US Secretary of State Pompeo Meets With President Varela In Whirlwhid Tour

[Keith Woolford]

Pompeo will meet with Presidents in Panama and Mexico

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Panama and Mexico this week to meet with their respective presidents, Panamanian Juan Carlos Varela and Mexican Enrique Peña Nieto, informed official sources today.

"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will travel to Panama City and Mexico City from October 18 to 19," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The first stop of the Secretary of State will take place in the Central American country, where he will be received by President Varela and by the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado, to discuss the collaboration between both countries "first and foremost in regional matters".

These issues, in addition to the fight against terrorism and illegal immigration, include the serious crises that affect both Venezuela and Nicaragua.

Then, on Friday, Pompeo will meet with President Peña Nieto and Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray, whom he intends to transfer the US commitment to security and immigration, both with the current administration and with that of the future president of the country, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

The secretary of state plans to return to Mexico on December 1, when he will attend, along with Vice President Mike Pence, the office taking of López Obrador.

Source-EFE

[Moderator_02]

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Mike Pompeo a skip and hop through Panama

Posted on October 17, 2018 in Panama

 

Mike Pompero

Post Views: 164

 

U.S. Secretary of State  Mike Pompeo, fresh from his journey to Saudi Arabia to try to get answers from his hosts about the killing of  American resident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey will arrive in Panama on Thursday, October 18.

He will meet with President Juan Carlos Varela and Vice President Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado to  discuss “the current collaboration between the United States and Panama, on regional priorities, including the defense of democracy in Venezuela and Nicaragua, and on anti-narcotics, counter-terrorism, and illegal migration issues,” according to a release issued by the State Department.

US Embassy heads  from several  regional countries were recently summoned to Washington to discuss China’s growing presence

Before he’ s got time to dip his feet in the canal on  Friday, after the mandatory photo-op  Pompeo will fly to Mexico to meet with President-Elect Enrique Peña Nieto and  Foreign Relations Secretary Luis Videgaray Case, and the designated Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Marcelo Luis Ebrard Casaubon.

“Secretary Pompeo will reaffirm the commitment of the United States to cooperate with both the current administration and the incoming administration of President-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador on economic issues, shared security challenges and the reduction of illegal immigration,” said a press release, with no mention of a border wall.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/mike-pompeo-a-skip-and-hop-through-panama

[Moderator_02]

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Varela receives Pompeo to talk about drug trafficking, Venezuela and Nicaragua

Fri, 10/19/2018 - 00:33

The Panamanian President, Juan Carlos Varela, received  in Panama today the Secretary of State of the United States, Mike Pompeo, to address different issues such as drug trafficking, illegal migration or the crises that cross Venezuela and Nicaragua.

Varela and Pompeo met for about an hour at the Palacio de las Garzas, the headquarters of the Panamanian Government, and did not make a joint statement at the end of the meeting, as had been announced.

The Panamanian leader explained in different messages on his Twitter account that among the issues discussed with the high official are "the management of migratory flows and fight against drug trafficking and organized crime."

"Without a doubt, the visit of @SecPompeo strengthens the historic and solid relationship between Panama and the United States, strategic partners at a bilateral, regional and global level," the president added.

The US State Department said in a statement on Wednesday that during the meeting they would also deal with the crises that are going through Venezuela and Nicaragua and that are causing massive migratory flows in the region, but Varela did not rule on the matter.

Panama is part of the so-called Group of Lima, composed of a dozen countries on the continent that reject the Venezuelan elections of May 20, in which Nicolás Maduro was re-elected president.

"I expressed to @SecPompeo the importance of the private sector and civil society being more involved in the fight against organized crime and in the search for alternatives to the social problems caused by mass migrations," the Panamanian president added. social network.

An official of the US Department of State He told reporters on Wednesday that Pompeo would also discuss with Varela the decision of the Panamanian government to break diplomatic relations with Taiwan in June 2017 and establish them with China.

"The Administration has been very clear in the perspective that Chinese practices are not always beneficial for the governments of the region," said the aforementioned official.

After the meeting with Varela, Pompeo will travel to Mexico, where he will be received on Friday by the outgoing president, Enrique Peña Nieto, and his chancellor, Luis Videgaray, to whom he intends to transfer the American commitment in matters of security and immigration, both with the current administration as with the future president of the country, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

The trip of Pompeo to Panama and Mexico coincides with the crisis unleashed by the advance of a caravan formed by hundreds of Honduran migrants, who are preparing to cross Mexico to try to reach the United States

US President Donald Trump threatened Thursday to order his military to close the border with Mexico and even warned Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador that he would cut off their economic aid if they do not slow down the advance of the caravan.

