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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04PANAMA1000 |
ANOTHER PANAMANIAN MADAM IN JAIL; IMMIGRATION [...] (C) According to GOP police reports, an alleged child prostitution ringleader, Elizabeth Archibold Diaz, surrendered herself to the Policia Tecnica Judicial (PTJ) on April 14, 2004. She was accompanied by her attorney and, to date, remains in custody. Archibold is alleged to be the masterm [...] |
2004-04-30 12:34:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL SMIG CO PM KTIP LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA1014 |
PANAMA RESULTS: MARTIN TORRIJOS IS PRESIDENT [...] No summary [...] |
2004-05-03 02:10:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA1015 |
PANAMA: WHO IS PRESIDENT-ELECT MARTIN TORRIJOS AND [...] (SBU) At 7:35 p.m. local time (8:35 p.m. Washington time), Panama's Electoral Tribunal declared Martin Erasto Torrijos Espino the winner of Panama's May 2, 2004 General Elections. It appeared that voter participation would exceed 75%. Torrijos' five-year term as President will commence Septembe [...] |
2004-05-03 02:48:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA1016 |
PANAMA: BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON VICE [...] (SBU) Martin Torrijos chose a seasoned businessman with strong political connections as his First Vice President and a soft-spoken, but seasoned politician as his Second Vice President. First Vice President-elect Samuel Lewis Navarro is the son of former Noriega foreign minister (later anti- [...] |
2004-05-03 03:04:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA1046 |
EMBOFFS DISCUSS COUNTER-TERRORISM COOPERATION, [...] (C) On April 22, PolOffs met with Russian Embassy Counselor (DCM) Oleg Ostrovskiy and First Secretary Evgeny Lebedev for our first tete-a-tete. Both GOR diplomats are Americas specialists and have already served in Panama for a year or more. Noting the good relationship between our countries [...] |
2004-05-03 22:36:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD EWWT PINR PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA1047 |
PANAMA MAY 2 ELECTION RESULTS: POWERFUL PRD AND [...] (C) President-elect Martin Torrijos and his Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) won a commanding popular mandate in Panama's May 2, 2004 elections, sweeping all provinces but one. The results were a stinging rebuke of President Mireya Moscoso, whose five-year term will end on September 1, 20 [...] |
2004-05-03 22:47:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PINR PM POL CHIEF POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA111 |
ENDARA TO RUN AS PANAMA'S "HONEST GOVERNMENT" [...] (C) Former president Guillermo Endara has mapped a come-from-behind election strategy, positioned himself as the campaign's most serious anti-corruption reformer, derides front-runner Martin Torrijos's lack of experience and ability, and plans tough talks with U.S. negotiators on agriculture [...] |
2004-01-20 15:53:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EAGR ETRD PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA1116 |
PANAMA: IMPLICATIONS OF THE TORRIJOS VICTORY FOR [...] (C) Martin Torrijos, a 40-year-old politician with little national policy experience, scored a crushing electoral victory on May 2, while his Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) is positioned to control Panama's unicameral legislature. After it takes office on September 1, the new governmen [...] |
2004-05-07 20:27:00 | Embassy Panama | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV ETRD EFIN EWWT PM CM CO TW POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA1146 |
PANAMA: BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON FIRST LADY [...] (SBU) Panamanians widely hold Vivian Fernandez de Torrijos, wife of President-elect Martin Torrijos, in high regard. She is well known for her active role in charitable and social work, as well as being a model mother and wife. Vivian Torrijos is an accomplished publicist and has worked for [...] |
2004-05-11 19:44:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA1224 |
PANAMA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: NEW BALLGAME ON [...] (SBU) Panamanians (current legislators included) are so focused on what will happen after September 1 that they appear to have forgotten entirely that the current Assembly session will continue until the end of May. The Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Panama's largest and best organize [...] |
2004-05-17 20:49:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PINR PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA145 |
PANAMA VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SAMUEL LEWIS [...] (C) In recent meeting with Pol Counselor, first vice presidential candidate Samuel Lewis Navarro argued that the Martin Torrijos ticket of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) offers Panama its best chance to improve social and economic conditions in Panama and eliminate the threat to dem [...] |
2004-01-23 15:55:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL EINV PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA148 |
PANAMA NGO CONCERNED ABOUT CHINESE DEBT BONDAGE [...] (SBU) In a January 8 meeting to discuss trafficking in persons (TIP) and related issues with PolOff and political assistant, acting director of Casa Esperanza, Ramon Aleman Arias said Chinese migrant debt bondage and unregulated child labor are problems in Panama. (NOTE: Casa Esperanza is a l [...] |
2004-01-23 18:10:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM ELAB PREL PM KTIP LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL POL SPECIALIST |
| 04PANAMA153 |
BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (PANAMA): NEW VICE MINISTER [...] Romel Adames (42) was appointed Vice Minister for Trade at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI) by President Moscoso on January 1, 2004. Adames, Harvard-educated and until recently Panama's Ambassador to the WTO, will be the lead negotiator for the GOP during the upcoming FTA negotia [...] |
2004-01-23 21:16:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD PINR PM ECON |
| 04PANAMA1700 |
WHERE IS PANAMA'S NEW GOVERNMENT HEADING? [...] (C) Martin Torrijos and his inner circle, due to take power on September 1, are pushing an energetic and ambitious transition agenda featuring clear-cut goals in foreign policy (priority to the U.S. and Colombia), security (cooperation with U.S. objectives, new attention to the Caribbean coast [...] |
2004-07-01 12:22:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON ETRD PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA1704 |
PANAMA'S FM ARIAS NONCOMMITTAL ON REQUEST TO [...] (C) DCM, accompanied by Polcouns, delivered reftel talking points to Panamanian Foreign Minister Harmodio Arias Cerjack on June 30, 2004. With two months left for this government, Arias was (not surprisingly) noncommittal on whether the GOP would be willing to accept protected Cuban and Hait [...] |
2004-07-01 19:43:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SMIG PM CU HA POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA1740 |
PANAMA BALKS AT ACCEPTING PROTECTED CUBAN AND [...] No summary [...] |
2004-07-08 16:23:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL SMIG PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA1764 |
PANAMA: PRESIDENT-ELECT TORRIJOS PUSHES [...] (SBU) In a surprise move, President Moscoso ordered "extraordinary sessions" of the Legislative Assembly to discuss constitutional reform. The move drew cheers from some civil society groups and criticism from those like former president and second-place 2004 candidate Guillermo Endara who f [...] |
2004-07-09 21:01:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 04PANAMA1814 |
PANAMA'S PLANS FOR SUMMIT FOLLOW-UP [...] No summary [...] |
2004-07-14 21:37:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ECON KSUM PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA1849 |
FEDERICO ANTONIO HUMBERT ARIAS TO BE NEXT [...] (C) President-elect Martin Torrijos has selected Federico "Freddy" Antonio Humbert Arias to be Panama's Ambasador to the United States as of September 1, 2004, but has not yet announced the appointment. Foreign Minister-designate Samuel Lewis Navarro told DCM that he already approached Foreign [...] |
2004-07-20 14:19:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PINR PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA1883 |
PANAMA'S PENDING SOCIAL SECURITY CRISIS: A [...] Summary. Reforming Panama's actuarially bankrupt social security fund (CSS), which provides pensions, medical services, and workers' compensation to over 60 percent of Panama's population, will be one of the biggest and earliest challenges to face the incoming Torrijos administration. Plagued [...] |
2004-07-23 14:42:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN ELAB PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA1949 |
PANAMA: SCENE SETTER FOR GEN. HILL'S AUG. 12 VISIT [...] (SBU) I warmly welcome your August 12 visit to Panama. You will have the opportunity to reiterate USG commitment to expanding training programs shared between our two countries, and to press for continuing focus on civilian controlled security forces, transparency and anti-corruption within P [...] |
2004-08-02 14:15:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OVIP PREL MASS PGOV PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA1953 |
NO DECISION IMMINENT ON CHINA/TAIWAN DIPLOMATIC [...] IN A BREAKFAST MEETING ON JULY 29, PANAMA'S VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT (AND PRESUMPTIVE FOREIGN MINISTER) SAMUEL LEWIS NAVARRO TOLD AMBASSADOR THAT THE INCOMING TORRIJOS GOVERNMENT IS FAR FROM MAKING A DECISION ON THE POSSIBILITY OF DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION OF CHINA. REFERRING TO LEWIS' JUNE 30 INQUIR [...] |
2004-08-02 18:58:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL TW CH PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA1963 |
Panama's legislature approves constitutional [...] (SBU) Although many thought them dead a month ago, in only 21 calendar days Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a package of 67 constitutional reforms that most Panamanians view favorably. They began as legislator Jerry Wilson's 90-page proposal on behalf of the opposition Democratic Revo [...] |
2004-08-03 21:15:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 04PANAMA1992 |
PANAMA: SCENESETTER FOR USG DELEGATION TO THE [...] (SBU) US Embassy Panama welcomes the USG delegation to the National Security Planning Workshop, Aug. 11-13, which is designed to assist the incoming PRD government headed by President-elect Torrijos who assumes office September 1. You will have the opportunity to reiterate USG commitment to [...] |
2004-08-06 12:18:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OVIP PREL MASS PGOV PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA200 |
PANAMA'S NEW SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE PEREIRA [...] (C) Elected by his colleagues for a two-year term as President (Chief Justice) of Panama's nine-member Supreme Court on October 23, 2003, Cesar Antonio Pereira Burgos (DOB: 29 SEP 1929) has not yet shown strong interest in continuing the drive to reform Panama's judiciary that his predecessor, [...] |
2004-01-30 19:47:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KJUS PINR PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA204 |
PANAMA PRESIDENT MOSCOSO DISCUSSES BILATERAL [...] (C) On January 21 Special Envoy for Hemispheric Initiatives Otto Reich, accompanied by Ambassador Watt, met with Panama President Mireya Moscoso. Flanked by Foreign Minister Harmodio Arias and Commerce and Industries Minister Joaquin Jacome, Moscoso pushed an April 2004 start date for the bi [...] |
2004-01-30 21:26:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD ECON PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA205 |
PANAMA'S FOUR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES MEET WHITE [...] (SBU) On January 22, Special Envoy Otto Reich and Ambassador Watt met with Panama's four presidential candidates -- Ricardo Martinelli, front-runner Martin Torrijos, Jose Miguel Aleman, and Guillermo Endara. The candidates explained their strategies, goals, and priorities in a series of 10-m [...] |
2004-01-30 21:36:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV ETRD PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA2087 |
NATIONAL SECURITY PLANNING WORKSHOP LAUNCHES U.S.- [...] (SBU) Summary. Senior members of Panama's newly elected leadership met with counterparts from the Embassy and other USG interlocutors in an August 11 - 13 workshop to discuss the incoming PRD administration's national security strategy. With the assistance of facilitators from the Center for [...] |
2004-08-17 18:53:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINS SNAR PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA2105 |
SCENESETTER: THE SECRETARY'S VISIT TO PANAMA'S [...] (SBU) On behalf of Embassy Panama, I want to express our warmest welcome on your upcoming September 1, 2004 visit to Panama's Presidential Inauguration. Following your November 3, 2003 visit to Panama's Centennial celebrations (reftel), your presence here as the government of Martin Torrijos [...] |
2004-08-18 22:37:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD OVIP PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA213 |
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR NIKOLAY VLADIMIR DEPARTS [...] (SBU) This biographical report details Ambassador and Emboffs' impressions of Nikolay Vladimir during his tenure as Russian Ambassador to Panama as well as the highlights of his Curriculum Vitae. Ambassador Vladimir departed Panama in December 2003, informing Ambassador Watt that he had been [...] |
2004-02-02 22:22:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PREL PM RS POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA2137 |
PANAMA'S RELIANCE ON VENEZUALAN OIL [...] (U) Per instructions, paras 2 and 3 contain answers to reftel. 2. (U) While Panama imports over half of its oil from Venezuela, it does not do so under the terms of either the San Jose or Caracas Accords. Panama is a signatory to both Accords; however, it did not/not renew the Caracas Accords af [...] |
2004-08-20 19:18:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG XK PM CARIB ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA2153 |
PANAMA CHILD LABOR UPDATE FOR TRADE DEVELOPMENT [...] Has the GOP developed a list of occupations considered to be the worst forms of child labor? -------------------------------------------- - In 2002, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) fully funded a $1 million program with the International Labor Organization/International Programme on [...] |
