VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHZP #1827 3372215
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 032215Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1500
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0037
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0297
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0298
C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 001827
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2017
TAGS: PREL UNGA IS PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: WEIGHING "OVERALL POLICY REVIEW" OF
ISRAEL RESOLUTIONS
REF: (A) STATE 159386 (B) PANAMA 1813
Classified By: Ambassador William A. Eaton. Reasons: 1.4 (b)
and (d)
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Weighing Overall Policy Review of Israel Resolutions
--------------------------------------------- -------
1. (C) "Panama is considering an overall policy review of its
positions on the various Israel resolutions that come up
every year in the UN General Assembly (UNGA)," First VP and
FM Samuel Lewis told Ambassador on December 3 in response to
reftel A demarche. Lewis added, "I don't know if there would
be any change in our votes this year" on the three
resolutions raised in reftel A. Noting that there were
several other Israel-related resolutions, Lewis said voting
on these resolutions had become little more than "an
accounting exercise" without any real thought or
consideration being given to the substance of these
resolutions. Noting that the MFA had proposed that President
consider a trip to the Middle East in the first half of 2008,
Lewis noted that as a non-permanent member of the UN Security
Council (UNSC) "Panama wants to contribute to the peace
process."
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Comment
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2. (C) Post believes that it is unlikely that Panama will
change its votes on these annual resolutions for the current
UNGA. Panama will vote most likely just like it did in 2006.
Down the road though, cautious optimism that Panama might
change its votes on Israel resolutions is warranted, but will
need to be nurtured by U.S. (and Israeli) engagement with the
GOP.
EATON