Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PANAMA168
2008-02-26 17:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Panama
Cable title:
PANAMA: CUBA DEMARCHE DELIVERED
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHZP #0168 0571716 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 261716Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1763 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 0105 RUEHBE/AMEMBASSY BELIZE RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2655 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0349 RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 0091 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0208 RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN 0021 RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA 0750 RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 0259 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 0721 RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 3711 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 0111 RUEHBH/AMEMBASSY NASSAU 0091 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0233 RUEHPO/AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO 0030 RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 0154 RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 0097 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 0947 RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE 1930 RUEHSN/AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR 1465 RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 0412 RUEHTG/AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA 0410 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0091
C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000168
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV EU CU PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: CUBA DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: STATE 18320
Classified By: Ambassador William A. Eaton. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).
(C) "Do not expect us to make any public comment," First VP
and FM Samuel Lewis told Ambassador on February 24 in
response to reftel demarche. Repeating an oft stated desire
to serve as "bridge to Cuba," Lewis asserted that Panama was
pushing Cuba to do "something" themselves before "external
pressure" created an impetus for reform, but Lewis provided
no specifics as to what "something" might constitute. Hoping
for positive developments, Lewis noted that it would be
important to see who would be selected as Vice President and
members of the State Council. Asserting that he perceived
"signals that Raul would implement change," Lewis said that
he thought there would be more movement towards "greater
democracy," "transparency," and "economic liberalization."
Also, Lewis informed Ambassador that Panamanian President
Martin Torrijos would likely travel to Cuba in the
(unspecified) near future for medical treatment for his
handicapped daughter. Comment: Post has no expectations
that Panama will do anything public any time soon to pressure
for democratic change, greater respect for human rights
norms, or any other reform in Cuba.
ARREAGA
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV EU CU PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: CUBA DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: STATE 18320
Classified By: Ambassador William A. Eaton. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).
(C) "Do not expect us to make any public comment," First VP
and FM Samuel Lewis told Ambassador on February 24 in
response to reftel demarche. Repeating an oft stated desire
to serve as "bridge to Cuba," Lewis asserted that Panama was
pushing Cuba to do "something" themselves before "external
pressure" created an impetus for reform, but Lewis provided
no specifics as to what "something" might constitute. Hoping
for positive developments, Lewis noted that it would be
important to see who would be selected as Vice President and
members of the State Council. Asserting that he perceived
"signals that Raul would implement change," Lewis said that
he thought there would be more movement towards "greater
democracy," "transparency," and "economic liberalization."
Also, Lewis informed Ambassador that Panamanian President
Martin Torrijos would likely travel to Cuba in the
(unspecified) near future for medical treatment for his
handicapped daughter. Comment: Post has no expectations
that Panama will do anything public any time soon to pressure
for democratic change, greater respect for human rights
norms, or any other reform in Cuba.
ARREAGA