“We are not going to allow Panama to be made a scapegoat by third parties,” the Minister of the Presidency, Alvaro German, said, referring to the Panama Papers scandal.

At a press conference, he was questioned about rumours of a conspiracy against the country and German did not rule out the idea, “because the media attention is focused on us”.

The executive also rejects this situation and the inclusion of the country in blacklists of tax havens, something that France apparently did, said Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Miguel Hincapie.

The minister also announced that the ambassador of France will be called tomorrow to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to confirm the veracity of this measure. If the measure was indeed taken, then Panama will evaluate the possible answers.

Regarding the statements by the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Angel Gurria, the minister considered them as irresponsible, especially since Panama has taken significant steps to adapt its financial system to market demands.

Gurria said this yesterday that the country is a major global obstacle in achieving transparency in international finance and ending tax havens.

“Three quarters of government revenues come from taxes paid by Panamanians, so we reject that they refer to Panama as a tax haven,” the minister said to reporters.

- Bernama-NNN-Prensa Latina