2004-08-24 11:47:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ELAB ETRD PHUM SOCI PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA2176 |
PANAMA PARDONS ANTIâ€CASTRO CUBANS [...] (SBU) Late on August 25, outgoing President Mireya Moscoso signed an executive decree pardoning four anti"Castro Cuban prisoners "" Luis Posada Carriles and AmCits Gasper Jimenez, Guillermo Novo, and Pedro Remon (see Reftels) and 163 others, as one of her final acts as president. The GOP imme [...] |
2004-08-26 22:42:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PM CU HO LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA2231 |
EMBASSY EFFORTS TO PROMOTE SECURITY AND [...] (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. 2. (SBU) Summary. While Panama's remote and economically-underdeveloped Darien Region remains vulnerable to incursions by paramilitary groups and drug traffickers from Colombia, the region's security under Panam [...] |
2004-09-02 20:38:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON MASS MOPS SNAR EAID EAGR PREF PREL PINS PTER PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA2274 |
PANAMA: TAIWANâ€PRC RECOGNITION ISSUE SIMMERS AS [...] (C) With a new, more PRC"friendly Panama government in office on September 1, the question of whether newly inaugurated President Martin Torrijos might drop Panama's long"standing diplomatic recognition of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in favor of the People's Republic of China (PRC) continues [...] |
2004-09-08 19:49:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR PGOV PM CM TW POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA23 |
PANAMA ON BOARD FOR A PRODUCTIVE SPECIAL SUMMIT OF [...] (C) Ambassador Watt delivered reftel B demarche to Panama's Foreign Minister Harmodio Arias Madrid and Vice Foreign Minister and Summit of the Americas Coordinator Nivia Rossana Castrellon on December 30. Ambassador Watt stressed with FM Arias the four key areas in Reftel A talking points. On [...] |
2004-01-06 21:39:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KSUM PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA2362 |
PANAMA FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS AMBASSADOR WATT [...] (C) In a September 7 meeting with Foreign Minister Samuel Lewis Navarro, Ambassador Watt discussed the Secretary's recent visit to Panama and President Torrijos' travel plans to the UN General Assembly in New York. The Ambassador also discussed ways Panama could contribute to the corruption [...] |
2004-09-16 22:03:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA2363 |
PANAMA: ARNULFISTAS LOSE LEGISLATIVE SEAT TO PRD. [...] (SBU) Geovany Castillo of President Torrijos' Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) defeated Arnulfista Party (PA) legislative incumbent Haydee Milanes de Lay by an 11% margin in 9/12 partial elections in Panama's easternmost province of Darien. Castillo will represent the La Palma region (el [...] |
2004-09-16 22:12:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PM POL FOREIGN |
| 04PANAMA2452 |
PANAMA PLANS ASSERTIVE, COHERENT FOREIGN POLICY [...] (C) The Torrijos administration plans to run a much more ambitious foreign policy than its predecessor, aiming to sell the Panama "brand" to the world. First Vice President and Foreign Minister Samuel LEWIS Navarro has repeatedly indicated to the Ambassador and EmbOffs that the Torrijos team [...] |
2004-09-29 21:51:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA2524 |
UNDERSTANDING PANAMA'S COLON FREE ZONE [...] (C) Summary: An important pillar of Panama's service-based economy, the Colon Free Zone (CFZ) is the largest duty free zone in the hemisphere and the second largest in the world. Offering much more than just duty-free wholesale shopping, however, the CFZ draws upon the strengths of Panama's wo [...] |
2004-10-12 18:14:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD EFIN PTER SNAR PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA2530 |
PANAMA'S NEW GOVERNMENT IN PRODUCTIVE TALKS WITH [...] (C) WHA Deputy Assistant Secretary Dan Fisk's October 5-7 meetings with President Torrijos and key cabinet officials brought friendly and productive exchanges on security and law enforcement cooperation; foreign policy; economic and trade policy; and good governance/anti-corruption. DAS Fisk [...] |
2004-10-13 18:09:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD ENRG SNAR PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA2533 |
PANAMA'S SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE CESAR [...] (C) Controversy continues to swirl around the issue of whether Panama's Supreme Court Chief Justice Cesar PEREIRA Burgos must step down after turning 75 on September 23, 2004. Comptroller General Alvin Weeden and numerous Pereira opponents have insisted that Pereira should step down from the [...] |
2004-10-13 22:40:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KJUS PINR PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA2553 |
PANAMA'S NEW ADMINISTRATION SCORES RECORD COCAINE [...] (C) Panamanian Public Forces and Embassy Officers contributed to record detainee transfers and cocaine captures in recent weeks, as part of on-going counter-drug Operation Panama Express task force operations. On September 21, Panama National Maritime Service (SMN) marines, Panamanian Publi [...] |
2004-10-15 20:27:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR KCRM KTIA PGOV PREL PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA2583 |
DAS FISK TOURS PANAMA'S REMOTE DARIEN BORDER REGION [...] (SBU) WHA DAS Dan Fisk and Ambassador Watt, with POL Counselor and NAS Director, visited three locales in Panama's rugged and remote Darien province October 6, including the provincial capital, La Palma. They spent the day viewing Panamanian National Police (PNP) border installations, greeti [...] |
2004-10-19 18:58:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV SNAR PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA2589 |
PANAMA INVESTIGATORS, PROSECUTORS PUSH TIP AGENDA [...] (SBU) Despite the continued absence of funding for the anti-TIP law enacted in March 2004 (see Reftel A) and a recent change in administration, Panama's Judicial Police (PTJ) and prosecutors have continued to push the TIP agenda. They have publicized the anti-TIP law, created a specialized se [...] |
2004-10-19 21:11:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL SMIG PM KTIP LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA2641 |
PANAMA'S ARNULFISTA PARTY: ELECTORAL SHELLACKING [...] (C) Up-and-coming Arnulfista Party (PA) leaders will not wait for Party President Mireya Moscoso to complete her term in January 2006 before trying to rebuild the party, ideally minus her. After the PA's meager third-place finish (16.4% of popular vote) in Panama's May 2004 presidential elect [...] |
2004-10-27 14:26:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PINR PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA2661 |
PANAMA PROTESTS: THE STORY BEHIND BOCAS VIOLENCE [...] (C) A peaceful protest in a north coast town far from the capital against an electric company veered into violence on October 24 after a radical group exploited local tensions and attacked the national police (PNP) with iron bars and Molotov cocktails, injuring 28 people including 24 officers [...] |
2004-10-28 22:43:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA2691 |
SCENESETTER: DEFENSE SECRETARY RUMSFELD'S NOVEMBER [...] (C) On behalf of Embassy Panama I would like to extend our warmest welcome on your upcoming November 13-14, 2004 visit to Panama. Your presence here as the government of Martin Torrijos enters its third month signals the great interest of the United States in strengthening our excellent rela [...] |
2004-11-02 13:13:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EINV SNAR PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA2694 |
PANAMA: NEW GENERATION OF ARNULFISTA VISIONARIES [...] (C) The strong push to reform the Arnulfista Party (PA) after its May 2004 electoral defeat (see reftel) raises questions about why it occurred, who can repair the damage, what are the PA's long-term prospects, and what it all means for the USG. Most observers blame Mireya Moscoso and her cl [...] |
2004-11-02 16:50:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PINR PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA2698 |
PANAMA RESPONDS TO CNIES DEMARCHE [...] (SBU) This message contains action requests. Embassy requests Department's guidance on questions in paragraphs 2 and 3. Embassy understands that Department wants to elicit a formal positive response by diplomatic note no later than December 1. In order to meet that deadline, Embassy would [...] |
2004-11-02 20:38:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL SNAR MOPS PM EARI POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA274 |
EMBASSY PANAMA CONVENES MINI-CTAG [...] (U) Per ref B, on February 2, Embassy's Pol Counselor, AID Director, Econ Counselor and NAS Director met with diplomatic representatives from G-8 countries and Spain to discuss Panama's counterterrorism (CT) requirements and vulnerabilities, each country's CT-related assistance to Panama, and [...] |
2004-02-06 18:53:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER ASEC PREL PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA2777 |
PANAMA PROBABLY WILL NOT MOVE TO OPPOSE [...] (C) This Embassy and other observers hoped that Panama's UNGA voting patterns soon might become more congenial to U.S. interests, given the recent election of Martin Torrijos, a young, modernizing president; his avowed intent to make Panama's UN General Assembly voting "more predictable"; and [...] |
2004-11-16 21:44:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PM UNGA POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA2829 |
PANAMA GOVERNMENT WEATHERS FIERCE CRITICISM AS IT [...] (C) With apparent support from President Martin Torrijos, Minister of Government and Justice Hector Aleman is moving to centralize control of the Panamanian Public Forces (PPF). MOGJ sources contend that under the government of former president Mireya Moscoso, MOGJ exercised weak oversight of [...] |
2004-11-23 18:49:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR MARR PINS PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA2841 |
PANAMA: TORRIJOS AGENDA CONTINUES AFTER [...] (SBU) President Martin Torrijos and his Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) are trying to make the most of their honeymoon period. Less than 100 days into its five-year term, the new administration has accomplished one of its top domestic priorities by pushing through a constitutional reform [...] |
2004-11-24 14:57:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL ECON PINR PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA2881 |
PANAMA: TRANSPARENCY OF BUDGETS/MILITARY SPENDING [...] Military forces are constitutionally banned in Panama. The Central Government oversees Panama's civilian security forces. Panama presently appears to meet the standards set out in the legislation, described in reftel, for international financial institution funding. Per reftel A, the followi [...] |
2004-11-30 16:31:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN EAID PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA2921 |
SECDEF RUMSFELD'S TWO-DAY PANAMA TOUR A SUCCESS [...] (C) In a two-day visit to Panama November 13-14, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld met with Panamanian President Torrijos and top cabinet officials, visited and overflew the Panama Canal, laid a wreath at the American Battle Monument Commission's Corozal Cemetary, and held a news conferenc [...] |
2004-12-03 19:21:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PM CM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA2923 |
PANAMA SEEKS SOLUTIONS TO ARMS-FOR-DRUGS TRADE [...] (C) Since the seizure of the "Otterloo" in 2001, a ship carrying about 3,000 weapons from Nicaragua through Panama to the AUC in Colombia, the Colombian armed groups (FARC and AUC) appear to be relying increasingly on smaller arms-for-drugs purchases, instead of purchasing large amounts of w [...] |
2004-12-03 21:08:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PINS SNAR PGOV PREL PARM PM NI CO CR LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA2937 |
PANAMA, THE G4 AND "PLAN PUEBLA" [...] (C) Mexican President Vicente Fox publicly endorsed Panama's inclusion in the G3 (Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico) during his November 2-3 visit to Panama. According to MFA Advisor Nils Castro and International Organizations Director Javier Bonagas, the GOP's primary interest in joining the G [...] |
2004-12-06 21:23:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD ECON ENRG PM CO VZ LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA2943 |
PANAMA AND CUBA: NSC-DIRECTED REVIEW REGARDING [...] (SBU) Embassy Panama offers the following information and analysis in response to Reftel A tasking. CUBA AND PANAMANIAN POLITICS ----------------------------- 2. (C) Six days before leaving office, late on the evening of August 25, 2004, Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso pardoned fou [...] |
2004-12-07 19:52:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETTC PGOV EFIN ETRD PM CU POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA298 |
PANAMA ELECTION COUNTDOWN #1: 12 WEEKS TO GO [...] (U) Monday, February 2, marked the deadline for political parties to register candidacies for presidential, mayoral, legislative and local representative seats. All parties complied with the deadline and despite rumors over the weekend that one would withdraw from the race; all four president [...] |
2004-02-09 17:51:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 04PANAMA2986 |
PANAMA VIEWS FROM THE FIELD: INDIGENOUS [...] (SBU) PolOff recently traveled to several remote indigenous areas of Panama, which are among the least accessible, least developed, and poorest parts of the country. With little economy to speak of aside from subsistence agriculture, indigenous groups focus on capturing development grants. [...] |
2004-12-14 17:42:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM EAID PGOV PINR PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA2997 |
PANAMA REFUGEE NEWS: GOP COOPERATES, COMMISSION [...] (SBU) Since the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) established a permanent office in Panama in April (reftel), the GOP has cooperated increasingly with the UNHCR and other NGOs to assist the approximately 821 displaced Colombians in the Darien border area. Under the Torrijo [...] |
