Statement by Panama’s vice president before meeting with Kerry

UPDATE: Statement to the media made by Panama’s Vice President and Foreign Minister Isabel de Saint Malo on Tuesday (Sept. 2) before her meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, as translated by the State Department.

It is very nice to be here in this first official visit to the United States. Relations between Panama and the United States have been very strong for many, many years. We’ve worked together through some very difficult times for Panama, and the United States has always been supportive, and we’re very grateful.

We’re here, as the Secretary has said, to discuss some issues of mutual interest. President [Juan Carlos] Varela’s foreign policy priorities are based, one, in Panama as a country that promotes dialogue, Panama as a country that promotes consensus building, Panama as a country that helps build bridges among countries. It is a role that we have played before in Panama’s history and that we hope to play again. And also we wish to push our foreign policy in terms of the global development agenda, which is very closely tied with President Varela’s domestic priorities for Panama also.

So, we are very happy to be here. These two foreign policy priorities, of course, will be important in the hosting of the Seventh Summit of the Americas to be held in Panama next year in April, and we hope to have a successful summit. We expect President Obama to be present and the rest of the leaders of the region, and we do hope to be able, during the summit, to discuss issues of importance and of relevance to the region in terms of development, in terms of migration, in terms of other issues, such as energy, and of course, in terms of the priorities of the summit, such as democracy and human rights.

It is very nice to be here, and we thank you for hosting us.