The Republic of Panama and the Commonwealth of Dominica recently officially signed at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, DC, an agreement to establish diplomatic relations. With OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza in attendance as witness of honor, the Permanent Representatives of Dominica and Panama to the OAS, Hubert J. Charles and Guillermo A. Cochez respectively signed the documents setting up ambassadorial level relations between the two countries.
After signing, Panamanian Ambassador Cochez commented on why the two countries had not signed such an agreement before: “For a strange and not clear reason, our countries had not until now established diplomatic relations. I say strange because Panama and Dominica are sister nations. From the very start of Panama’s foundation, we shared with all the Caribbean nations, and in this case Dominica, unique
bonds that have shaped our relations, our culture, and so many aspects of our people.”
For his part, Dominican Ambassador Charles said the agreement not only strengthens his country’s relations with Panama, but that it “establishes the viability of partnerships as a viable tool in the national arsenal”. He noted that, 34 years after joining the OAS, Dominica plans to have established diplomatic relations with all Member States by the end of 2012. Ambassador Charles praised the work of the Panamanian Ambassador in bringing about the agreement, saying “I give him the assurance that this is not the end, but the end of the beginning; and we will do our part to ensure that it results in strengthened social, cultural and economic ties between our two countries”.
