French and Panama Minsters to discuss Noriega in May

Panama’s Vice President and Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Varela,  will meet with France’s  Foreign Minister Alain Juppe during a trip to Europe in May,

A French Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed that  a discussion about  Panama’s former military dictator will likely  be on the agenda.

Christine Fages, said the planned meeting " could be the opportunity to address all issues of common interest, including the request for extradition from Manuel Noriega by Panamanian authorities. " 
Noriega was jailed in France for 7 years after being convicted of money launderding. He was  extradited in April 2010 from the United States, where he had been imprisoned for 20 years. 
France warned on Monday that the chances of extraditing Noriega to Panama, athough "are limited before the end of his sentence in 2013 because we first need to obtain approval from United States, which has not been received."
Panamasubmitted its first request for extradition in June 2010, for one of the four convictions he has here. Opinions are divided in Panama, on the desire to bring him home, with some wanting him to face justice for local murders, others with previous close connections, fearing embarrassing  revelations.