2004-12-16 18:54:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PHUM PGOV CO PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA30 |
PANAMA UNDECIDED ON 8 OF 9 CERD SPOTS [...] (U) On January 6, MFA International Organizations Deputy Director General Nubia Lezcano advised Poloff that the GOP has committed to one CERD candidate due to "previous agreements," but has not decided who to support for the other eight positions. Lezcano further explained that it was unlikel [...] |
2004-01-07 18:50:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA3009 |
PANAMA - 2005 NATIONAL TRADE ESTIMATE REPORT [...] TRADE SUMMARY The U.S. trade surplus with Panama was $1.5 billion in 2003, an increase of $443 million from $1.1 billion in 2002. U.S. goods exports in 2003 were $1.8 billion, an increase of 31 percent from the previous year. Corresponding U.S. imports from Panama were $301 million, rou [...] |
2004-12-17 17:06:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN ETRD ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA301 |
PANAMA ELECTIONS: FIRST DEBATE TURNS UP THE HEAT [...] THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. SUMMARY: CANDIDATES BARE TEETH ------------------------------ 2. (SBU) During Panama's February 2 nationwide televised presidential debate, the four candidates soon shelved their inhibitions and began attacking one another [...] |
2004-02-09 21:26:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA3025 |
PANAMA: ECONOMIC TRENDS AND LOOMING CHALLENGES [...] (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly. 2. (SBU) Introduction: Hoping to capitalize early on its campaign promises (anti-corruption, transparency, fiscal responsibility and economic growth), current popularity (70 percent), and control of the legislatu [...] |
2004-12-21 16:53:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN EINV ETRD PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA3034 |
PANAMA PUSHES DISABLED RIGHTS UNDER THE TORRIJOS [...] (SBU) In his first hundred days in office, President Torrijos has moved quickly to deliver on campaign promises to 280,000 disabled citizens and their families to create practical and inclusive institutions to boost compliance with Panama's disability laws. The president's personal interest [...] |
2004-12-21 22:30:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV PREL ELAB PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA3038 |
OVERVIEW OF PANAMANIAN EFFORTS TO ADDRESS ILLICIT [...] (SBU) This is the first in a series of reports from Embassy Panama's newly formed Illicit Finance Task Force (IFTF). The interagency IFTF was initiated in September 2004 to monitor terrorist financing and the laundering of narcotics and other criminal proceeds. The task force includes member [...] |
2004-12-22 19:30:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PTER SNAR PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA324 |
SCENESETTER: CODEL WELLER'S VISIT TO PANAMA [...] (U) Embassy Panama welcomes Codel Weller on their February 19-22 visit to Panama. You will have the opportunity to reiterate US appreciation for the ongoing security and drug enforcement cooperation between our two countries. Your visit highlights our governments' mutual focus on the strate [...] |
2004-02-11 20:20:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | OREP AMGT ASEC PREL ECON PM |
| 04PANAMA325 |
PANAMA'S PROGRESS ON MARITIME SECURITY -- GOOD [...] (SBU) The September 11 attacks called significant attention to the potential for terrorist exploitation of Panama,s leading maritime position. Panama has the world,s largest flag state registry with approximately 6300 vessels over 500 gross metric tons and approximately 300,000 seafarers. Ad [...] |
2004-02-11 20:21:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | EWWT KNNP PTER ETTC PREL PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA345 |
PANAMA READY TO FOLLOW-UP ON IAEA CODE OF CONDUCT [...] (SBU) On February 9, 2004, Embassy delivered diplomatic note No. 162 containing reftel letter from Secretary Powell to Panama's Minister of Foreign Affairs Harmodio Arias. MFA Director General for International Organizations and Conferences Rodolfo Aleman Zubieta advised Poloff that same day [...] |
2004-02-13 19:52:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PARM KNNP PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA352 |
PANAMA ELECTION COUNTDOWN #2: 11 WEEKS TO GO [...] Sensitive But Unclassified. Protect Accordingly. The Race Is On -------------- 2. (U) Candidates for all 1,754 national and local positions to be contested in Panama's May 2 elections have shifted their efforts into high gear. As political advertising increases in every medium from roll [...] |
2004-02-13 22:18:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA353 |
PANAMA POLITICAL ANALYST ON MAY 2 ELECTION: [...] (C) Former Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) political operative turned independent consultant and analyst, Jose Isabel Blandon, told DCM and POL Counselor that the PRD's superior numbers and organization and a divided opposition probably will secure the presidency for Martin Torrijos on M [...] |
2004-02-13 22:21:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA399 |
FOCUSING PANAMA'S EFFORT TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN [...] (SBU) The January 18-21 G/TIP visit to Panama helped refine Embassy and GOP anti-TIP efforts approach to strategies (Ref A). The Embassy will push the GOP to focus its anti-TIP improvements on public awareness campaigns, victims assistance, and increased training. In the short term, legisla [...] |
2004-02-19 12:54:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL SMIG PM KTIP LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA40 |
PANAMA'S MAY 2004 ELECTIONS [...] (SBU) Panamanians nationwide will go to the polls on May 2, 2004 to choose a president, 78 legislators, 75 mayors, 619 local representatives, and 20 representatives to the Central American Parliament. The presidential campaign currently is a two-man race (in a field of four candidates) with t [...] |
2004-01-08 19:28:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY POL SPECIALIST |
| 04PANAMA417 |
PANAMA ELECTION COUNTDOWN #3: 10 WEEKS TO GO [...] (U) Electoral Magistrates proudly announced that the electoral process is moving forward and is 70 percent complete. Among other things, The Electoral Tribunal must still select and train personnel to staff voting places and set aside space and staff for vote counting committees at the local [...] |
2004-02-20 21:15:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 04PANAMA419 |
PANAMANIAN MADAM HEADED TO PRISON [...] (U) After two trials, two guilty verdicts, years of appeals, and not one day behind bars, the former head of a child prostitution ring, Thonya Xiomara Hubbard (aka Madam Thonya), will be spending the next 76 months in prison. On February 16, the Supreme Appeal Court rejected Hubbard's appea [...] |
2004-02-20 23:34:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL PM KTIP LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA440 |
PANAMA ELECTIONS - NOTES FROM THE FIELD - CHIRIQUI [...] (SBU) Residents of Chiriqui, Panama's largest dairy, coffee, and vegetable producer, and its capital David, Panama's third-largest city, want politicians to focus on unemployment and an agricultural sector threatened by a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States. Pol Counsel [...] |
2004-02-25 18:17:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PM PINR PREL POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA441 |
PANAMA'S SCORECARD ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS [...] Summary and Comment: Overall, Panama's intellectual property rights regime is headed in the right direction and has improved during the past year. Panama has relatively well-developed intellectual property laws and institutions, and the GoP has increased specialized IPR training and technic [...] |
2004-02-25 18:33:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD KIPR PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA452 |
CODEL WELLER UNDERSCORES GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH [...] (U) Summary: Codel Weller,s February 19-22 visit to Panama underscored our strong friendship and high level of bilateral cooperation with GoP interlocutors, who included President Moscoso, FM Arias, National Security Advisor Jarvis, and VM for Foreign Trade Adames. Congressman Weller expres [...] |
2004-02-26 20:31:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD EWWT SNAR PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA465 |
LA DONA HITS PANAMA'S AIRWAVES. PANAMA ELECTION [...] (U) While a political cartoon in a Panama daily depicted the fifth ballot's funeral, civil society refused to let the issue rest in peace. Criticism abounded in the wake of last week's Electoral Tribunal (ET) and Executive Branch insistence on not issuing a fifth ballot on constitutional ref [...] |
2004-02-27 20:49:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 04PANAMA484 |
THREE PURCHASES BY DEPORTES EL CAZADOR OK: [...] (U) This message contains proprietary business information. Please protect. Not for internet distribution. 2. (SBU) On February 27, EmbOffs met with Deportes El Cazador's owner and president Rolando GONZALEZ Salerno at the company's offices, which are co-located with Gonzalez' residence [...] |
2004-03-02 14:34:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KOMC ETTC PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA540 |
LA PRENSA FOUNDER ROBERTO EISENMANN SLAMS PANAMA'S [...] (C) Roberto Eisenmann, Jr., founder of Panama's anti-dictatorship daily newspaper La Prensa, since 1990 turned political maverick and op-ed gadfly, recently shared with POL Counselor some caustic commentary on what he called the "outrageous" attitude of Panama's political class and its corrup [...] |
2004-03-04 19:40:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR PGOV PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA548 |
PANAMA'S INPUT FOR FOURTH ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING [...] (SBU) While Embassy Panama believes that trafficking in persons (TIP) is a problem in Panama, it is still relatively small and manageable. Embassy has worked closely with the Government of Panama (GOP) to discover more about the extent of the problem in Panama and to encourage the GOP to wor [...] |
2004-03-05 16:08:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB CO PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA564 |
NEW PANAMA POLLS SHOW TORRIJOS WITH LARGE LEAD. [...] (SBU) New polls from two different not necessarily reliable sources are ranking presidential candidates in the usual order. In the Assembly, legislators seeking to rejuvenate their rotten image have proposed forward-leaning reductions in their own privileges, but may lack the political will t [...] |
2004-03-08 22:32:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR SOCI PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 04PANAMA576 |
PANAMA ADOPTS "ENERGETIC MEASURES" AGAINST [...] (SBU) In the past ten days (March 1-9) the Panamanian government (GOP) organized an inter-agency anti-TIP working group, set into motion a 45-day action plan, launched a public awareness campaign, prepared tougher anti-TIP legislation, readied a victims hotline, and announced that it had iden [...] |
2004-03-09 20:55:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KCRM KWMN KFRD SMIG PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA584 |
PANAMA (FTAA/TNC): STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE G-14 [...] (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified, please treat accordingly. 2. (SBU) Panamanian Vice Minister for Foreign Trade Romel Adames told Econ Chief on March 8 that Panama would strongly support the USG position within the G-14 and moving forward with agreement on procedures for p [...] |
2004-03-10 20:38:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA586 |
PANAMA OFFERS BETTER HIGH-VALUE TRANSIT GUARANTEE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Panama's unilateral alternative to the USG's bilateral MOU proposal may be a better force protection guarantee for US military high-value transits (HVTs). After Embassy receives actual GOP language, probably in one to two months, we will analyze it and report our conclusions and [...] |
2004-03-10 21:36:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL PINS EWWT MOPS PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA613 |
OBSERVERS, OPACITY, AND A PLEDGE. PANAMA ELECTION [...] (SBU) With less than two months to go, electoral issues are finally gaining prominence in Panama's media. Panamanian and foreign observers organize for the May 2 elections. Embassy plans to coordinate with OAS and Ombudsman's Office observers to ensure broad coverage of key polling areas on [...] |
2004-03-16 13:24:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 04PANAMA615 |
TORRIJOS TEAM BEGINNING TO LOOK AHEAD TO NEW [...] (C) Still leading in the polls, Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD) presidential candidate Martin Torrijos is starting to consider what his administration might look like, well aware of our interest in key PRD appointments. Meeting with PolOff, senior advisor and "friend of Martin" Ubaldino [...] |
2004-03-16 21:00:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR ETRD MASS PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA632 |
STATUS OF FORMER USG PROPERTIES IN THE PANAMA [...] (SBU) Summary: Panama,s Interoceanic Region Authority (ARI) is responsible for converting former USG property in the Panama Canal area to private and commercial use. It has had a number of significant successes, and current and future investment in these "reverted" areas could total $2.5 bil [...] |
2004-03-18 15:58:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV PGOV PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA633 |
SCENESETTER: AMBASSADOR ARCOS' VISIT TO PANAMA [...] (U) I warmly welcome your March 23-25 visit to Panama. You will have the opportunity to reiterate USG appreciation for the ongoing maritime security cooperation between our two countries, and to press for continuing focus on this as well as aviation security (and increasingly cruise ship securi [...] |
2004-03-18 16:01:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EWWT KNNP PTER ETTC PREL PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA648 |
U.S.-PANAMA FTA NEGOTIATIONS - THOUGHTS ON TIMING [...] (C) Summary: Minister of Commerce and Industry Joaquin Jacome and VM for Trade Romel Adames will be traveling to Washington next week for the March 23 TPSC Panama hearing at USTR and to press for moving forward expeditiously with FTA negotiations. The upcoming November U.S. elections and the [...] |