 

https://www.panamatoday.com/panama/varela-receives-pompeo-talk-about-drug-trafficking-venezuela-and-nicaragua-8121

[Moderator_02]

.@SecPompeo se reunió con el presidente @JC_Varela para discutir temas sobre seguridad regional y la relación comercial entre Estados Unidos y Panamá. #EstamosUnidos pic.twitter.com/JxUuYx0OAN

— U.S. Embassy Panama (@USEmbPAN) October 19, 2018

[Moderator_02]

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Pompeo warns Panama to have "eyes wide open" about Chinese investments

Fri, 10/19/2018 - 12:48

The Secretary of State of the United States, Mike Pompeo,  launched today criticism of China and alerted Panama and the countries of the region to have "eyes wide open" to the investments of the Asian giant so that they do not end up harming their economies and the population.

In an interview with local television channel TVN, Pompeo said that the US he wants positive things for Panama and the region, "but we want to make sure that when countries make investments (with other countries), including China, they do so in a way that is consistent with international laws that are positive for the Panamanian people."
He added that they have seen instances where this has been the case, but that on some occasions "China has not behaved accordingly".

In that sense, the senior US official remarked that "we want to make sure that everyone has a very open eye on China's relations in this country and in the region"
Pompeo explained that the warning about opening the eyes is that "in some parts of the world China has invested and left the countries in a worse situation, and this should never happen"

Therefore, he insisted that every time there is investment from abroad, it should be something profitable for the investor, but it should also be positive for the country that receives that investment.

"We must make sure that where China decides to invest, it does so in a way that benefits the country's population, where that investment is made," he said.

On September 7, the United States called for consultations with the business manager in Panama, Roxanne Cabral, for the links established more than a year ago with China, which is the main supplier of the Panamanian Colon Free Zone (ZCL), the of the continent, and the second user of the Interoceanic Canal.

Panama and China have signed close to thirty cooperation agreements in the last year, including one for the feasibility study of a bullet train between the Panamanian capital and the border with Costa Rica, with a cost of about 5,000 million dollars. , and now they negotiate a free trade agreement (FTA).

In addition to Cabral, the ambassadors in the Dominican Republic, Robin Bernstein, and in El Salvador, Jean Manes, who established diplomatic relations with China in May and August, respectively, were called to consultations by the Donald Trump government.

Panama, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic are members of the Central American Integration System (SICA), to which Costa Rica, the first country in the region to establish ties with China, also belongs in 2007

Pompeo arrived today in Panama on a private flight and had a brief meeting in the afternoon at Palacio las Garzas, headquarters of the Presidency, with the country's president, Juan Carlos Varela, and the vice president and chancellor, Isabel De Saint Malo.

In the interview with TVN, the Secretary of State also spoke of the good state of relations with Panama and of the "fantastic teamwork" and of the counternarcotics effort carried out jointly by both countries.

"We work closely on so many issues that have value for the American people and the Panamanian people, I must say that our relations are in an excellent state, I hope that as a result of today it will be even better," he said.

Pompeo said that at the moment there is "nothing in particular" in terms of a possible change in relations between the two countries.

"Nothing in particular, we have a very good relationship now, we hope to continue benefiting from the good faith of the Panamanian people, and we also hope that Panama continues to benefit from the good faith of the American people," he said.

After his meeting with Varela, Pompeo traveled to Mexico, where he will be received on Friday by the outgoing president, Enrique Peña Nieto, and his chancellor, Luis Videgaray, to whom he intends to transfer the American commitment in matters of security and immigration, both with the current administration as with the future president of the country, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

 

https://www.panamatoday.com/international/pompeo-warns-panama-have-eyes-wide-open-about-chinese-investments-8128

[Moderator_02]

Moderator comment: Two different newspapers carry essentially the same news article; this is not a duplicate posting error on my part. One interpretation might be that the Panamanian media magnates view this as an important issue.

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Pompeo warns Panama to have "eyes wide open" about Chinese investments

Fri, 10/19/2018 - 12:48

The Secretary of State of the United States, Mike Pompeo,  launched today criticism of China and alerted Panama and the countries of the region to have "eyes wide open" to the investments of the Asian giant so that they do not end up harming their economies and the population.

In an interview with local television channel TVN, Pompeo said that the US he wants positive things for Panama and the region, "but we want to make sure that when countries make investments (with other countries), including China, they do so in a way that is consistent with international laws that are positive for the Panamanian people."

He added that they have seen instances where this has been the case, but that on some occasions "China has not behaved accordingly".

