Talks on Panamas migrant challenge

WHILE EUROPE struggles to cope with its massive immigration problems, heightened by the conflicts in the Middle East, Panama is seeking ways to deal with its  migrant challenges.

Thousands of  migrants from as far away as Africa and as close as Haiti and Cuba pass through the country, mostly en route to the U.S.

President Juan Carlos Varela said that the issue has already been explored with embassies from other countries.

Varela said also that he will promote a plan to return some 4,000 Haitians to their country due to restrictions the U.S. has passed to keep them from entering.

According to Varela, that would be a second phase of the operation to control the flow of migrants while the first phase is focused on humanitarian aid.

Varela will discuss the issue Friday, October 6 with Costa Rican President Luis Solis, and with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on October  25.