2004-03-19 17:49:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA651 |
MORE SECRETS, A DEBATE, AND ANOTHER POLL SHOWS [...] (SBU) Local press meticulously covered former President Ernesto Perez Balladares' unexpected disclosure of discretionary expenditures during his presidency (1994-99), tied to the ongoing battle between Electoral Prosecutor Gerardo Solis and President Moscoso. (Reftels A & B). A March 16 presi [...] |
2004-03-19 19:39:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA652 |
MILITARY GRANT ASSISTANCE: US-PANAMA EXCHANGE OF [...] The following US diplomatic note no. 325, dated March 17, 2004, was presented by Embassy to the GOP (text per ref B with changes per ref A). Begin text: No. 325 The Embassy of the United States of America presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Republic o [...] |
2004-03-19 20:33:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | MASS MARR PREL PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA663 |
PANAMA TO OUTLINE INITIATIVES AND GOALS TO STEM [...] No summary [...] |
2004-03-22 14:22:00 | Embassy Panama | SECRET//NOFORN | KNNP PARM PREL PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA669 |
PANAMA'S INPUT: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TRAINING, [...] Summary. Post has provided primarily financial support and equipment to Panama in support of promoting effective protection and enforcement of IP rights. Panama has relatively well-developed intellectual property laws and institutions, and the GOP has also increased specialized IPR training [...] |
2004-03-22 20:30:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | KIPR ETRD ECON SNAR PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA672 |
FATE OF ANTI-CASTRO CUBAN AMERICANS IN THE HANDS [...] NAME: NOVO, GUILLERMO; REMON, PEDRO; JIMENEZ, GASPAR 2. SEX: MALE 3. DOPB: JUNE 08, 1939, CUBA; SEPTEMBER 13, 1944, CUBA; OCTOBER 06, 1935, CUBA 23. (SBU) REMARKS: After nearly three and one-half years of incarceration, prosecutors and defense attorneys completed the argume [...] |
2004-03-22 20:38:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CASC CJAN SNAR PHUM CU PM NOVO GUILLERMO REMON PEDRO JIMENEZ GASPAR CONSULAR AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA705 |
PANAMA'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN: VERAGUAS PROVINCE IS [...] (SBU) On March 14, seven weeks before Panama's May 2 general elections, PolOffs toured rural Veraguas province with members of three of the four party coalitions vying for the presidency and 78 legislative seats. Though Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD) presidential candidate Martin Torrij [...] |
2004-03-26 18:42:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA715 |
NAMES FLOATED, A BLAST FROM THE PAST, AND A [...] (SBU) Panama's electoral campaign suddenly became more interesting with a bristling 3/23 confrontation between Arnulfista youth and Endara supporters and a 3/24 shooting incident in a depressed area. From here forward, campaign tensions will mount, primarily in the form of mudslinging and edi [...] |
2004-03-29 12:38:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 04PANAMA730 |
ARTICLE 98 SUPPORTER IN CLOSE RACE WITH U.S. [...] (U) This cable is SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. Please protect accordingly. ----------------- A Fighting Chance ----------------- 2. (SBU) On March 14, PolOffs accompanied Arnulfista Party legislative challenger Jose "Pepe" Gomez on a tour of Veraguas province's 9-3 electoral circuit [...] |
2004-03-30 14:17:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA748 |
DHS AMBASSADOR ARCOS PRESSES MARITIME SECURITY [...] Summary: During a March 23-24 visit to Panama, Ambassador Cresencio Arcos, Director for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security pressed the USG agenda on maritime security. At a meeting with Panama's Minister of Government and Justice (MOGJ), Arnulfo Escalona, the [...] |
2004-04-01 15:28:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | EWWT PTER ETRD PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA76 |
PANAMA'S CHANCES FOR QUICK CONSTITUTIONAL [...] (SBU) Due to a lack of support from the two biggest political parties and disagreements over procedure, the possibility that Panama's legislators will enact constitutional reforms in the near future is fading rapidly. Many politicians have acknowledged publicly a need to reform Panama's curr [...] |
2004-01-14 17:04:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV SOCI PM |
| 04PANAMA791 |
Rumors, Observers, and Negative Advertising. [...] (SBU) With the May 2 elections just one month away, the campaigns and the candidates are entering the home stretch. The Electoral Tribunal and the Ombudsman's office are focused on Election Day logistics and observers. Panama's media and civil society are investigating candidates' backgrounds [...] |
2004-04-02 21:42:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 04PANAMA798 |
PANAMA: KEY AGRICULTURAL ISSUES FOR THE UPCOMING [...] This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please treat accordingly. 2. Summary: This cable provides an overview of Panama's agricultural sector and Post's assessment of key issues in preparation for the upcoming bilateral negotiations (Round One will be held April 26-30, 2004 in Panama [...] |
2004-04-05 16:46:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EAGR PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA802 |
PANAMA'S DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTIONARY PARTY (PRD) AND [...] (C) The prospect of a PRD government assuming power on September 1 is high, barring an unforeseen development. Martin Torrijos enjoys a big lead in the polls barely four weeks before Panama's May 2 presidential election. According to many observers, Martin has consolidated his control over t [...] |
2004-04-06 13:23:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA810 |
PANAMA'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN: ALEMAN MAY BE COUNTING [...] (U) PolOffs recently toured Panama's Herrera and Los Santos provinces, meeting with Herrera's Electoral Tribunal Regional Director Hector Paulette, Arnulfista Party legislative challenger Pacifico Escalona and Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD) Herrera elections coordinator Reynaldo Salerno. [...] |
2004-04-06 21:08:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA813 |
PANAMA REFUGEE NEWS--UNHCR PERMANENT OFFICE, [...] No summary [...] |
2004-04-06 21:56:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PHUM PGOV CO PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA823 |
PANAMANIAN SUPREME COURT THROWS OUT CHARGES [...] (C) Citing "lack of jurisdiction," by an 8-1 vote, Panama's Supreme Court has terminated Public Ministry investigations of all charges against Israeli national Shimon Yalin Yelinek, currently residing in Panama, for his alleged role in smuggling Nicaraguan military weapons to the paramilitary [...] |
2004-04-07 19:29:00 | Embassy Panama | SECRET | PARM PREL KCOR PTER KJUS PM NI CO GA POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA828 |
PANAMA PUBLIC OPINION POLLS NOT DEPENDABLE [...] (SBU) Panama's nationally-published public opinion polls are probably biased, do not offer a dependable measure of Panamanians' voting preferences, and probably will not accurately predict outcomes for the May 2 elections. While we still think Martin Torrijos will win the May 2, 2004 presiden [...] |
2004-04-08 15:13:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV SOCI PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA85 |
SCENESETTER: AMBASSADOR OTTO REICH'S VISIT TO [...] (U) Embassy Panama welcomes Special Envoy for Western Hemisphere Initiatives Ambassador Otto Reich on his January 17 - 24 visit to Panama. You will have the opportunity to reiterate the Ambassador's good governance message to GOP officials, including Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso, priva [...] |
2004-01-15 20:19:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ETRD EWWT SNAR OVIP PM NAS |
| 04PANAMA853 |
PANAMA STRONGLY ENDORSES PSI LEADING UP TO [...] No summary [...] |
2004-04-13 12:49:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | KNNP MNUC PREL PARM PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA861 |
PANAMA'S TELECOM/TECH SECTOR: AN OVERVIEW [...] Summary: Panama's telecommunications and technology sector is growing, and now represents 6% of GDP. The regulatory authority "Ente" has maintained a fairly good record for enforcement over the sector, though the former monopoly, Cable & Wireless Panama (CWP) has been slow in negotiating int [...] |
2004-04-13 20:32:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECPS PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA863 |
FRAUD PREVENTION, OBSTRUCTIONISM, AND BICKERING. [...] (SBU) Panama's May 2 election - only three weeks away - is starting to concentrate minds. The Electoral Tribunal is implementing fraud prevention procedures, informing voters, and fending off critics. Electoral Prosecutor Gerardo Solis depoliticized his investigation of the Presidency's lega [...] |
2004-04-13 21:43:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PREL PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 04PANAMA875 |
PANAMA'S FORMER PRESIDENT GUILLERMO ENDARA DRIVES [...] (SBU) His campaign may lack money and glitz and his poll numbers are stubbornly stuck in second place behind Martin Torrijos but former president Guillermo Endara (1989-1994) is confident his single-message campaign -- that he is Panama's only hope for honest government -- will catapult him to [...] |
2004-04-14 22:12:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD EAGR PM POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA886 |
PANAMA's MAY 2 ELECTORAL PROCESS: NUTS AND BOLTS [...] (U) Panama will hold general elections on Sunday, May 2 to elect a total of 1,756 new officials for five-year terms. Voters will elect a President, two Vice Presidents, 78 legislators (and 156 alternates), 75 mayors (and 150 alternates), 619 local representatives, 7 councilmen, 20 representa [...] |
2004-04-16 14:51:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 04PANAMA892 |
Education, Absenteeism, and Closing Rallies. [...] (SBU) Candidates, voters, and electoral officials are in the home stretch for Panama's May 2 general elections. The Electoral Tribunal (ET) briefed the diplomatic corps on elections in an April 13 luncheon presentation with media present. On April 14, the ET warned the Supreme Court not to a [...] |
2004-04-19 12:53:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 04PANAMA896 |
PANAMA: TORRIJOS TEAM STIFLES ELECTION EVE [...] (C) Arnulfista and Solidarity Party opponents of presidential candidate Martin Torrijos have given documents to reporters that they hope will link him to a 1985 drug-related kidnapping. Apparently rattled by a potentially damaging story that could break just before the May 2 election, the To [...] |
2004-04-19 21:46:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA906 |
USG SUCCESS STORY: PANAMA REGAINS CATEGORY 1 FOR [...] Summary: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded Panama in 2001 for not complying with international air safety standards. Over the past 18 months, the Embassy has worked to focus the GoP's highest levels on making needed changes to its aviation authority to regain the status. [...] |
2004-04-20 19:33:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR ECON ETRD BEXP CASC PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA914 |
PRE-ELECTION VIEWS FROM THE FIELD: NEW [...] (U) EmbOffs recently visited the western Panama reservation (or Comarca) of the Ngobe-Bugl indigenous group as part of our pre-election coverage. The Comarca will elect three new representatives on May 2 to the 78-seat unicameral Legislative Assembly. The new seats could provide some impor [...] |
2004-04-21 19:23:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM PINR PM |
| 04PANAMA924 |
PANAMA: THE CAMPAIGN OF ARNULFISTA PRESIDENTIAL [...] (C) Arnulfista Presidential Candidate Jose Miguel Aleman, a distant third in most public opinion polls, seeks to emerge from President Moscoso's shadow to place first in Panama's May 2 elections. Neutralizing Aleman's greatest logistical asset, the three-party coalition that backs him and its [...] |
2004-04-22 12:31:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PINR PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA925 |
PANAMA COURT SENTENCES ANTI-CASTRO CONSPIRATORS, [...] (SBU) On April 20, Panama's Fifth Penal Court convicted six anti-Castro conspirators, including three AmCits, for endangering public safety and sentenced them to seven and eight-year jail terms for a November 2000 plot to kill Fidel Castro. (See Refs A and B.) Luis Posada Carriles, currently [...] |
2004-04-22 13:30:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL CJAN CASC SNAR CU PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA929 |
SCENESETTER: AUSTR VARGO'S TRIP TO PANAMA FOR THE [...] (U) I warmly welcome your April 25-30 visit to Panama. The USDEL's visit marks the culmination of a long campaign by the GoP to move forward on an FTA with the U.S. You will have the opportunity to reiterate USG commitment to expanding trade and investment between our two countries, and to pre [...] |
2004-04-22 20:43:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD PREL PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 04PANAMA936 |
Observers, a non-debate, more polls, and some [...] (SBU) As campaigning hits a feverish pace, candidates Torrijos and Endara decided to skip the final, April 20 debate. Two final public opinion polls with conflicting results have generated controversy, as has another group of Endara supporters who made their support publicly known. The Electo [...] |
2004-04-23 19:58:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PREL PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 04PANAMA954 |
PSI: ANSWERS TO KEY QUESTIONS ON CARGO HANDLING [...] No summary [...] |
2004-04-26 15:19:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM PREL KNNP EWWT EAIR PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA975 |
PANAMA ELECTION EVE OUTLOOK: LIKELY WINNER [...] (C) Martin Torrijos and his Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), well ahead by most indicators, are poised to win the presidency and a plurality of legislative seats in Panama's Sunday, May 2, 2004 general elections. The American-educated Torrijos has marginalized the PRD's "old guard" and ha [...] |
