FORCED TO WITHDRAW AN EARLIER
MORE CRITICAL RESOLUTION. HOWEVER, A DETERMINED CENTRAL
AMERICAN ATTEMPT TO BALANCE THE RESOLUTION BY EXPRESSLY
DENOUNCING NORIEGA WAS DEFEATED WHEN CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES
JOINED THE GROUP OF EIGHT IN ARGUING THAT NOTHING
JUSTIFIES MILITARY INTERVENTION.


2. (C) USOAS AMBASSADOR EINAUDI DELIVERED A STATEMENT
(SEPTEL) BLASTING NORIEGA AND TAKING THE OAS TO TASK FOR A
MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT DEMOCRACY AT THIS HISTORICAL
MOMENT. THE USOAS DELEGATION SUCCEEDED IN SOFTENING THE
RESOLUTION AND DELAYING THE VOTE, DESPITE GROWING
CRITICISM FROM LATIN AMERICA.


3. (U) TEXT OF OAS RESOLUTION FOLLOWS:

HAVING SEEN:

THE SERIOUS EVENTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA, ESPECIALLY
THE ARMED CLASHES RESULTING FROM THE MILITARY INTERVENTION
BY THE UNITED STATES AND THE DEPLORABLE LOSS OF LIVES AND

THE OBLIGATION OF STATES NOT TO INTERVENE, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, FOR ANY REASON WHATEVER, IN THE INTERNAL OR
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OF ANY OTHER STATE; AND

THE OBLIGATION TO RESPECT THE INVIOLABILITY OF THE
TERRITORY OF A STATE, WHICH MAY NOT THE OBJECT, EVEN
TEMPORARILY, OF MILITARY OCCUPATION OR OF OTHER MEASURES
OF FORCE TAKEN BY ANOTHER STATE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY,
ON ANY GROUNDS WHATEVER; AND

CONSIDERING:

THE PROVISIONS OF RESOLUTION I ADOPTED BY THE
TWENTY-FIRST MEETING OF CONSULTATION OF MINISTERS OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON MAY 17, 1989 AND THE DECLARATIONS MADE
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE MEETING AND ADOPTED ON JUNE 6,
JULY 20, AND AUGUST 24, 1989 ON THE PANAMANIAN CRISIS IN
ITS INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT;

THAT, AT THE NINETEENTH REGULAR SESSION, THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY REQUESTED THE PERMANENT COUNCIL TO KEEP THE
SITUATION IN PANAMA UNDER PERMANENT CONSIDERATION;

THAT ANY JUST AND LASTING SOLUTION TO THE PANAMANIAN
PROBLEM MUST BE BASED ON FULL RESPECT FOR THE RIGHT OF ITS
PEOPLE TO SELF-DETERMINATION WITHOUT OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE;

THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO GUARANTEE FULL RESPECT FOR THE
SOVEREIGNTY OF PANAMA; AND

THAT IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO REESTABLISH CONDITIONS THAT
WILL GUARANTEE THE FULL EXERCISE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND
FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS OF THE PANAMANIAN PEOPLE, AND

THAT THE PANAMANIAN PEOPLE HAVE AN INALIENABLE RIGHT TO
SELF-DETERMINATION WITHOUT INTERNAL DICTATES OR EXTERNAL
INTERFERENCE.

RESOLVES:

(1) TO DEEPLY REGRET THE MILITARY INTERVENTION IN PANAMA.

(2) TO URGE THE IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF HOSTILITITES AND
BLOODSHED AND TO REQUEST THE LAUNCHING OF NEGOTIATIONS
BETWEEN THE VARIOUS POLITICAL SECTORS OF THE COUNTRY THAT
WILL LEAD TO A CONCERTED SOLUTION TO THE PANAMANIAN
INSTITUTIONAL CRISIS.

(3) TO EXPRESS ITS DEEPEST CONCERN OVER THE SERIOUS
INCIDENTS AND THE LOSS OF LIVES TAKING PLACE IN THE
REPUBLIC OF PANAMA.

(4) TO CALL FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FOREIGN TROOPS USED
FOR THE MILITARY INTERVENTION AND TO REAFFIRM THAT SOLVING
THE CRISIS PANAMA IS UNDERGOING AT THIS TIME NECESSARILY
REQUIRES FULL RESPECT FOR THE RIGHT OF THE PANAMANIAN
PEOPLE TO SELF-DETERMINATION WITHOUT OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE
AND FAITHFUL ADHERENCE TO THE LETTER AND SPIRIT OF THE
TORRIJOS-CARTER TREATIES.

(5) TO EXPRESS THE NEED TO COMPLY WITH THE OBLIGATIONS
ASSUMED BY THE STATES PARTIES TO THE VIENNA CONVENTIONS ON
DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR RELATIONS.

(6) TO URGE THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED
CROSS (ICRC) BE PROVIDED WITH THE FACILITIES AND
COOPERATION NECESSARY FOR IT TO CARRY OUT ITS HUMANITARIAN
WORK WITH THE WOUNDED AND THE CIVILIAN POPULATION.

(7) TO EXPRESS ITS FRATERNAL SUPPORT FOR AND SOLIDARITY
WITH THE PANAMANIAN PEOPLE AND TO URGE THAT THE PARTIES
INVOLVED ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE FOR THE PURPOSE OF
SAFEGUARDING THE LIVES AND PERSONAL SAFETY OF ALL THE
INHABITANTS OF PANAMA.

(8) TO RECOMMEND THAT A NEW SESSION OF THE TWENTY-FIRST
MEETING OF CONSULTATION BE HELD WHEN APPROPRIATE TO
EXAMINE THE PANAMANIAN SITUATION AS A WHOLE.

(9) TO INSTRUCT THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE OAS TO TAKE
THE STEPS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS
RESOLUTION.

END TEXT OF RESOLUTION


4. A BRIEF SUMMARY OF POSITIONS TAKEN BY INDIVIDUAL OAS
MEMBERS IS INCLUDED IN SEPTEL.

PANAMA MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.


EAGLEBURGER