US embassy cable - 89STATE406844

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 406844 
 
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR 
TAGS: PREL PM OAS 
SUBJECT: OAS "REGRETS" U. S. ACTION 
 
REF: (A) 89 STATE 404719, (B) 89 STATE 406637 
 
1.  (U) THE PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF 
AMERICAN STATE (OAS), IN A MARATHON SPECIAL SESSION, 
ADOPTED BY A VOTE OF 20 - 1 (US), WITH 6 ABSTENTIONS 
(ANTIGUA, COSTA RICA, EL SALVADOR, HONDURAS, GUATEMALA, 
AND VENEZUELA) A RESOLUTION THAT: 
 
--"DEEPLY REGRETS" THE MILITARY INTERVENTION IN PANAMA; 
--URGES IMMEDIATE "CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES AND 
  BLOODSHED;" AND 
--CALLS FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF FOREIGN TROOPS "USED FOR THE 
MILITARY INTERVENTION." (THIS WORDING IMPLICITLY 
RECOGNIZES THE LEGITIMATE PRESENCE OF US FORCES IN PANAMA 
PURSUANT TO CANAL TREATIES BY NOT REFERRING TO ALL U.S. 
FORCES.)  THE RESOLUTION STOPS SHORT OF CONDEMNING U.S. 
ACTION, AND NICARAGUA WAS FORCED TO WITHDRAW AN EARLIER 
MORE CRITICAL RESOLUTION.  HOWEVER, A DETERMINED CENTRAL 
AMERICAN ATTEMPT TO BALANCE THE RESOLUTION BY EXPRESSLY 
DENOUNCING NORIEGA WAS DEFEATED WHEN CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES 
JOINED THE GROUP OF EIGHT IN ARGUING THAT NOTHING 
JUSTIFIES MILITARY INTERVENTION. 
 
2.  (C) USOAS AMBASSADOR EINAUDI DELIVERED A STATEMENT 
(SEPTEL) BLASTING NORIEGA AND TAKING THE OAS TO TASK FOR A 
MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT DEMOCRACY AT THIS HISTORICAL 
MOMENT.  THE USOAS DELEGATION SUCCEEDED IN SOFTENING THE 
RESOLUTION AND DELAYING THE VOTE, DESPITE GROWING 
CRITICISM FROM LATIN AMERICA. 
 
3.  (U) TEXT OF OAS RESOLUTION FOLLOWS: 
 
HAVING SEEN: 
 
 THE SERIOUS EVENTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA, ESPECIALLY 
THE ARMED CLASHES RESULTING FROM THE MILITARY INTERVENTION 
BY THE UNITED STATES AND THE DEPLORABLE LOSS OF LIVES AND 
 
 THE OBLIGATION OF STATES NOT TO INTERVENE, DIRECTLY OR 
INDIRECTLY, FOR ANY REASON WHATEVER, IN THE INTERNAL OR 
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OF ANY OTHER STATE; AND 
 
 THE OBLIGATION TO RESPECT THE INVIOLABILITY OF THE 
TERRITORY OF A STATE, WHICH MAY NOT THE OBJECT, EVEN 
TEMPORARILY, OF MILITARY OCCUPATION OR OF OTHER MEASURES 
OF FORCE TAKEN BY ANOTHER STATE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, 
ON ANY GROUNDS WHATEVER; AND 
 
CONSIDERING: 
 
 THE PROVISIONS OF RESOLUTION I ADOPTED BY THE 
TWENTY-FIRST MEETING OF CONSULTATION OF MINISTERS OF 
FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON MAY 17, 1989 AND THE DECLARATIONS MADE 
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE MEETING AND ADOPTED ON JUNE 6, 
JULY 20, AND AUGUST 24, 1989 ON THE PANAMANIAN CRISIS IN 
ITS INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT; 
 
