[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 18, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S6407]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO MINISTER GABRIEL LEWIS

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, the United States and the Republic of 
Panama enjoy a long and strong relationship between our two nations, 
one that stretches back to the 1904 founding of Panama. Since that 
time, these two great American nations have worked together to build 
partnerships for peace and prosperity that have not only greatly 
benefited our respective countries, but all the states of the American 
continents. During these 92 years, Panamanian and American officials 
and citizens have built countless friendships, and I rise today to 
share with my colleagues the unfortunate news that a man most of us 
know and like very much, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Panama 
Gabriel Lewis, is resigning his position due to illness.
  Minister Lewis' contributions to his nation are well known and well 
respected. He has served Panama faithfully and selflessly during his 
career, and through his service, he has worked to make his nation a 
better and stronger place for its citizens. Perhaps Minister Lewis' 
greatest legacy and contribution to his countrymen, though, is the 
leading role he took in opposing the dictatorial and criminal regime of 
the former Panamanian strongman, Manuel Noriega.
  Bringing Noriega to justice and holding him accountable for his 
illegal and immoral behavior took thousands of individuals to commit 
acts of great courage. It took courage for Panamanian citizens to take 
to the streets and protest the regime of Noriega and to face his riot 
police and organized thugs dubiously titled ``Dignity Battalions''; 
and, it took courage for the young soldiers of the 82d Airborne and the 
7th Infantry Divisions to engage in combat with the well trained and 
equipped Panamanian Defense Force. It took great courage for Minister 
Lewis to openly defy and condemn the government of his nation, and to 
take Noriega and his puppet advisers to task for attempting to quash 
democracy and ignore the basic civil rights of their citizens. Minister 
Lewis' leadership in the international community during that time of 
crisis was just as critical to the successful outcome of Operation Just 
Cause, and the arrest and conviction of Noriega as were the 
contributions made by the people of Panama or the military personnel of 
the United States.
  Mr. President, though I am sure that those who know Minister Lewis 
are sorry to see him leave his post as Foreign Minister of the Republic 
of Panama, I am pleased to note that our friend is not leaving public 
service. Recognizing an individual of unusual characteristics and 
qualities, the President of Panama has appointed Gabriel Lewis to be 
his senior counsel, with cabinet rank. I am confident that Minister 
Lewis will continue to make many valuable contributions to the people 
and nation of Panama through this new position, and that he will also 
continue to work to maintain and further strengthen the friendship 
between our nations, as well as to further the march of democracy 
throughout Latin America. I wish him success in his work as senior 
counsel, and for a speedy and complete recovery to his full health.

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