Cablegate: Gop Suspends Discussions with Security Firm Global Cst

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RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
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E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/15
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC SNAR PINR PM CO
SUBJECT: GOP Suspends Discussions with Security Firm Global CST

REF: PANAMA 829; PANAMA 879; BOGOTA 3483
STEPHENSON-BROWNFIELD E-MAILS

CLASSIFIED BY: GILMOUR, David, DCM, State, Embassy Panama; REASON:
1.4(B), (D)

1. (S//NF) Senior GOP leaders have told the Embassy that they have
suspended discussions with the Israeli security firm Global CST.
Minister of the Presidency Jimmy Papadimitriu told the Ambassador
on December 13 that "the issue is closed" and that the GOP would
not entertain further consideration of a consulting contract for
Global CST.

2. (S//NF) In a November 25 meeting with President Martinelli, Vice
President Varela and Papadimitriu, Ambassador told of the problems
that Global CST had created in Colombia and Peru, and advised them
to speak further with Colombian national police director General
Oscar Naranjo for details (refs A, B). She emphasized that the
presence of Israeli contractors in Panamanian ministries would by
necessity restrict USG security cooperation and information
sharing. President Martinelli was surprised at the revelations,
but said, "We don't want to change friends" and he promised to
speak with President Uribe about Global CST. In the weeks
following, we began to hear reports that the GOP would drop Global
CST, and that was finally confirmed by Papadimitriu on December 13.

3. (S//NF) Post appreciates Embassy Bogota's frank assessment of
Global CST's performance and its relationships with key GOC
officials (refs C, D). The information that Bogota provided helped
us formulate a demarche that delivered our desired result.
STEPHENSON

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