US embassy cable - 05PANAMA1446

UNCLAS PANAMA 001446 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR S/CPR AND WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: ODIP, OPDC, PM, POL SPECIALIST 
SUBJECT:  JULY 4 MESSAGE FROM VICE PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN 
MINISTER TO SECRETARY RICE 
 
 
1. ON MONDAY, JULY 4, EMBASSY PANAMA RECEIVED ORIGINAL NOTE 
DGPCE NO. 795/2005 TRANSMITTING A CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE 
FROM VICE PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN MINISTER SAMUEL LEWIS 
NAVARRO TO SECRETARY CONDOLEEZZA RICE ON A NEW CELEBRATION 
OF THE U.S. INDEPENDENCE DAY. 
 
EMBASSY TRANSLATION OF TEXT FOLLOWS: 
 
BEGIN TEXT. 
 
ON THE HAPPY OCCASION OF CELEBRATING TODAY THE CCXXIX 
ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA, I AM PLEASED TO SEND TO YOUR EXCELLENCY MY MOST 
CORDIAL AND SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS ON BEHALF OF THIS 
MINISTRY AND MYSELF, WISHING FOR YOUR HEALTH AND THE 
CONTINUOUS PROSPERITY AND WELFARE OF THE STRONG PEOPLE OF 
THE UNITED STATES. 
 
I TAKE THIS OCCASION TO SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR YOUR 
KINDNESS DURING OUR LAST VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA, AND ALSO, TO EXPRESS THE INTEREST THAT MOTIVATES ME 
TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOUR EXCELLENCY TO CONSOLIDATE EVEN 
MORE, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, THE TIES OF EXCELLENT RELATIONS, 
ENVIABLE FRIENDSHIP AND OF GOOD NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE 
HISTORICALLY EXISTED BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES AND THAT WILL 
SOON CULMINATE WITH A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT FOR THE BENEFIT 
OF BOTH NATIONS. 
 
I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REITERATE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY THE 
ASSURANCES OF MY HIGHEST CONSIDERATION. 
 
SAMUEL LEWIS NAVARRO 
VICE PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN MINISTER 
OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA 
 
END TEXT. 
 
2.  EMBASSY WILL POUCH SIGNED ORIGINAL. 
 
WATT