US embassy cable - 05PANAMA1445

UNCLAS PANAMA 001445 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR S/CPR AND WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: ODIP, OPDC, PM, POL SPECIALIST 
SUBJECT:  JULY 4 MESSAGE FROM PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT TORRIJOS 
TO PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH 
 
1. ON MONDAY, JULY 4, EMBASSY PANAMA RECEIVED ORIGINAL NOTE 
DGPCE NO. 794/2005 TRANSMITTING A CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE 
FROM PRESIDENT MARTIN TORRIJOS TO PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH 
ON A NEW CELEBRATION OF THE U.S. INDEPENDENCE DAY. 
 
EMBASSY TRANSLATION OF TEXT FOLLOWS: 
 
BEGIN TEXT. 
 
PLEASE ACCEPT MY MOST SINCERE AND WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS ON 
THIS HAPPY OCCASION, WHEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
CELEBRATES ITS 229TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY, WHICH I 
EXTEND TO THE NOBLE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
THE HISTORIC RELATIONS BETWEEN PANAMA AND THE UNITED STATES 
OF AMERICA, BEAR A VERY SPECIAL MEANING BECAUSE WE REACH ONE 
HUNDRED AND TWO YEARS, WHICH THROUGH TESTS AND BY OVERCOMING 
OBSTACLES, NEW FORMULAS OF COLLABORATION AND GREATER 
SIMILARITIES IN SUBJECTS OF MUTUAL INTEREST HAVE BEEN FOUND, 
TO CONVERGE TODAY INTO A RELATIONSHIP OF MAGNIFICENT 
PARTNERS, EXPANDING THE BILATERAL COOPERATION IN DIVERSE 
DISCIPLINES WHERE AGREEMENTS HAVE BEEN SIGNED.  PROOF OF 
THAT GOOD WILL IS THE CURRENT NEGOTIATION OF THE FREE TRADE 
AGREEMENT, WHICH I HOPE WILL BE SIGNED DURING THIS YEAR. 
 
I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, MR. PRESIDENT, TO THANK YOU FOR THE 
EXCELLENT HOSPITALITY THAT YOU PROVIDED ME, AS WELL AS THE 
DELEGATION THAT ACCOMPANIED ME, ON THE OCCASION OF THE WORK 
MEETING WE HELD THIS PAST APRIL, TO REVIEW OUR COMMON 
AGENDA.  ALSO, I WISH TO RENEW THE COMMITMENT OF CONTINUING 
TO WORK WITH YOUR EXCELLENCY, FOR THE CONSOLIDATION OF OUR 
DEMOCRACIES, TRANSPARENCY, GOVERNANCE AND MUTUAL RESPECT. 
 
I ALSO PROPOSE TO COMBINE EFFORTS, IN THE INTERNATIONAL 
ARENA TO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE PROMOTION OF 
INTERNATIONAL PEACE, SECURITY AND STABILITY. 
 
ACCEPT, EXCELLENCY, MY WISHES FOR YOUR HEALTH, PERSONAL 
HAPPINESS AND THE PROSPERITY OF YOUR COUNTRY. 
 
MARTIN TORRIJOS 
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA 
 
END TEXT. 
 
2.  EMBASSY WILL POUCH SIGNED ORIGINAL. 
 
WATT