FECHA: 0000-00-00 00:00:00
FUENTE: Embassy Panama
PRIVACIDAD: CONFIDENTIAL
REFERENCIA: VZCZCXRO6185RR RUEHPBDE RUEHZP #0322 1112132ZNY CCCCC ZZHR 212132Z APR 09FM AMEMBASSY PANAMATO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3289INFO RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 3806RUEHMV/AMEMBASSY MONROVIA 0031RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 0115RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT 0005
C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000322
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2019
TAGS: ECON, EFIN, PREL, KV
SUBJECT: PANAMA: DEMARCHE ON KOSOVO'S IMF AND WORLD BANK
MEMBERSHIP BID DELIVERED
REF: STATE 33709
Classified By: POLCOUNS BRIAN R. NARANJO. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D)
(C) "Having recognized Kosovo in January, Panama will have to
act in a manner consistent with that decision and support
Kosovo's membership in both the IMF and World Bank," Acting
FM Javier Bonagas told POLCOUNS on April 17. Previously,
Ambassador had sent First VP and FM Samuel Lewis and Minister
of Economy and Finance letters on April 8 urging Panama to
support fully Kosovo's membership in these IFIs. Due to top
GOP officials' extensive travel over the past few weeks, post
has had significant difficulty securing appointments for
Ambassador to see Lewis and Alexander regarding this
demarche. Ambassador did have the opportunity to flag this
issue for Lewis briefly last week on the margins of a meeting
concerning efforts to advance the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion
Agreement toward ratification, and POLCOUNS followed up to
deliver reftel demarche. While not enthusiastic in
expressing support for Kosovo's bid to become a member of the
World Bank, Bonagas was resigned believing Panama, having
recognized Kosovo, had no other alternative but to support
Kosovar membership in the IFIs. Bonagas undertook to
coordinate closely with the Ministry of Economy and Finance,
which to date has not played a part in the MFA-led engagement
on Kosovo.
STEPHENSON
