Cablegate: Panama: Demarche On Nam Conference Delivered

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C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000581

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2018
TAGS: PARM IR KNNP MNUC TRGY IAEA PERL UR PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: DEMARCHE ON NAM CONFERENCE DELIVERED

REF: SECSTATE 74879

Classified By: POLCOUNS BRIAN R. NARANJO REASON: 1.4 (d)

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IRAN CIRCULATES DRAFT STATEMENT
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1. (C) POL had delivered Reftel demarche to MFA political
advisor Janio Tunon on July 16 to discuss Panama's position
in the upcoming Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Conference
scheduled for July 29-30. POL underscored that Panama held a
unique position as a NAM representative and UNSC member. POL
urged Panama to convince other NAM countries that Iran had
continued to defy UNSC obligations and should suspend its
uranium enrichment-related and reprocessing activities.

2. (C) Tunon informed POL that Iran had circulated a draft
statement regarding its "peaceful nuclear program" to all NAM
members. The statement reiterated Iran's position on its
"right to nuclear technology" and requested that all NAM
ministerial representatives support the following:

--Sanctions imposed on Iran for its nuclear program are of
political nature and should be promptly removed as there is
no legal basis for the UN Security Council to proceed in this
matter. All outstanding issues regarding Iran's nuclear
program should be negotiated between Iran and the IAEA only.

--As declared in the 2006 Heads of State Summit statement
delivered in Havana, NAM representatives defended Iran's
right to nuclear technology. Iran, as a State Party to the
Non-Proliferation Treaty, had the right to continue its fuel
cycle program for peaceful purposes.

--The IAEA declared that there was no diversion in the
peaceful nuclear activities of Iran and asserted that Iran
resolved all outstanding issues with the IAEA.

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PANAMA DISAGREES WITH STATEMENT
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3. (C) Tunon presented Panama's written response to Iran's
statement and outlined areas where Panama disagreed. Tunon
stated that since release of the Havana Summit Statement in
2006, Panama supported UNSC resolutions that imposed
sanctions on Iran and demanded suspension of Iran's uranium
enrichment program. He also highlighted that Iran's assertion
that it had complied with IAEA obligations was false. As
noted in the IAEA's May 26, 2008 report, Iran continued to
defy reporting obligations and had not fully disclosed its
nuclear activities. While discussing Panama's role during the
NAM conference, Tunon noted that Panama would maintain a "low
profile" and would suggest quietly that Iran comply with UNSC
obligations and consider the P5 1 package presented by the
European Union. Considering that the NAM conference would be
in Tehran, Tunon did not expect strong verbal declarations by
Panama against Iran's statement.

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COMMENT
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4. (C) Tunon affirmed that Panama would maintain
communication with POL and update Post once he received an
updated draft on Iran's campaign to gather NAM support on its
nuclear program.
MESA

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