Bill 549.

Summary.

The bill approves in full the agreement signed in Geneva on December 9, 2025, and in Panama on December 22, 2025, between the Government of the Republic of Panama (Gobierno de la República de Panamá) and the International Telecommunication Union (Unión Internacional de Telecomunicaciones). The agreement establishes an ITU Area Office (Oficina de Área de la UIT) in the Republic of Panama to provide information and communication technology assistance to the Member States it serves. It records the decision of the ITU Council (Consejo de la UIT) to move the office from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, to Panama City. It defines the office, its head, its officials and their dependants, and refers shared terms to the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. The ITU Secretary-General (Secretaria General de la UIT) would control staff recruitment, appointments and assignments and could assign other activities within the organization’s mandate.

The Government would provide the premises, facilities and equipment specified in the annexes free of charge. The first annex requires workspaces, a meeting room, utilities, cleaning, and communications and office resources, including a primary symmetric fiber-optic Internet service of at least 300 Mbps with effective redundancy. The second sets requirements for access control, fire protection, electrical and technology continuity, first aid, accessibility, training, safety documentation and crisis management. It provides for 24/7 surveillance and monitoring with 30 days of data retention, a relocation plan whose costs the Government would bear, and the appointment of a Senior Security Liaison Officer.

The agreement applies specified provisions of the Convention to the ITU Area Office and its officials. It also provides facilities concerning indirect taxes, bank accounts, social security and customs; regulates official access to the premises; and requires measures to protect public order. The Government would facilitate the entry, departure, residence and movement of officials, family members and officially invited persons. It would recognize the United Nations laissez-passer and process visas or entry permits without delay or charge. The ITU would return identity documents when service ends or an official is reassigned.

Privileges would be granted in the ITU’s interest, and the organization could expressly waive them. The agreement limits the benefits of Panamanian officials and foreign permanent residents, requires cooperation to prevent abuse, and excludes privileges for profit-making activities outside official duties. Local staff recruited by the ITU would have immunity only for statements and acts performed in the course of their duties. It governs use of the organization’s flag and identifying signs, notifications concerning officials, and identity documents issued through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores).

The parties would first seek to settle disputes through negotiation. Disputes remaining unresolved for six (6) months after notification would proceed to arbitration. The tribunal would sit in Geneva, conduct proceedings in English and issue final decisions; in specified circumstances, the President of the International Court of Justice (Corte Internacional de Justicia) would complete its composition. The agreement would enter into force when the Government notified the ITU that its internal legal requirements had been fulfilled. It would permit written amendments and supplementary agreements and establish a termination procedure. Art. 2 of the bill provides that the approving law would take effect upon promulgation. The subject matter concerns the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, competent Panamanian authorities, the ITU and the United Nations (Naciones Unidas), and could affect telecommunications, information technology, property services, security services and international personnel.