In that sense, the senior US official remarked that "we want to make sure that everyone has a very open eye on China's relations in this country and in the region"
Pompeo explained that the warning about opening the eyes is that "in some parts of the world China has invested and left the countries in a worse situation, and this should never happen"

Therefore, he insisted that every time there is investment from abroad, it should be something profitable for the investor, but it should also be positive for the country that receives that investment.

"We must make sure that where China decides to invest, it does so in a way that benefits the country's population, where that investment is made," he said.

On September 7, the United States called for consultations with the business manager in Panama, Roxanne Cabral, for the links established more than a year ago with China, which is the main supplier of the Panamanian Colon Free Zone (ZCL), the of the continent, and the second user of the Interoceanic Canal.

Panama and China have signed close to thirty cooperation agreements in the last year, including one for the feasibility study of a bullet train between the Panamanian capital and the border with Costa Rica, with a cost of about 5,000 million dollars. , and now they negotiate a free trade agreement (FTA).

In addition to Cabral, the ambassadors in the Dominican Republic, Robin Bernstein, and in El Salvador, Jean Manes, who established diplomatic relations with China in May and August, respectively, were called to consultations by the Donald Trump government.

Panama, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic are members of the Central American Integration System (SICA), to which Costa Rica, the first country in the region to establish ties with China, also belongs in 2007

Pompeo arrived today in Panama on a private flight and had a brief meeting in the afternoon at Palacio las Garzas, headquarters of the Presidency, with the country's president, Juan Carlos Varela, and the vice president and chancellor, Isabel De Saint Malo.

In the interview with TVN, the Secretary of State also spoke of the good state of relations with Panama and of the "fantastic teamwork" and of the counternarcotics effort carried out jointly by both countries.

"We work closely on so many issues that have value for the American people and the Panamanian people, I must say that our relations are in an excellent state, I hope that as a result of today it will be even better," he said.

Pompeo said that at the moment there is "nothing in particular" in terms of a possible change in relations between the two countries.

"Nothing in particular, we have a very good relationship now, we hope to continue benefiting from the good faith of the Panamanian people, and we also hope that Panama continues to benefit from the good faith of the American people," he said.

After his meeting with Varela, Pompeo traveled to Mexico, where he will be received on Friday by the outgoing president, Enrique Peña Nieto, and his chancellor, Luis Videgaray, to whom he intends to transfer the American commitment in matters of security and immigration, both with the current administration as with the future president of the country, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

 

https://www.panamatoday.com/international/pompeo-warns-panama-have-eyes-wide-open-about-chinese-investments-8128

[Moderator_02]

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Varela spokesmen silent on Pompeo’s China warnings

Posted on October 19, 2018 in Panama

 

Pompeo and Varela

Post Views: 166

 

Panama’ s Secretary of State Communication sidestepped reporting on discussions on China during US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ’s meeting with  President Juan Carlos Varela on Thursday, although media had already published an interview in which Pompeo warned Panama to be wary of Chinese investment which had caused problems in other countries.

The official report of the meeting whose 40 minutes just about equaled the time it took for the visitor’s 15 vehicle convoy to travel  from his plane to the presidential palace and back said they talked about the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and Nicaragua, but ignored the  issue  of China with whom Panama is rapidly developing closer ties from education to a Free Trade Agreement.

But on the plane taking him to Mexico for meetings with the President-elect Pompeo told accompanying journalists

“We had the opportunity to speak with local media and reiterate to the entire region that when China comes knocking on the door, it is not always for the welfare of its citizens, and that when they come with direct  legitimate investment, legitimate, that is transparent and according to the law, that is competition and it is something that the United States welcomes, but when they come up with proposals that seem too good to be true, it is usual that this is the case” said  an  official transcript published by the State Department.

Asked Pompeo if there was “any specific project in Panama” or Chinese investment in the isthmus, which was being watched with attention by the US government Pompeo said:  “The important thing is not that China is competing around the world, we welcome that,  but when state-owned companies appear in a non-transparent way, not guided by the market, and are not designed for the benefit of Panamanians but for the  state This is the kind of thing that we believe is inappropriate and negative for the Panamanian people or any other country with which China has implemented that kind of predatory economic activity “Pompeo said.

The rest of the conversation on the plane was about Mexico, Saudi Arabia and the march of Honduran migrants to the United States.

The New York Times, which reported on the warnings from Pompeo to Varela. “The warning from Pompeo was one of the statements made by a senior US official, that made clearer the growing anxiety in Washington as a result of economic activities by China at a global level,” said the NYT note.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/varela-spokesmen-silent-on-pompeo-china-warnings

[Moderator_02]

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China “not sowing weeds” in Panama

Posted on October 20, 2018 in Panama

 

Ambassador Wei Qiang,

Post Views: 206

 

Wei Qiang, China ’s ambassador to  Panama, did not lose time in issuing a sharp response to comments by US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, in his 40-minute  on-the-run meeting with President  Juan Carlos Varela on Thursday, October 18.

