Republic of Panama
Ambassador Ricardo Alberto Arias
Panama is an elected member of the UN Security Council whose term expires on December 31, 2008. Ambassador Ricardo Alberto Arias is Panama’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations. Ambassador Arias has served as Panama’s permanent representative to the United Nations since September 17, 2004. The following is excerpted from Ambassador Arias’s statement during the UN Security Council debate on July 11, 2008. We are all aware of the deplorable economic situation inwhich the people of Zimbabwefind themselves and the serious and widespread violations of their human rightsbeing committed, primarily by their government. That issue did not give rise toa…