2004-04-27 22:52:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PINR PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04PANAMA995 |
Rallies, a ceremony, and transition planning. [...] (SBU) Presidential candidates staged campaign closing rallies throughout the final week before Panama's Sunday, May 2 General Elections. EmbOffs met OAS observers to discuss Election Day plans on April 27. Electoral authorities announced final logistical arrangements and accepted control of [...] |
2004-04-29 20:59:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 05PANAMA1023 |
SCENESETTER: AMBASSADOR SICHAN SIV MAY 12-13 VISIT [...] (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. 2. (SBU) On behalf of Embassy Panama, I would like to extend our warmest welcome on your upcoming visit to Panama. You will have the opportunity to meet with senior officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to [...] |
2005-05-06 21:14:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OVIP PGOV PREL AMGT ASEC PM |
| 05PANAMA1024 |
PANAMA OAS DEMARCHE: GOP LIKELY TO SUPPORT U.S. [...] No summary [...] |
2005-05-06 21:15:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM AORC PGOV PREL PM USOAS POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1025 |
PANAMA UNCHR DEMARCHE: GOP LIKELY TO SUPPORT U.S. [...] No summary [...] |
2005-05-06 21:15:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV PREL PM UNGA POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1042 |
PANAMA COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CODEL BURTON [...] Embassy warmly welcomes Representative Dan Burton (R- IN), House International Relations Committee (HIRC), Western Hemisphere Chairman, who will lead a delegation to Panama during June 4-6, 2005. Embassy also welcomes the following participants of the congressional delegation: Members: Re [...] |
2005-05-09 22:35:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN OVIP PM |
| 05PANAMA1102 |
PANAMA COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR U.S. DEPARTMENT OF [...] Country Clearance is granted to Department of Labor Consultant Kjell Enge, from Juarez and Associates, for travel to Panama June 1-5, 2005. 2. Purpose of this visit is to provide technical assistance and conduct workshops with USDOL grantees on project performance monitoring issues concerni [...] |
2005-05-17 17:11:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB OTRA AFIN PM NU |
| 05PANAMA1117 |
SCENESETTER: CODEL BURTON JUNE 4-6 VISIT TO PANAMA [...] (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. 2. (SBU) Embassy Panama extends its warmest welcome on your upcoming visit to Panama. You will have the opportunity to review a wide range of issues, including bilateral security and the economic environment. You [...] |
2005-05-19 22:31:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OREP PGOV PREL AMGT ASEC PM |
| 05PANAMA1134 |
PANAMA CSS REFORM DEMONSTRATIONS BEGIN IN EARNEST [...] (SBU) ON MONDAY, MAY 23, THE FIRST ROUND OF DEBATES IN PANAMA'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CONTINUED AMID ROWDY, MAINLY STUDENT-LED DEMONSTRATIONS IN PRINCIPAL STREETS OF THE CITY, AND AT LEAST 70 ARRESTS. POLICE REPORTED STUDENTS WERE CARRYING KNIVES, MOLOTOV COCKTAILS, PLIERS, AND PETARDS. SOME WORE [...] |
2005-05-23 23:13:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ASEC CASC PGOV PM PREL POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1138 |
PANAMA COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR INTER-AMERICAN [...] Country Clearance is granted to Inter-American Foundation Director of Corporate Programs Walter Allan Price, for travel to Panama May 25-27, 2005. 2. Purpose of this visit is to meet with business leaders to offer them information on the REDEAMERICA Initiative, which involves companies and [...] |
2005-05-24 16:01:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT APER ECON OTRA PM |
| 05PANAMA1139 |
PANAMA COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR INTER-AMERICAN [...] Country Clearance is granted to Inter-American Foundation Representative John Matthew Reed, for travel to Panama May 27-June 10, 2005. 2. Purpose of travel is to visit potential grantees to pre- screen possible new projects, and to visit current grantees for project monitoring. 3. As pe [...] |
2005-05-24 16:01:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT APER ECON OTRA PM |
| 05PANAMA1173 |
PANAMA RESPONSE TO ILO DEMARCHES [...] No summary [...] |
2005-05-31 22:29:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC CU ELAB PGOV PHUM PM PREL ILO POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1175 |
OAS: PANAMA TO SUPPORT U.S. CANDIDATE FOR [...] (SBU) Ambassador Watt called Foreign Minister Samuel Lewis on Friday, May 27, to encourage support for the U.S. candidate for Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Paolo G. Carozza. The Foreign Minister informed Ambassador Watt on Tuesday, May 31, that the GOP would support Carozza. 2 [...] |
2005-06-01 14:12:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1183 |
PANAMA'S SOLIDARIDAD-LIBERAL NACIONAL MERGER WILL [...] (SBU) Two of Panama's small opposition parties, the National Liberal Party (PLN) and the Solidarity Party (Partido Solidaridad), are reportedly close to agreement on merging into a single political party. A merger between the two would lend Solidaridad, the larger of the two parties, a wider [...] |
2005-06-01 20:39:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1184 |
PANAMA'S CSS REFORM PACKAGE PASSES WITH MINOR [...] (SBU) On May 31, nine minutes before midnight, Panama's National Assembly passed President Martin Torrijos's Social Security (CSS) reform package with a vote of 43-30. All 43 Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) legislators voted in favor, while the opposition presented a united front against [...] |
2005-06-01 21:21:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PGOV PM PREL POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1205 |
PANAMA AND CUBA: NSC-DIRECTED REVIEW REGARDING [...] (SBU) Embassy Panama offers the following information and analysis in response to Reftel A tasking. CUBA AND PANAMANIAN POLITICS 2. (C) Currently GOP and Cuba maintain only consular relations. Full diplomatic relations between the GOP and Cuba have not been reestablished since Cuba broke [...] |
2005-06-06 21:51:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC PGOV PM PREL POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1320 |
MDA: PANAMA RESPONSE TO SWISS CIRCULAR NOTE ON [...] No summary [...] |
2005-06-17 14:02:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC PHUM PREF PREL PGOV PM ICRC POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1326 |
PANAMA HAS NO RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON UNESCO [...] No summary [...] |
2005-06-17 21:53:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | TBIO PREL PGOV PM UNESCO KSCI |
| 05PANAMA1339 |
PANAMA: NO POSITION TO SHARE ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS [...] No summary [...] |
2005-06-20 21:31:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM KUNR PREL PM UNHCR POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1343 |
PANAMA RECEPTIVE TO USG PRIORITIES FOR UN REFORM [...] No summary [...] |
2005-06-21 17:48:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | KUNR PREL PGOV AORC PM UNSC POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1352 |
AS HIS POPULARITY PLUMMETS, PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT [...] (C) Apparently surprised by the persistence of anti-CSS (Social Security) reform agitation following passage of a June 1 reform bill (see Reftel), and as one poll placed his approval rating at just over 20%, Panamanian President Martin Torrijos on June 16 proposed a 90-day social security refo [...] |
2005-06-21 22:38:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA1377 |
PANAMA PRESIDENT TORRIJOS BOWS TO LABOR PRESSURE [...] (C) In a surprise move on the evening of June 21, as anti-CSS (social security) strikes that no one thought would last more than a few days were set to enter their fifth week, President Torrijos announced that he would "suspend" writing regulations for the June 1 CSS reform law (Law 17), pendin [...] |
2005-06-24 21:26:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON PM VE POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1415 |
PANAMA PRESIDENT TORRIJOS'S POPULARITY NOSE-DIVES [...] (C) Panama President Martin Torrijos's popularity plummeted in the wake of the June 1 passage of the Social Security (CSS) reform package pushed through the National Assembly by his Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD). Less than one in four Panamanians now believe that Torrijos is doing an a [...] |
2005-07-01 21:24:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1416 |
PANAMA AND CUBA SET TO REESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC TIES [...] No summary [...] |
2005-07-01 21:31:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD PM CU POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA1423 |
SENIOR PANAMANIAN OFFICIALS TO VISIT CARACAS JULY [...] (C) Vice President/Foreign Minister Samuel Lewis called POL Counselor July 5 to let us know that he plans a one-day visit to Venezuela tomorrow, July 6, to meet with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez to "review" the bilateral relationship. Minister of Government and Justice Hector Aleman [...] |
2005-07-05 20:39:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA1426 |
MDA: PANAMA RESPONSE TO SWISS CIRCULAR NOTE ON [...] No summary [...] |
2005-07-05 21:55:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC PHUM PREF PREL PGOV PM ICRC POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1431 |
PANAMA STRIKE LEADERS EXPLAIN OPPOSITION TO CSS [...] (SBU) Members of the anti-CSS-reform FRENADESSO coalition -- a mixed bag of ideological leftists and bread-and-butter trade unionists -- want the GOP to pay more and the people to pay less to reform Panama's CSS than the June 1 Law 17 stipulates. During recent meetings with PolOffs, leaders o [...] |
2005-07-06 19:32:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ELAB PREL EINV PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA1433 |
PANAMA HAS NO OFFICIAL CANDIDATE FOR UNESCO; WILL [...] No summary [...] |
2005-07-06 21:08:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SCUL OTRA PREL PGOV PM UNESCO POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1435 |
PANAMA'S POSITION SIMILAR TO U.S. ON UN COMMISSION [...] No summary [...] |
2005-07-06 22:24:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM KUNR PREL PM UNCHR POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1438 |
PANAMA COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR HARRY PONTING AND ALEX [...] Country Clearance is granted to Harry Ponting and Alex Yates, for travel to Panama during July 13-16, 2005. 2. Purpose of this visit is to assist Embassy implementation of the classified web publishing initiative known as Net- Centric Diplomacy (NCD). 3. As per reftel, hotel reservations [...] |
2005-07-07 15:03:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | AINF PGOV PINR OTRA PM |
| 05PANAMA144 |
PANAMA: CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM IS NOW A FACT [...] (SBU) Panama's revised constitution, now in effect for one month, fulfills a key goal of President Torrijos's domestic political agenda. The entire constitutional revision process -- from its post-May 2004 national election start to its November 15 appearance in the national register -- took o [...] |
2005-01-19 16:55:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1445 |
JULY 4 MESSAGE FROM PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT TORRIJOS [...] ON MONDAY, JULY 4, EMBASSY PANAMA RECEIVED ORIGINAL NOTE DGPCE NO. 794/2005 TRANSMITTING A CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT MARTIN TORRIJOS TO PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH ON A NEW CELEBRATION OF THE U.S. INDEPENDENCE DAY. EMBASSY TRANSLATION OF TEXT FOLLOWS: BEGIN TEXT. PLEASE ACCEPT [...] |
2005-07-07 17:35:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ODIP OPDC PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 05PANAMA1446 |
JULY 4 MESSAGE FROM VICE PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN [...] ON MONDAY, JULY 4, EMBASSY PANAMA RECEIVED ORIGINAL NOTE DGPCE NO. 795/2005 TRANSMITTING A CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM VICE PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN MINISTER SAMUEL LEWIS NAVARRO TO SECRETARY CONDOLEEZZA RICE ON A NEW CELEBRATION OF THE U.S. INDEPENDENCE DAY. EMBASSY TRANSLATION OF TEXT FOLLOWS [...] |
2005-07-07 17:36:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ODIP OPDC PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 05PANAMA1463 |
PANAMA REQUESTS USG SUPPORT CANDIDACY TO POSTAL [...] (U) This is an Action Request (see para 3). 2. (U) On July 6, Embassy received a dip note from the MFA's Bureau of International Organizations requesting USG support for Panama's candidacy to the Management Committee of the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal at elections to ta [...] |
2005-07-11 21:24:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PM PUAS POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1491 |
PANAMA POSITION ON G-4 PROPOSAL [...] No summary [...] |
2005-07-13 20:45:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PM UNSC POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1492 |
PANAMA COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR INTER-AMERICAN [...] Country Clearance is granted to Inter-American Foundation Representative Wilbur Thurston Wright for travel to Panama July 20-22, 2005. 2. Purpose of travel is to visit site for possible 2006 conference. 3. As per IAF e-mail request, Embassy assistance is not required. 4. Embassy poi [...] |
2005-07-13 22:19:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM AMGT APER ECON OTRA PM |
| 05PANAMA1496 |
PANAMA-VENEZUELA RELATIONS STUCK ON INTERNAL [...] (C) Panamanian concerns about suspected Venezuelan meddling in Panama's internal politics and domestic headaches due to high oil prices prompted Panamanian Vice President/Foreign Minister Samuel Lewis and two GOP cabinet officials to meet Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez in Caracas on Jul [...] |
2005-07-14 16:46:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EFIN EAIR EPET PM VE OAS IDB POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA1525 |
PANAMA GENERALLY SUPPORTS USG ON PEACEBUILDING [...] No summary [...] |
2005-07-18 20:22:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PM UNSC POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1526 |
BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END USE CHECK ON [...] (U) Per reftel, Embassy confirmed the bona fides of Armunex with Panama's corporate registry. Armunex is an abbreviation for Armas, Municiones, and Explosivos and is part of the company Grupo Seguridad Especial (GSE). GSE also operates a security company (Vigilancia Especial) with 250 secur [...] |
2005-07-18 21:33:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | KOMC ETTC PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA1552 |
PANAMA POSITION ON G-4 VOTE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-07-22 20:48:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KSEP OTRA OVIP PREL PM UNGA UNSC POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1553 |
(C) VISAS DONKEY: CORRUPTION 212(F) VISA [...] (C) Embassy Panama is seeking a security advisory opinion under section 212(f) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 7750, suspending entry into the United States and revoking the visa of Winston Spadafora (DPOB: 22 DEC 1941; Panama). Embassy [...] |
2005-07-22 22:00:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA1570 |
PANAMA SUPPORTS OAS MANPADS GUIDELINES [...] (S) Ministry of Government and Justice Security Advisor Severino Mejia told POLOFF on July 19 that Panama supports OAS Guidelines for Control of MANPADS. Importing or exporting this type of weapon into Panama is illegal. Mejia wants to work with the Embassy to reduce smuggling of weapons a [...] |
2005-07-27 13:17:00 | Embassy Panama | SECRET | PARM MASS EAIR ETTC PREL OAS LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA1576 |
PANAMA CONFIRMS HIGH-LEVEL ATTENDANCE TO 60TH UNGA [...] (U) This cable is an interim report on GOP attendance to the High-Level Event (HLE) and the 60th UNGA General Debate. GOP officials will provide Embassy with additional information after the first week of August. 2. (SBU) GOP delegation is as follows: A. Head of State: --Martin Torrij [...] |
2005-07-27 16:56:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OTRA OVIP KSEP PREL PM UNGA POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1577 |
REQUEST LEAHY AMENDMENT HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING [...] (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: As required by the Departments of State and Defense Leahy Amendments, Embassy requests that Washington conduct soonest the required human rights review of the below listed Panamanian Public Force person(s) and/or unit(s) and that State Department transmit the results to E [...] |
2005-07-27 18:17:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM MASS PREL PM POL OMS |
| 05PANAMA1578 |
REQUEST LEAHY AMENDMENT HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING [...] (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: As required by the Departments of State and Defense Leahy Amendments, Embassy requests that Washington conduct soonest the required human rights review of the below listed Panamanian Public Force person(s) and/or unit(s) and that State Department transmit the results to E [...] |
2005-07-27 18:17:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM MASS PREL PM POL OMS |
| 05PANAMA1584 |
PANAMA ON UNSC REFORM: RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-07-27 20:20:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KUNR PGOV PM UNSC UNGA POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1589 |
PANAMA'S CSS NATIONAL DIALOGUE INCHES FORWARD, [...] (SBU) Four weeks into the 90-day National Dialogue on Social Security (CSS) Reform (reftels A and B), negotiations have produced few results other than threats of more strikes and demonstrations. The National Front for the Defense of CSS (FRENADESO) is promising to demonstrate on July 28, in [...] |
2005-07-28 17:13:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1591 |
PANAMA'S COLON: FLINT MICHIGAN ON THE CARIBBEAN [...] (SBU) When the USG began to draw down military forces from its bases in the Panama Canal Zone in the 1970s, the port city of Colon, on the Canal's northern terminus, was hit hard, experiencing the same rapid decline that made one-time car manufacturing center Flint, Michigan infamous. By the [...] |
2005-07-28 20:25:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV PREL ECON SNAR PINR PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1595 |
REQUEST LEAHY AMENDMENT HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING [...] (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: As required by the Departments of State and Defense Leahy Amendments, Embassy requests that Washington conduct soonest the required human rights review of the below listed Panamanian Public Force person(s) and/or unit(s) and that State Department transmit the results to E [...] |
2005-07-28 21:35:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM MASS PREL PM POL OMS |
| 05PANAMA1596 |
REQUEST LEAHY AMENDMENT HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING [...] (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: As required by the Departments of State and Defense Leahy Amendments, Embassy requests that Washington conduct soonest the required human rights review of the below listed Panamanian Public Force person(s) and/or unit(s) and that State Department transmit the results to E [...] |
2005-07-28 21:35:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM MASS PREL PM POL OMS |
| 05PANAMA1597 |
REQUEST LEAHY AMENDMENT HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING [...] (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: As required by the Departments of State and Defense Leahy Amendments, Embassy requests that Washington conduct soonest the required human rights review of the below listed Panamanian Public Force person(s) and/or unit(s) and that State Department transmit the results to E [...] |
2005-07-28 22:39:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM MASS PREL PM POL OMS |
| 05PANAMA1604 |
REQUEST LEAHY AMENDMENT HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING [...] (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: As required by the Departments of State and Defense Leahy Amendments, Embassy requests that Washington conduct soonest the required human rights review of the below listed Panamanian Public Force person(s) and/or unit(s) and that State Department transmit the results to E [...] |
2005-07-29 21:55:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM MASS PREL PM POL OMS |
| 05PANAMA1606 |
PANAMA RESPONSE TO UNSCR 1540 DEMARCHE [...] (U) On June 20, 2005, Embassy delivered reftel demarche via diplomatic note to MFA International Organizations (IO) Director Javier Bonagas. MFA IO responded with the following note verbale on July 27, 2005. (Begin unofficial translation) "Republic of Panama, Ministry of Foreign Relations [...] |
2005-07-29 21:56:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | KNNP MNUC PARM PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1613 |
PANAMANIAN COMPTROLLER GENERAL DANI KUZNIECKY [...] (C) Disturbed by an administration he sees as rudderless and by President Torrijos's lack of attention to his reform agenda, especially anti-corruption, Comptroller Dani Kuzniecky is considering throwing in the towel. Kuzniecky's defection would deprive Torrijos of one of his most able refor [...] |
2005-08-02 15:10:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EFIN PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA1633 |
REQUEST LEAHY AMENDMENT HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING [...] (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: As required by the Departments of State and Defense Leahy Amendments, Embassy requests that Washington conduct soonest the required human rights review of the below listed Panamanian Public Force person(s) and/or unit(s) and that State Department transmit the results to E [...] |
2005-08-04 16:08:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM MASS PREL PM POL OMS |
| 05PANAMA1646 |
PANAMA: SUPPORT FOR US VIEWS ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (SBU) PolOff delivered Reftel demarche talking points to MFA Deputy International Organizations and Commissions Director Nubia Lezcano on August 2, stressing the U.S. desire for Panama's continued support in creating a new UN Human Rights Council. PolOff emphasized the need for an action-ori [...] |
2005-08-05 19:28:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL UNHCR UNGA LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA1651 |
PANAMA: GITMO TALKING POINTS DELIVERED TO MFA [...] (C) PolOff delivered GITMO talking points to MFA Deputy International Organizations and Commissions Director Nubia Lezcano on August 2. PolOff emphasized that detainees are held at Guantanamo Bay for security reasons and that interrogations of inmates have provided over 4,000 reports of actionab [...] |
2005-08-08 19:01:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | KISL KPAO PGOV PREL LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA1652 |
REQUEST LEAHY AMENDMENT HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING [...] (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: As required by the Departments of State and Defense Leahy Amendments, Embassy requests that Washington conduct soonest the required human rights review of the below listed Panamanian Public Force person(s) and/or unit(s) and that State Department transmit the results to E [...] |
2005-08-08 19:12:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM MASS PREL PM POL OMS |
| 05PANAMA1688 |
PANAMA USAID BOOSTS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN [...] (U) Now in its second year, the USAID-funded Darien Development program can boast significant achievements. The local community sees the USAID programs as the most successful aid effort in the area. It has boosted micro enterprises, improved market access, and advanced sustainable forestry in [...] |
2005-08-12 20:03:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM EAID PREL PGOV PM POL OMS |
| 05PANAMA1695 |
(C) PANAMA: DIALOGUE WITH TAIWAN ON PRC ACTIVITIES [...] (C/NF) Embassy maintains excellent informal relations with Taiwan diplomats in Panama and frequently engages in productive dialogue with them. For instance, PolOffs have met with former Taiwan ambassador David Hu and current Taiwan ambassador Tomas Hu several times. (See Reftel B.) PolOffs [...] |
2005-08-12 22:53:00 | Embassy Panama | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PINR PM TW POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA1711 |
UNHCR UNHAPPY WITH PANAMANIAN REFUGEE POLICY [...] (C) UNHCR Representative Gonzalo Vargas Llosa believes the Torrijos government is starting down the same path as the previous Moscoso administration in failing to meet its international obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. One never-ending issue is that the Government of Panama (GOP) [...] |
2005-08-17 19:11:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREF PREL PHUM PM |
| 05PANAMA1729 |
PANAMANIAN INSIDERS ACCUSE TORRIJOS GOVERNMENT OF [...] (SBU) This message is the first in a three"part series on views of the Torrijos administration's performance as it approaches its September 1 first anniversary. SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION """""""""""""""""""""""" 2. (C) Martin Torrijos's reform"m [...] |
2005-08-19 22:23:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD PINR PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA1779 |
TORRIJOS CONFIDANT: JUDICIAL REFORM "NOT A [...] (SBU) In an August 3 meeting with PolOffs, Institutional Protection Service (SPI, the Presidential body guard) Chief Leonel Solis, and close confidant of President Martin Torrijos, described the current national dialogue on social security as "going nowhere" and reform of Panama's judicial s [...] |
2005-08-29 19:23:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA1781 |
DIP NOTE RECEIVED FROM GOP RE: ACCESS TO NATIONAL [...] (U) This is an action request. See Para 3. 2. (U) Following is an unofficial translation of a Diplomatic Note received by the Panama Embassy's Political Section regarding a request for a document from the National Archives in Washington, DC. BEGIN UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION REPUBLIC OF [...] |
2005-08-29 20:11:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA1802 |
PANAMAX 2005: TRAGIC LOSS MARS GREAT SUCCESS [...] (SBU) PANAMAX 2005, a twelve-day, fifteen-nation military exercise involving the defense of the Panama Canal, concluded August 16. Although all participants viewed this year's multinational exercise as a great success, the drowning deaths of three Panamanian Marines during the exercise's fi [...] |
2005-09-01 15:00:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA1818 |
PANAMA FOREIGN MINISTRY ADVISOR NILS CASTRO ON [...] (C) On August 22, PolOff met with senior MFA advisor Nils Castro, former Ambassador to Mexico, to discuss GOP's August 20 re-establishment of full diplomatic relations with Cuba and GOP objectives in its petroleum negotiations with Venezuela. Castro, who recently spent two days in Caracas wit [...] |
2005-09-02 23:02:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PM POL FOREIGN |
| 05PANAMA1930 |
PANAMA'S "COSMETIC" CABINET RESHUFFLE. [...] (SBU) The long-awaited GOP "re-organization," rumored since last April, was finally announced by President Torrijos on Saturday, September 3. Despite high expectations for in-depth Cabinet changes, in the end, just as GOP Embassy contacts predicted, changes were minimal, leading many in the [...] |
2005-09-22 14:01:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 05PANAMA1947 |
PANAMA EVANGELICALS SEEKING POLITICAL POWER [...] (SBU) Two Panamanian Evangelical ministers plan to form a political party (Partido Teologia) in 2007 with the goal of electing a president and legislators in 2009. If nerve and energy were the only prerequisites for political success, these admitted political novices would surely win some e [...] |
2005-09-23 22:55:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA1948 |
PANAMA TURNING TOWARD TAIWAN [...] (C) Panamanian President Martin Torrijos's last-minute September 22 announcement that he would attend a September 26 Taiwan-Central America Summit in Managua comes on the heels of First Vice President and Foreign Minister Samuel Lewis's September 19 remarks to Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxi [...] |
2005-09-23 23:06:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PM CM TW POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA1975 |
PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT AND FM ON CASTRO, CHAVEZ, AND [...] (C) Summary: President Torrijos told WHA DAS Fisk and Ambassador that his government is under intense domestic pressure to strike a cheap oil deal with Chavez. The GOP hopes to address this by enticing Mexico to become a counterweight by offering similar oil deals. Torrijos believes that Ch [...] |