Pompeo warned  Varela last that the problem with respect to the business between Panama and China, is when state-owned companies appear that are clearly not transparent, are not market-driven, and are not designed to benefit the people of Panama, but rather for the Chinese government. ”

Wei Qiang said that his bilateral ties are built with transparency, equality, and respect, without the slightest interest in power games and with no intention of harming any third party. “We unite and do not sow weeds”.

The embassy feels identified with Panama “in the vocation of creating friendship instead of enmity, to unite and connect instead of dividing and sowing weeds, having a big heart instead of narrow-mindedness”.

In his statement, Qiang affirms that China is not afraid of Panama’s relationship with new or traditional partners, but sees it as something positive for the common good of the international community. The press release states that China’s policy categorically rejects any interference in the sovereign affairs of other countries.

He adds that China fully respects the rule of law of Panama and Chinese companies in Panama have been presenting an impeccable record of transparency, legality and social responsibility. Constructive criticism is always welcome but not unfounded denigration.

President  Xi’s visit
Qiang’s response comes during the visit to Panama of Deputy Minister Qin Gang, who is preparing the arrival of President Xi Jiping, scheduled for December.

Panama entered into diplomatic relations with Mainland China in June 2017. Since then, the Isthmus has seen a ping-pong exchange of declarations between the two powers world powers engaged in a trade and tariff war.

Panama has been an important strategic partner for the USA with whom it has developed a bilateral relationship in various fields over a century. The new relations of the Isthmus with China worry Washington about the speed and penetration level of influence in Panama already translated into over  25 bilateral agreements.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/china-not-sowing-weeds-in-panama

[Moderator_02]

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Varela brags about sovereignty under pressure from Pompeo on China

Mon, 10/29/2018 - 14:22

The Agency for Cooperation for International Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama met as part of the agenda for the revision of the treaties between the two countries, an agreement reached in 2017 in the Government Strategic Plan and the National Cooperation Plan for Panama Coopera 2030, in seeks to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), as indicated by the Head of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Selina Baños.

On the part of Panama, the priorities are to strengthen institutional capacities, citizen security and education, so that the Colón Ciudad Segura project, the construction of the Educational Center of Integral Training Ciudad Esperanza, the railway communication of Ciudad David will be carried out. and Chiriquí, as well as the constant training of public servants in many subjects.

A final project in which a bullet train is proposed from the capital to the border with Costa Rica is part of the list of more than 30 treaties signed between the two countries, something that will be strengthened by the trip of Juan Carlos Varela, president of Panama , to the fair in Shanghai, where he will be working to promote the country to entrepreneurs, exporters and farmers.

The presence of Panama in the International Import Fair of China comes thanks to the invitation of presidents Miguel Díaz Canel and Xi Jinping, from Cuba and China respectively, giving way to a space in which the brand of Panamá Exporta and La Gran Conexión can be strengthened. In a statement issued by the presidency, it was indicated that "Panama will participate in two of the most important trade shows in Latin America and Asia: the International Fair of Havana, Cuba, and the International Import Fair of China."

Faced with this participation and relationship with China, questions about relations with the United States were not long in coming to President Varela, who clearly stated that "We are a neutral, sovereign, dignified country," and stressed that the problems and tension between the Asian country and the United States must be resolved through dialogue, not generating more problems. In response to Pompeo's statements on Panamanian national TV "We want to make sure that when countries make investments (with other countries), including China, they do so in a way that is consistent with international laws that are positive for the Panamanian people." .

But not only at the international level has it generated discomfort, since in addition to the statements issued by Mike Pompeo, also within Panama has generated some distrust, as raised by Guillermo Cochez, a lawyer who interviews Panamatoday.com indicated that " It is a unilateral decision, without any discussion, carried out by President Varela, without any consultation with the affected sectors. Overnight we decided to break relations with Taiwan and take up relations with the Republic of China. I applauded the measure because it shows that Panama is aligned with the most powerful countries in the world, however, the secrecy of the agreements signed with China, the isolation of the president in relation to this problem, the appointment of a second cousin of the President in the Embassy of Panama in China and the decision he had made to give four hectares against the Panama Canal to the embassy of the Republic of China, the first thing that the ships would see upon entering the Pacific was the Chinese flag, thanks to that we knocked it down, all that means that we have a relationship with China that is being very badly managed "

 

https://www.panamatoday.com/panama/varela-brags-about-sovereignty-under-pressure-pompeo-china-8228