 THAT, AT THE NINETEENTH REGULAR SESSION, THE GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY REQUESTED THE PERMANENT COUNCIL TO KEEP THE 
SITUATION IN PANAMA UNDER PERMANENT CONSIDERATION; 
 
 THAT ANY JUST AND LASTING SOLUTION TO THE PANAMANIAN 
PROBLEM MUST BE BASED ON FULL RESPECT FOR THE RIGHT OF ITS 
PEOPLE TO SELF-DETERMINATION WITHOUT OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE; 
 
 THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO GUARANTEE FULL RESPECT FOR THE 
SOVEREIGNTY OF PANAMA; AND 
 
 THAT IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO REESTABLISH CONDITIONS THAT 
WILL GUARANTEE THE FULL EXERCISE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND 
FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS OF THE PANAMANIAN PEOPLE, AND 
 
 THAT THE PANAMANIAN PEOPLE HAVE AN INALIENABLE RIGHT TO 
SELF-DETERMINATION WITHOUT INTERNAL DICTATES OR EXTERNAL 
INTERFERENCE. 
 
RESOLVES: 
 
(1)  TO DEEPLY REGRET THE MILITARY INTERVENTION IN PANAMA. 
 
(2) TO URGE THE IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF HOSTILITITES AND 
BLOODSHED AND TO REQUEST THE LAUNCHING OF NEGOTIATIONS 
BETWEEN THE VARIOUS POLITICAL SECTORS OF THE COUNTRY THAT 
WILL LEAD TO A CONCERTED SOLUTION TO THE PANAMANIAN 
INSTITUTIONAL CRISIS. 
 
(3) TO EXPRESS ITS DEEPEST CONCERN OVER THE SERIOUS 
INCIDENTS AND THE LOSS OF LIVES TAKING PLACE IN THE 
REPUBLIC OF PANAMA. 
 
(4) TO CALL FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FOREIGN TROOPS USED 
FOR THE MILITARY INTERVENTION AND TO REAFFIRM THAT SOLVING 
THE CRISIS PANAMA IS UNDERGOING AT THIS TIME NECESSARILY 
REQUIRES FULL RESPECT FOR THE RIGHT OF THE PANAMANIAN 
PEOPLE TO SELF-DETERMINATION WITHOUT OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE 
AND FAITHFUL ADHERENCE TO THE LETTER AND SPIRIT OF THE 
TORRIJOS-CARTER TREATIES. 
 
(5) TO EXPRESS THE NEED TO COMPLY WITH THE OBLIGATIONS 
ASSUMED BY THE STATES PARTIES TO THE VIENNA CONVENTIONS ON 
DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR RELATIONS. 
 
(6) TO URGE THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED 
CROSS (ICRC) BE PROVIDED WITH THE FACILITIES AND 
COOPERATION NECESSARY FOR IT TO CARRY OUT ITS HUMANITARIAN 
WORK WITH THE WOUNDED AND THE CIVILIAN POPULATION. 
 
(7) TO EXPRESS ITS FRATERNAL SUPPORT FOR AND SOLIDARITY 
WITH THE PANAMANIAN PEOPLE AND TO URGE THAT THE PARTIES 
INVOLVED ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE FOR THE PURPOSE OF 
SAFEGUARDING THE LIVES AND PERSONAL SAFETY OF ALL THE 
INHABITANTS OF PANAMA. 
 
(8) TO RECOMMEND THAT A NEW SESSION OF THE TWENTY-FIRST 
MEETING OF CONSULTATION BE HELD WHEN APPROPRIATE TO 
EXAMINE THE PANAMANIAN SITUATION AS A WHOLE. 
 
(9) TO INSTRUCT THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE OAS TO TAKE 
THE STEPS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS 
RESOLUTION. 
 
END TEXT OF RESOLUTION 
 
4. A BRIEF SUMMARY OF POSITIONS TAKEN BY INDIVIDUAL OAS 
MEMBERS IS INCLUDED IN SEPTEL. 
 
PANAMA MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. 
 
 
EAGLEBURGER