Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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September 15, 2007

US Officials Say Panama Trade Deal May be in Jeopardy
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1983E5D:A6F02AD83191E16008E142133F0F08449574F7DCC14957C0 State Department
disappointed in election of Pedro Miguel Gonzalez, wanted as murder
suspect in US, as National Assembly president U.S. officials are
raising pressure on Panama after its National Assembly named as
president a man who was indicted in the United States on murder
charges. In Miami, VOA's Brian Wagner reports that officials say the
issue may jeopardize approval of a free trade deal between the two
nations.







Pedro Miguel Gonzalez (file photo)The U.S. State Department spoke out
earlier this month when Panamanian lawmakers selected Pedro Miguel
Gonzalez to lead the country's National Assembly. A spokesman said the
government was disappointed at his election, and noted there is an
outstanding arrest warrant in the United States for Gonzalez because
of his alleged role in the 1992 killing of a U.S. solder in Panama.

Thursday, U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez also raised the
issue while leading a Congressional delegation to Panama City for
talks with President Martin Torrijos about a pending free trade deal.
Gutierrez said the Gonzalez election is a new problem that needs to be
addressed, adding it was up to Panama's government to decide how to
resolve it.

Some U.S. lawmakers said Gonzalez's role as top lawmaker could lead
them to delay approval of the free trade deal or block it altogether.

Gonzalez has denied any role in the shooting of Army Sergeant Zak
Hernandez Laporte and the alleged attempted murder of another U.S.
soldier in Panama. The attack took place during a visit by former
president George H.W. Bush to the Central American nation. A
Panamanian court acquitted Gonzalez of similar charges 10 years ago.

Former State Department official Peter DeShazo, who was in Panama at
the time of the killing, said the outstanding arrest warrant against
Gonzalez has remained on the bilateral agenda for years.

"This is an issue that is important to the United States because Zak
Hernandez was a member of the U.S. armed forces. And it's been a
long-standing issue that has gone unresolved," he said.

DeShazo said there was strong support in Congress for the trade deal
with Panama before Gonzalez was named to the National Assembly post.

U.S. lawmakers are considering the Panama trade deal, as well as
similar agreements with Colombia and Peru. U.S. officials say the
deals will help American exporters by cutting duties on their products
to the three nations. They say 90 percent of imports from Colombia,
Panama and Peru already enter the United States duty-free.


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