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courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07PANAMA921, PANAMA: CODEL MEEKS MEETS WITH PRESIDENT

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07PANAMA921 2007-06-04 16:31 2011-08-30 01:44 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Panama
VZCZCXYZ0006
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHZP #0921/01 1551631
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041631Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0536
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
UNCLAS PANAMA 000921 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC PASS TO USTR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL ECON PGOV ETRD ENV SOCI PHUM PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA:  CODEL MEEKS MEETS WITH PRESIDENT 
TORRRIJOS; JUNE 2, 2007, PRESIDENTIAL PALACE 
 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
1.  CODEL Meeks and Panamanian President Martin Torrijos 
discussed issues that would arise during the U.S. Congress' 
debate on whether to approve the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion 
Agreement (TPA) such as poverty reduction, tax collection, 
anti-discrimination laws, the Panama-Colombia relationship, 
equal rights issues, and wild dolphin preservation during 
their one-hour June 2 meeting at Panama's Presidential 
Palace.  The CODEL Meeks consisted of Representatives Gregory 
Meeks (D-NY), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Mike Honda (D-CA), 
and Mike McNulty (D-NY). 
 
----------------- 
Poverty Reduction 
----------------- 
 
2.  Responding to Rep. Meeks' concerns about poverty 
reduction, Torrijos broadly reviewed his poverty reduction 
strategy.  Torrijos commented on his efforts to increase 
English language training for Panamanian students, the recent 
approval of money transfers for families living in the most 
impoverished conditions, trade capacity building in Panama's 
rural areas to increase subsistence living, and road 
construction projects throughout the country.  Addressing 
Rep. Meeks' follow up question on providing economic growth 
opportunities to Panama's rural areas, Torrijos said he had 
incorporated contractual provisions requiring the hiring of 
local communities in rural development projects.  Torrijos 
also noted a $50 million program at the municipal level to 
ensure local participation and increase awareness of economic 
growth opportunities. 
 
-------------- 
Tax Collection 
-------------- 
 
3.  Rep. Meeks asked Torrijos how his government was doing in 
collecting taxes.  Torrijos commented Panama suffered from a 
5% budget deficit from insufficient tax collection when he 
entered office but last year the country had a surplus from 
his efforts to close tax loopholes. 
 
------------------- 
Anti-Discrimination 
------------------- 
 
4. Torrijos addressed Rep. Jackson-Lee's concerns about 
anti-discrimination laws by telling her that he launched a 
presidential commission to focus on ways to eliminate 
discrimination.  Torrijos said lack of opportunity existed in 
areas outside the city, but they are not a result of 
discrimination. Rep. Meeks urged Torrijos to appoint an 
Afro-Panamanian to a public position to increase the 
Afro-Panamanian profile of the country.  Rep. Meeks also 
encouraged Torrijos to monitor the education standards of 
minorities.  Torrijos said he was sensitive to equal rights 
issues and that he was already measuring a broad array of 
child development standards.  He also shared that an 
Afro-Panamanian woman headed Panama's Supreme Court. 
 
----------------------- 
Trade Capacity Building 
----------------------- 
 
5. Answering Rep. Jackson-Lee's concerns about what steps 
Panama had taken to promote small and minority-owned 
businesses, Torrijos noted his trips to the U.S. to promote 
business interest in bidding on Panama's canal expansion 
projects. 
 
---------------------------- 
Panama-Colombia Relationship 
---------------------------- 
 
6.  Responding to Rep. Meeks' inquiry about Panama's 
relationship with Colombia, Torrijos noted the good 
relationship between the two countries.  Torrijos noted that, 
in conjunction with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, they 
created an anti-narcotics taskforce to help combat illegal 
narcotics trafficking between the two countries. 
 
--------------------------- 
Protection of Wild Dolphins 
--------------------------- 
 
7.  Answering Rep. Meeks concerns about wild dolphin 
protection, Torrijos noted his past support of USG efforts to 
protect whales and reduce the adverse impact the whaling 
industry has on whale populations. 
 
8. This message was not cleared by CODEL Meeks. 
EATON