The President of the Republic referred this Thursday to the sanction imposed by the Government of the United States on a Panamanian businessman, stating that his administration does not maintain any relationship with that person nor has it had contractual ties with the State. During his weekly conference, the head of state was emphatic in stating that there is «not a single contract» between the sanctioned businessman and the National Government, and he assured that there has been no direct or indirect relationship with his administration. The head of the Executive branch explained that the referral made by US authorities responds to criteria and processes of its own, so Panama observes the case with institutional respect and distance. He indicated that if there are responsibilities, they must be addressed by the person involved before the competent authorities of that country, particularly the Department of the Treasury, without compromising the Panamanian state. The President maintained that his government has no participation in activities related to the sanctioned person and reiterated that he does not hold a role in the national economy that is related to official programs or contracts. Finally, he underscored that the National Government maintains its commitment to transparency and respect for international processes, reiterating that this case is completely foreign to Panamanian public management.