2005-09-29 22:18:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA1976 |
PANAMA PLEDGES SUPPORT ON NICARAGUA [...] (C) SUMMARY: On September 29, Panamanian President Torrijos told WHA DAS Fisk and Ambassador Eaton that he shares our concerns about developments in Nicaragua and urged the U.S. to maintain a broad range of contacts and channels with the entire spectrum of Nicaraguan political parties and pl [...] |
2005-09-29 23:07:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA2004 |
GOP WINS BIG AGAINST CHINESE-OWNED PANAMA PORTS [...] (C) Summary: The GOP and Panama Ports Company (PPC) agreed on September 8 to reverse a highly questioned move by the former Moscoso administration in 2002 that freed PPC from its contractual obligations to pay $22.2 million annually plus a variable annual payment of 10% of its gross annual in [...] |
2005-10-05 12:59:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | EWWT ETRD ECON PREL PM CH ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 05PANAMA202 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR PANAMA DESK OFFICER [...] Embassy grants country clearance and welcomes Panama Desk Officer Thomas Pierce, who will visit Panama during January 31-February 4, 2005 for in-country orientation. 2. Embassy Control Officer for this visit is Political Officer Karen Covert, telephones: office (507) 207-7131, residence ( [...] |
2005-01-27 22:41:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT APER OTRA PM |
| 05PANAMA2020 |
PANAMA,S ATTORNEY GENERAL PLEDGES FULL COOPERATION [...] (C) Summary. Panama,s Attorney General pledged to cooperate fully with the USG as the case against former Nicaraguan President Aleman goes before a judge on November 23. There are opportunities for the USG to assist Panamanian prosecutors as they prepare for the November hearing. An arres [...] |
2005-10-06 20:30:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR PGOV PINR PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA2025 |
INTERAGENCY TEAM DISCUSSES SECURITY COOPERATION [...] (C) Summary: Panamanian President Torrijos and his principal national security advisors met with a visiting USG interagency delegation September 29 and agreed to pursue enhanced information sharing, improve border security cooperation, and develop a mechanism for closer bilateral security coo [...] |
2005-10-07 16:19:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR PINR PINS MARR PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA2038 |
PANAMA: UNHCR - AID EFFORTS UPSTAGING GOVERNMENT [...] (SBU) UNHCR's unwavering support of refugee rights and its aid to Colombian civil-war refugees has given it great status and respect in Puerto Obaldia, a Caribbean town 200 miles from Panama's capital on the coastal border of Colombia. However, the distance from Panama City seems much great [...] |
2005-10-11 20:02:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PREL PM |
| 05PANAMA2095 |
PANAMA SENDS OBSERVERS TO HAITIAN ELECTIONS [...] No summary [...] |
2005-10-18 22:30:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID PREL PM HA POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA210 |
PANAMA PRESIDENT MARTIN TORRIJOS AND HIS FAMILY [...] THE GOP HAS REQUESTED COURTESIES OF PORT AND PROTECTION FOR PRESIDENT TORRIJOS AND SIX FAMILY MEMBERS, INCLUDING FIRST LADY VIVIAN TORRIJOS, WHO WILL TRAVEL TO MIAMI AND ORLANDO, FLORIDA IN EARLY FEBRUARY ON A PRIVATE VISIT. ITINERARY FOR PRESIDENT TORRIJOS FOLLOWS: 02/05 DEPART PANAMA VI [...] |
2005-01-28 18:11:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC PM OVIP TORRIJOS MARTIN POL SPECIALIST |
| 05PANAMA2139 |
NO EVIDENCE OF "WHIPSAWING" BY PANAMANIAN TELCOMS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Econoff and Econ Specialist delivered reftel points to Jose Galan, Director President of Panama's Public Utilities Regulatory Agency (Ente Regulador) on October 14th. Galan confirmed that circuit blockages by Panamanian telecommunications companies to place price pressure on i [...] |
2005-10-24 18:26:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ECPS ETRD PGOV PREL XM PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 05PANAMA2141 |
PANAMA'S BUSINESS LEADERS FRET THAT INEQUALITY MAY [...] (C) Summary: Worried that Panamanians can no longer "live in Switzerland and Haiti at the same time," local business leaders blame Venezuelan and Cuban-influenced agitators for stalling the GOP's reform agenda and for flirting with anarchy. In recent meetings with the Ambassador, these busin [...] |
2005-10-24 18:43:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD PREL PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 05PANAMA2152 |
POTUS VISIT PANAMA [...] No summary [...] |
2005-10-25 21:44:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL OVIP PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA2162 |
PANAMANIAN OFFICIALS OPTIMISTIC THAT CANAL [...] (SBU) This message is the second in a three-part series on views of the Torrijos administration's performance as it passes its September 1, 2005 first anniversary. Part One (Reftel A) evaluated the performance of the Panamanian government (GOP), citing the views of critics outside and inside the [...] |
2005-10-27 14:21:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD ECON PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA2190 |
SCENE SETTER: POTUS NOVEMBER 6-7 VISIT TO PANAMA [...] (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. 2. (SBU) Embassy Panama extends its warmest welcome to President Bush for his upcoming visit to Panama. Canal expansion, bilateral security cooperation, and good governance initiatives currently top the bilateral [...] |
2005-11-02 16:55:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AMGT ASEC OREP PGOV PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA2191 |
PANAMA PROPOSED MERGER OF AIR AND MARITIME [...] (SBU) An October 6 proposal by Panama's Minister of Government and Justice (MOGJ) Hector Aleman to combine Panama's National Maritime Service (SMN) and National Air Service (SAN) into a National Coast Guard (Guardacostas) as an efficiency and cost-saving measure drew criticism from former Pa [...] |
2005-11-02 16:56:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA2200 |
AMBASSADOR EATON DISCUSSES PANAMA CANAL EXPANSION [...] (U) Ambassador William Eaton met with French Ambassador to Panama Christophe Philibert on October 31, 2005. The ambassadors discussed French interests in Panama, President Bush,s November 6-7 visit to Panama, and French ambitions for Panama Canal expansion. End Summary. French Economic Int [...] |
2005-11-04 17:49:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL EINV CMGT PM FR POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA2232 |
STATE COMMISSION FOR JUSTICE REFORMS FINAL REPORT [...] (SBU) On September 28, the State Commission for Justice Reform submitted to President Torrijos recommendations for in-depth changes to Panama's administration of justice (AOJ). Many of the report's suggested reforms will require constitutional changes. The report attempts to address glaring [...] |
2005-11-15 17:09:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 05PANAMA2246 |
PANAMA HUMAN RIGHTS DAY: QUOTES ON FREEDOM AND THE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-11-16 22:38:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM PGOV KPAO PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA2258 |
PANAMA - 2006 NATIONAL TRADE ESTIMATE REPORT [...] TRADE SUMMARY The U.S. trade surplus with Panama was $1.50 billion in 2004, a decrease of $43 million from $1.55 billion in 2003. U.S. goods exports in 2004 were $1.8 billion, up 1.6 percent from the previous year. Corresponding U.S. imports from Panama were $316 million, up 4.8 percent. P [...] |
2005-11-17 20:36:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON EFIN ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 05PANAMA2260 |
CARIBBEAN BASIN ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT REPORT [...] Per ref A, post has emailed the below text to USTR for inclusion in the Sixth Report to Congress on the Operation of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA). As noted ref B, the CBERA and Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act have boosted Panama's exports to the U.S., particularly [...] |
2005-11-18 13:45:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON EFIN ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 05PANAMA2263 |
FBI DIRECTOR MUELLER,S VISIT TO PANAMA: FOCUS ON [...] (SBU) Summary: FBI Director Robert Mueller visited Panama October 27 ) 28 as part of his five day, five nation visit to Latin America. During his brief stay he met with President Martin Torrijos and senior GOP national security officials, Attorney General Ana Matilde Gomez and her senior st [...] |
2005-11-18 14:27:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV PINR PINS PM LEGATT |
| 05PANAMA2289 |
PANAMA'S CANDIDACY FOR THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE [...] (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4. 2. (U) On November 15, Embassy Panama received GOP Diplomatic Note DGOCI/DGca/897/05, dated November 1, 2005, by which the Ministry of Foreign Relations informs the USG that the Government of Panama has decided to submit their candidacy for [...] |
2005-11-23 14:26:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC PREL PGOV PM UNDP POL SPECIALIST |
| 05PANAMA2292 |
PANAMA HEARING IN ALEMAN CASE POSTPONED AS DEFENSE [...] (SBU) Summary: Panama,s November 23 hearing in the money laundering case against former Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman and cronies was postponed until March 30 after defense attorneys failed to appear due to alleged health problems. The next step in Panama will be for prosecutors to r [...] |
2005-11-23 21:38:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PGOV PREL PM NU NAS |
| 05PANAMA2294 |
SUPREME COURT JUSTICES FACE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT IF [...] (SBU) In the wake of a March 2005 scandal that featured mutual allegations of wrongdoing between four Supreme Court Justices, on November 14 Alianza Pro Justicia (Pro-Justice Alliance) dramatically submitted to the National Assembly a criminal complaint against eight Supreme Court Justices. [...] |
2005-11-23 22:01:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR SNAR PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 05PANAMA2309 |
PANAMA AND CUBA: NSC-DIRECTED REVIEW REGARDING [...] (SBU) Embassy Panama offers the following information and analysis in response to Reftel A tasking. CUBA AND PANAMANIAN POLITICS 2. (C) On August 20, 2005, the GOP and Cuba reestablished full diplomatic ties with the signing of diplomatic notes in Havana, Cuba (Reftel C). Prior to the re [...] |
2005-11-25 21:06:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC PGOV PREL PM CU POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA2311 |
PANAMA'S READINESS FOR AVIAN/PANDEMIC FLU [...] Summary: the GOP has nearly completed a National Avian Influenza (AI) Plan that details the institutions responsible for preparedness/communication, surveillance/detection, and response/containment. The GOP's inter-agency effort is led by the Ministry of Health and includes support from the P [...] |
2005-11-25 21:50:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO SENV EAID EAGR ECON ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 05PANAMA234 |
PANAMANIANS PONDER BOLIVARIAN CIRCLES AND [...] (C) Despite recent press reports and speculation about Venezuelan-inspired Bolivarian Circles in Panama, threatening language from Venezuelan president Chavez that Venezuelan "terrorists" are using Panama as a base, and Panama-Venezuela discussions about oil and other commercial links (to be [...] |
2005-02-01 22:29:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR MARR PINS ENRG EPET PM VZ POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA2342 |
GOP AT ODDS WITH PETROLEUM INDUSTRY [...] No summary [...] |
2005-12-02 15:36:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG EIND EPET ETRD PM ENIV ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 05PANAMA235 |
PANAMA PRESIDENT TORRIJOS TOUTS POLITICAL VALUE OF [...] (U) This is an action message. See Embassy recommendations in paras 13 and 14 below. Summary ------- 2. (S) Citing internal political pressures and dwindling domestic room for maneuver, President Martin Torrijos on January 27 made a plea to the Ambassador for U.S. concessions in the f [...] |
2005-02-01 22:50:00 | Embassy Panama | SECRET | PREL PGOV ETRD PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA2351 |
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DISMISSES CRIMINAL COMPLAINT [...] (U) In a decision that surprised no one, on November 29 the National Assembly Judicial Affairs Committee decided to dismiss Alianza Pro Justicia's criminal complaint against eight Supreme Court Justices. November 29, the Panamanian press was quick to point out, also was the day that the U.S. [...] |
2005-12-02 17:10:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR SNAR PM POL SPECIALIST |
| 05PANAMA2357 |
PANAMANIAN REACTION TO 212 (F) VISA REVOCATION OF [...] (SBU) On the same day that Panama's National Assembly Justice Affairs Committee dismissed a complaint filed by the NGO Alliance for Justice against eight Supreme Court justices for highly questionable rulings, on November 29, Embassy Panama delivered formal notification to Winston Spadafora t [...] |
2005-12-05 13:02:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA2369 |
PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT TORRIJOS ON THE HUSTINGS WITH [...] (S) President Torrijos invited Ambassador Eaton to accompany him on a November 25 helicopter visit to Cocle Province for a series of civic, cultural and political events. With each mile separating him from Panama City, Torrijos relaxed and transformed into a gregarious politician, enthusiast [...] |
2005-12-07 15:58:00 | Embassy Panama | SECRET | PREL PGOV ETRD PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA2371 |
DIALOGUE FINDS CONSENSUS ON SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM [...] (U) THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. SUMMARY ------- 2. (SBU) According to Second Vice President Ruben Arosemena, Panama's National Dialogue on Social Security (Caja de Seguridad Social - "CSS") achieved consensus on reforms aimed at restoring t [...] |
2005-12-07 19:30:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN ELAB PGOV PREL PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 05PANAMA2373 |
