Foreign minister Mouynes: ‘Panama is prepared to leave the grey lists’

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Mouynes stated that the relationship between Panama and the United States is better with the current administration of President Joe Biden when compared to that of ex-president Donald Trump.

Panama is diplomatically and politically prepared in its strategy to leave the grey lists, stated Panamanian Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes.

In an interview with La Estrella de Panamá, the Minister said that in this strategy, the Foreign Ministry provides diplomatic support and articulation, establishing which are the country’s allies. “Not everyone at the table will be our ally, and it is up to us to return to those alliances, to ensure and learn who we are going to have there so that we can provide support. The Ministry of Economy and Finance is leading the technical negotiations. When they are seated, and the evaluations are made, the Foreign Ministry will be there from the diplomatic standpoint to make sure that this articulation bears fruit,” she said.

Panama is on a list of countries considered by European Union nations as non-cooperative jurisdictions in tax matters, or commonly known as tax havens. According to Mouynes, the main sources of tax evasion are not on the so-called grey lists, and she assured that Panama had fulfilled 96.7% of the technical criteria to be removed from such lists. “I feel comfortable to say that we are politically ready to leave,” she stated.

Panama mission

The head of Panamanian diplomacy also referred to the “Misión Panamá” (Panama Mission) plan implemented by the Foreign Ministry to rescue and promote Panama’s image worldwide. “It is an ambitious plan that involves our foreign policy in recovering our image with public relations to strategically position ourselves in niches such as, for example, the fight against climate change, biodiversity; issues where Panama has much to contribute, such as equality and inclusion,” she emphasized. She further mentioned other contributions that Panama could make in digitalization, the Panama Solidarity Plan, and the country’s vaccine platform.

“We have many interesting areas to contribute to the international community, and that would somewhat change the negative dynamics we are experiencing,” she noted. She explained that the dynamics implemented consist of highly disciplined project management. Each ambassador and consuls have specific goals to meet and a report to deliver, advise on what they are doing, with whom they are meeting, and how they are using. Mouynes gave an example of grants, where specific goals have been set for ambassadors and consuls to increase the offer.

“In short, we are trying to do something much more disciplined, where we can truly account for what is being achieved,” she added. The project is expected to assess the months that have elapsed in the plan to determine how the international opinion about Panama has been changing and what is being achieved.

Panama-United States

Regarding the relationship between Panama and the United States, she said that it is much better with the current administration of President Joe Biden than before under ex-president Donald Trump.

She further stated that the appointment of a new ambassador of that country in Panama is still pending.

Vaccine portfolio

Regarding the plan for the acquisition of anti-covid vaccines, and when asked about the potential delivery of other vaccines such as Russia’s Sputnik V, Minister Mouynes said that Panama’s portfolio was reinforced with 9.2 million Pfizer and AstraZeneca doses.

She emphasized that Panama’s target population for vaccination is 3.2 million people, and 9.2 million doses have already been secured.

“So, rather than planning or negotiating, we have moved on to implementation. Now, the goal for July is to receive almost 5 times the amount of vaccines we received in the past. It is an important goal for Panama in terms of mass vaccination, how to reach everyone in the same orderly and disciplined manner as all the nurses in the country have been doing,” she noted.