Panama offers to facilitate talks between United States, Cuba
by Macarena Hermosilla · UPIJune 23 (UPI) -- Panama has formally offered its territory as a neutral venue to facilitate talks between Cuba and the United States to try to revive diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha announced the proposal during the opening session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States in Panama City, which began Monday.
According to Martínez-Acha, the Cuban government has expressed willingness to discuss all issues as long as the talks take place on equal terms. The United States has not provided a definitive response, but considers the proposal a possibility.
Martínez-Achal emphasized the need for a less rigid and more results-oriented diplomatic approach. He said diplomacy should serve to "promote understanding and advance gradual solutions" that support regional stability and peaceful co-existence.
According to local media reports, Panama also is engaged in discussions with Havana regarding seven Panamanian citizens detained in Cuba on accusations of anti-government propaganda and is seeking to ensure their rights and due process.
The case dates to Feb. 28, when a group of Panamanian citizens was arrested on the island. Cuban authorities linked them to political graffiti. According to publicly available information, they face possible prison sentences of up to eight years on charges of propaganda against the constitutional order.
Martínez-Acha also addressed the situation in Venezuela. He reiterated that Panama recognizes Edmundo González as the country's president-elect, while adding that the decisions of the Venezuelan people must be respected.
Delcy Rodriguez is the acting president of Venezuela, having assume the position on Jan. 5 after the U.S. apprehension of President Nicolas Maduro on charges of narcoterrorism, drug trafficking and conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the United States.
Maduro is being held i New York, and is due in federal court again July 22.
Martínez-Acha said several foreign ministers have discussed the importance of opening an inclusive dialogue involving all political actors to pave the way for free and fair elections, with guarantees and reforms to the electoral system.
"For Venezuela to be reintegrated into the Latin American community, it must have a government backed by the ballot box," he said.
During the assembly's opening ceremony, OAS Secretary-General Albert Ramdin called for expanding democratic practices in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. He offered support to Bolivia in addressing its internal crisis and warned of the need to closely monitor electoral processes in Colombia and Peru.
Ramdin said the OAS must continue working to strengthen democracy in countries where it considers democratic institutions insufficient or absent, according to the Panamanian newspaper La Prensa.