VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHZP #0803 3002004
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 272004Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0031
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS PANAMA 000803 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD USTR PREL EINV PM CASC
SUBJECT: GOP DELAYS PROPERTY RIGHTS LEGISLATION - WILL TALK WITH 
EXPATS 
 
REF: 09 PANAMA 795 
 
¶1. (SBU) Ambassador Stephenson informed Vice-President and Foreign 
Minister Juan Carlos Varela on October 23 of the angst of American 
citizens in Panama over proposed law 71 (which deals with property 
rights), which many American citizens perceive as a form of 
expropriation.  (See Reftel.)  Varela immediately called the 
President of the National Assembly, his brother Jose Luis "Popi" 
Varela, to inquire about the status of the legislation.  He also 
promised to ask Alberto Vallarino, the Minister of Economy and 
Finance, to convene a public forum for expatriates in Panama.  Popi 
Varela stated that Vallarino wanted to push the legislation through 
the National Assembly by October 30, but the Varela brothers (who 
are rivals of Vallarino within the Panamenista Party) were able to 
delay this timeline.  Vallarino contacted Ambassador Stephenson on 
October 26 to state he would personally speak to the expatriate 
community about proposed law 71 on October 29.  Vice-Minister 
Dulcidio de la Guardia, who reports to Vallarino, and a 
representative from the land titling agency will be present at the 
town hall meeting.  The Embassy informed the American community of 
the meeting through the warden system while also informing other 
Embassies of the meeting.  Post will attend the town hall meeting 
and stay in close touch with both the GOP and the Amcit community. 
STEPHENSON