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PANAMA SIGNS AGREEMENT ON OAS ELECTORAL OBSERVERS

  March 25, 2004

Panama’s Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Juan Manuel Castulovich, today signed an agreement with the (OAS) Secretary General César Gaviria covering privileges and immunities for OAS officials who will observe the country’s May 2 general elections.

In the upcoming elections, Panamanians will vote for a president, vice president, legislators and mayors, among other political officials.

The agreement guarantees the OAS electoral observation mission total freedom to operate in Panama and to visit all the places they need to visit, the Ambassador explained. He said the government’s electoral and political authorities will fully cooperate with the election observers.

Underscoring the “value” of the agreement signed today, Castulovich noted the solid tradition and respect OAS electoral observer missions have enjoyed. He said the OAS officials will observe the entire electoral process and certify to Panamanians as well as to the rest of the hemisphere and the entire world, that “in Panama, democracy is at work; we respect the will of the people; this electoral process is transparent; and everyone in this process—voters and candidates alike—will respect the rules of democracy.”

Reference: E-044/04