VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHZP #0490/01 1652201
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 132201Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2170
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS PANAMA 000490 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EEB/TRA/OTP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC ECON EFIS EWWT MARR MASS MCAPMOPS
PHSA, PINS, PREL, SENV, SMIG, SNAR, PM 
SUBJECT: PANAMA A NATURAL FIT FOR THE GLOBAL MARITIME 
PARTNERSHIP 
 
REF: STATE 50488 
 
This message is Sensitive But Unclassified.  Please handle 
accordingly. 
 
¶1. (U) Summary. Panama represents a natural fit for the 
Global Maritime Partnership (GMP).  Our engagement with 
Panama on maritime issues is broad and deep.  Officially, the 
Panama Maritime Authority is supportive of the Global 
Maritime Partnership.  Panama and the United States already 
cooperate on a range of projects, such as PANAMAX military 
exercises and U.S. naval humanitarian assistance efforts. 
Panama potentially will expand cooperation to include 
participation in the Maritime Security and Safety Information 
System (MSSIS), support for NAVSOUTH's Maritime Liaison Unit 
for Latin America (MARLU-LATAM), and collaboration on digital 
ID cards for merchant mariners. End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Econoff and Naval Attach briefed Carlos Moreno, 
Deputy Administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), 
of the Global Maritime Partnership (GMP) on June 3.  Moreno 
was extremely receptive to GMP principles and further 
cooperation.  Post will also track the maritime industry's 
reaction to the level of cooperation between the GOP and USG. 
 End summary. 
 
GMP PROJECTS RIPE FOR IMPLEMENTATION 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (SBU) The following proposals were presented to Moreno and 
he was "extremely interested" in both. 
 
A) Maritime Security and Safety Information System (MSSIS): 
The Commander of NAVSOUTH has been promoting MSSIS to various 
countries in the Latin American region.  Moreno was 
enthusiastic about the MSSIS concept, since Panama would gain 
worldwide, near-real-time visibility of merchant ship 
operations, to include the 7,000-plus merchant vessels of 
Panamanian registry.  Moreno also keyed in on the fact that 
MSSIS is already in operation and is relatively inexpensive 
to implement.  Moreno then pointed out that the International 
Maritime Organization's LRIT (Long Range Identification and 
Tracking) system was behind schedule and expensive.  Moreno 
instructed his staff to work with the Naval Attache on 
producing a proposal for the AMP Administrator. 
 
B) Maritime Liaison Unit - Latin America (MARLU-LATAM): 
MARLU-LATAM is subordinate to the Commander of NAVSOUTH (the 
naval component of SOUTHCOM), and is charged with 
establishing close working relationships between the U.S. 
Navy and commercial maritime entities throughout Latin 
America.  AMEMBASSY PANAMA continues to support MARLU-LATAM 
as it develops close ties with Panama's diverse maritime 
industry.  During MARLU-LATAM's visits in March and June 
2008, DAO Panama facilitated access to a wide range of 
maritime industry contacts.  MARLU-LATAM will return in 
August 2008 for follow-up talks regarding a wide-range of 
GMP-related topics.  After listening to a brief presentation 
about MARLU-LATAM, Moreno offered his support, and stated 
that such a project was "long overdue." 
 
C) Moreno highlighted a current AMP initiative to provide 
digital ID cards with biometrics to the approximately 300,000 
merchant marine sailors whose licenses originate in Panama. 
Moreno was receptive to the idea of collaboration with the 
U.S., since the U.S. Coast Guard is implementing the TWIX 
(Transit Workers Identification) card program. 
 
 
CURRENT GMP-RELATED PROJECTS 
---------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Panama already is currently participating in several 
GMP-related activities, such as: 
 
A) Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX:  PANAMAX is an annual 
joint/combined exercise co-hosted by Panama and USSOUTHCOM. 
 
It is USSOUTHCOM's  premier exercise and security cooperation 
event aimed at enhancing the capabilities of partner nations 
to conduct multinational operations.  PANAMAX draws military 
participants and observers from over 20 countries and will be 
held 11-22 Aug 2008. 
 
B) Humanitarian Assistance:  Following the example of last 
year's successful deployment of the hospital ship USNS 
Comfort, USSOUTHCOM is deploying the USS KEARSARGE to Panama 
to provide humanitarian assistance, including medical 
services and engineering projects, at five locations in the 
Comarca of Kuna Yala.  AMEMBASSY PANAMA personnel will deploy 
to the Comarca of Kuna Yala to support this security 
cooperation event 16-30 Sep 2008. 
 
C) Port Security:  GOP and USG customs agencies signed a 
declaration of principles for the Container Security 
Initiative (CSI).  CSI has provided the GOP with x-ray 
equipment and funds for maintenance. The DoE's MegaPorts 
Initiative is following CSI in the installation of 
sophisticated radiological detection equipment to identify 
nuclear material. 
 
COMMENT: PANAMA WELL-SUITED FOR GMP 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Panama represents a natural fit for the GMP, as our 
engagement with Panama on maritime issues is broad and deep. 
With the Panama Canal, which has embarked on a $5.25 
expansion project, a booming ports and maritime services 
industry, some 7,000 Panamanian flagged vessels sailing the 
seas, and a registry of more than 300,000 seafarers, the GOP 
and the maritime industry are keenly interested in virtually 
all aspects of GMP activities.  However, until the GMP takes 
further shape, Post does not expect that Panama would take a 
proactive role in initiating specific GMP activities. 
EATON