DIALOGUE FINDS CONSENSUS ON SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM [...] (U) THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. SUMMARY ------- 2. (SBU) According to Second Vice President Ruben Arosemena, Panama's National Dialogue on Social Security (Caja de Seguridad Social - "CSS") achieved consensus on reforms aimed at restoring t [...] |
2005-12-07 19:32:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN ELAB PGOV PREL PM ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 05PANAMA2375 |
2005-2006 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY [...] No summary [...] |
2005-12-07 19:41:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR PM NAS |
| 05PANAMA2392 |
TOUR D'HORIZON WITH PANAMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER [...] (C) SUMMARY: Over a 3-hour private dinner December 5 at the Residence, Ambassador held a wide-ranging discussion with Panamanian Foreign Minister (FM) Samuel Lewis Navarro on subjects including U.S. concerns about the integrity of the Panamanian judicial system (including the recent revocati [...] |
2005-12-09 19:35:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA2416 |
PANAMA'S CANDIDATE FOR A POSITION WITHIN THE [...] (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4. 2. (U) On November 15, Embassy Panama received GOP Diplomatic Note DGOCI/DGca/896/05, dated November 2, 2005, by which the Ministry of Foreign Relations informs the USG that the Government of Panama has decided to submit Guillermo Castro He [...] |
2005-12-14 15:13:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC PREL PGOV PM UNDP POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA2417 |
2005 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT [...] (SBU) Summary: Panama continues to be a strong partner with the U.S. in the global war on terrorism. The Panama Canal is the country's most important economic asset. Any act of terrorism that closes off the Canal could severely impact Panama's economy, the U.S., and other countries in the [...] |
2005-12-14 19:04:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER ASEC KCRM EFIN KHLS KPAO PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA2457 |
PANAMA FACES UNCERTAIN ENERGY FUTURE [...] SUMMARY (SBU). Major electricity generators estimate that Panama's demand for electricity will exceed supply by 2009. In the absence of investment in additional generating capacity, Panama could face energy shortages. Only plants using higher cost gas-generated electricity could be brought o [...] |
2005-12-19 22:20:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EIND ENRG EPET ETRD PM ENIV ECONOMIC AFFAIRS |
| 05PANAMA2463 |
PANAMA MOVES CLOSER TO NAMING NEW SUPREME COURT [...] (C) As a civil society evaluative commission released its December 19 report on 72 self"nominated candidates for two high"court vacancies, Supreme Court Magistrate Adan Arjona predicted that President Torrijos probably would choose "serious" people for the job. (See para 4.) Torrijos is expecte [...] |
2005-12-21 20:41:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR PM |
| 05PANAMA2470 |
2005-2006 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY [...] No summary [...] |
2005-12-23 16:22:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR KTFN KCRM PTER PM OTHER AGENCIES |
| 05PANAMA2490 |
PANAMA NAMES TWO NEW SUPREME COURT JUSTICES [...] (SBU) On December 28, President Torrijos submitted the names of Harley James Mitchell and Victor Leonel Benavides Pinilla to the National Assembly for ratification as Supreme Court magistrates. In a fast legislative session that evening, the National Assembly ratified both magistrates along w [...] |
2005-12-29 18:13:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA277 |
PANAMA: FISCAL REFORMS PASS WITH A GRIMACE [...] (SBU) In a show of political courage and discipline, and despite yelps of pain from business and white collar groups, President Torrijos and his Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) swiftly passed a fiscal reform package on January 31 that was signed into law February 2 (see Reftels). After t [...] |
2005-02-07 21:50:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ETRD PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA331 |
SCENESETTER: CODEL TAYLOR'S FEBRUARY 20-22 VISIT [...] (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. 2. (SBU) On behalf of Embassy Panama, I would like to extend our warmest welcome on the upcoming February 20-22 visit of your delegation to Panama. You will have the opportunity to review a wide range of issues in [...] |
2005-02-14 23:14:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OREP PGOV PREL EINV AMGT ASEC PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA337 |
PANAMA COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR USDOL/ILAB [...] Embassy grants country clearance and welcomes USDOL/ILAB Gary Russell, Acting Director, Office of Foreign Relations (OFR), and contractor Rodolfo Piza, Project Director, USDOL funded Cumple y Gana Project, who will visit Panama during February 16-17, 2005 to participate in the project kickoff. [...] |
2005-02-15 20:04:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB EAID OTRA PM |
| 05PANAMA338 |
PANAMA RESPONSE TO TIP PROTECTION (ESF) PROPOSAL [...] (U) Embassy is pleased to submit three anti-TIP bilateral project proposals (including two from the same government ministry), chosen from five submissions. Since the passage of the GOP's groundbreaking anti-TIP law in March 2004, the GOP has worked hard with its limited resources to promot [...] |
2005-02-15 20:49:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ASEC ELAB EAID KWMN KCRM KDEM PHUM SMIG PM |
| 05PANAMA350 |
PANAMA: SHOWDOWN AT THE ARNULFISTA CONVENTION [...] (SBU) Defying expectations, former president Mireya Moscoso retained her position as Arnulfista Party (PA) president at a January 16 closed-door convention, co-opting one of her main antagonists, Marco Ameglio, while defeating the other key challenger, liquor magnate Juan Carlos Varela. Now re [...] |
2005-02-16 21:31:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA352 |
PANAMA FOREIGN MINISTER'S VIEWS ON THE CANDIDACY [...] (C) Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Samuel Lewis on February 14 to discuss the OAS Secretary General race, per reftel instructions. Bringing Spanish and English versions of WHA PA's suggested op-ed article, she explained to Lewis that she preferred to deliver the text directly to him rather [...] |
2005-02-16 21:41:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA371 |
EMBASSY PANAMA WELCOMES CODEL TAYLOR [...] Embassy warmly welcomes Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS), member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), who will visit Panama during February 20-22, 2005. Embassy also welcomes HASC Cousel Henry J. Schweiter, and DOD escorts Col. Chris Perkins and Ltc. Mike Legg, U.S. Special Operations Command [...] |
2005-02-18 17:27:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN HO CS PM |
| 05PANAMA388 |
PANAMA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED SEEKING SUPPORT FOR US [...] (SBU) DCM demarched Vice Foreign Minister Ricardo Duran on February 18, stressing U.S. concern about Venezuela's aggressive bid to chair the working group that will draft the OAS social charter and action plan. DCM underscored the U.S. commitment to work constructively with other countries to [...] |
2005-02-18 22:16:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY POL |
| 05PANAMA390 |
PANAMA ATTORNEY GENERAL CONVOKES ANTI-TRAFFICKING [...] (SBU) In a big move forward for Panama's anti-TIP efforts, on February 15 Panama's new attorney general Ana Matilde Gomez convoked the anti-TIP commission (CONAPREDES) as contemplated by Panama's March 2004 anti-TIP law (see reftel A). The new commission institutionalizes anti-TIP policy co [...] |
2005-02-18 22:39:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL KCRM SMIG ELAB PM KTIP LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA391 |
PANAMANIAN V/MFA ON SECURING OAS ACTION TO [...] No summary [...] |
2005-02-18 22:41:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PTER PM OAS POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA436 |
PANAMA LAUNCHES DOL-FUNDED LABOR TRADE CAPACITY [...] (U) With a Panama-US FTA Agreement still in limbo after the 8th negotiating round, on February 17 Panama's Labor Ministry launched Panama's participation in the DOL-funded labor trade capacity building project called "Cumple y Gana" (Comply and Win). The four-year project includes the CAFTA [...] |
2005-02-25 20:43:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM EAID ELAB ETRD PGOV PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA437 |
CODEL TAYLOR MEETS PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT MARTIN [...] (SBU) In a 48-hour visit during February 20-22, Codel Taylor toured the Darien border region by helicopter, met with senior Panamanian officials (including President Martin Torrijos) and viewed a joint combined training exercise (JCET) in Chagres National Park (former Ft. Sherman) that includ [...] |
2005-02-25 20:43:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA439 |
PANAMA SUPPORTS US VIEWS ON OAS SOCIAL CHARTER [...] No summary [...] |
2005-02-25 20:57:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PM OAS POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA475 |
EMBASSY PANAMA GRANTS COUNTRY CLEARANCE TO OPDAT [...] Country Clearance is granted to Assistant United States Attorney Rosa Rodriguez-Mera, DHS Senior Special Agent Raul Aguilar, Attorney/Victim Witness Specialist Ana Isabel Vallejo, and OPDAT Program Analyst Jessica Alpert, who will arrive in Panama on March 6, 2005 and depart on/about March 12 [...] |
2005-02-28 22:36:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | APER KCRM PM |
| 05PANAMA476 |
PANAMA: MINISTRY OF PRESIDENCY SUPPORTS U.S. [...] No summary [...] |
2005-03-03 22:24:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PM |
| 05PANAMA495 |
PANAMA CONTINUES TO SUPPORT U.S. POSITION ON HUMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2005-03-07 21:17:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA555 |
PANAMA'S INPUT FOR FIFTH ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING [...] (SBU) Embassy Panama believes that trafficking in persons (TIP) is a relatively small and manageable problem, involving around 200-500 victims. In 2004, Embassy worked closely with the Government of Panama (GOP) to discover the true extent of TIP in Panama and to strengthen the anti-TIP leg [...] |
2005-03-14 14:37:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA608 |
PANAMA TACKLES TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) [...] (C) Armed with Panama's tough March 2004 anti-TIP law, Darien province Prosecutor Arnesia Janeth Torrero recently arrested indigenous National Police (PNP) officers for their alleged commercial sexual exploitation of indigenous minor girls in the remote Darien province. In January, Torrero finis [...] |
2005-03-16 22:31:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA614 |
PANAMA RESPONSE TO CHILD MARRIAGE TASKING [...] (SBU) Despite laws that permit 14-year-old girls and 16-year-old-boys to marry with parental consent, legal child marriage is uncommon in Panama. Nonetheless, Panama has significant levels of early cohabitation, especially among indigenous populations in rural areas. Panamanian experts agre [...] |
2005-03-17 20:40:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ELAB PHUM PGOV SCUL SOCI KWMN PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 05PANAMA629 |
PANAMANIAN SUPREME COURT FRACAS BLURS GOVERNMENT [...] (C) A public row pitting one Supreme Court Justice against three others has incited vehement public demands for the dismissal of all nine justices. On March 10 the Panamanian government (GOP) institutionalized those demands by forming a State Justice Commission (SJC) comprising state officials and [...] |
2005-03-18 21:46:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PHUM PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA680 |
PANAMA COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CODEL RENZI [...] Embassy warmly welcomes Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ), member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), who will visit Panama during April 1-3, 2005. Embassy also welcomes committee professional staff member Mr. Robert Myhill and former HPSCI staffer Brant Bassett. 2. Emba [...] |
2005-03-24 17:03:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN MX PM |
| 05PANAMA688 |
PANAMA COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR LT COL VINCENT C SMITH [...] Embassy warmly welcomes Lt. Col. Vincent C. Smtih, USAF, as the Escort Officer for Codel Renzi, which will visit Panama during April 1-3, 2005. 2. Embassy Control Officer for the visit is Political Officer Karen Covert, telephones: office (507) 207-7131, residence (507) 225-2850, cell (50 [...] |
2005-03-28 19:50:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN MX PM |
| 05PANAMA691 |
REQUEST LEAHY AMENDMENT HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING [...] (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: As required by the Departments of State and Defense Leahy Amendments, Embassy requests that Washington conduct soonest the required human rights review of the below listed Panamanian Public Force person(s) and/or unit(s) and that State Department transmit the results to [...] |
2005-03-28 21:20:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM MASS PREL PM POL OMS |
| 05PANAMA695 |
SCENESETTER: CODEL RENZI APRIL 1-3 VISIT TO PANAMA [...] (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. 2. (SBU) On behalf of Embassy Panama, I would like to extend our warmest welcome on the upcoming visit of your delegation to Panama. You will have the opportunity to review a wide range of issues, including bilate [...] |
2005-03-29 17:14:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OREP PGOV PREL AMGT ASEC PM |
| 05PANAMA698 |
YOUR VISIT TO PANAMA [...] (C) When I heard of your plan to visit Panama on April 10 my Embassy immediately began making preparations to welcome you. I personally have been looking forward to meeting you and working with you. Recently Panama has been the focus of intense Washington interest and we have had the honor to ho [...] |
2005-03-29 19:51:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | OVIP PREL MOPS PM POL CHIEF |
| 05PANAMA701 |
SCENESETTER: GEN CRADDOCK APRIL 4-5 VISIT TO PANAMA [...] (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. 2. (SBU) On behalf of Embassy Panama, I would like to extend our warmest welcome on your upcoming visit to Panama. You will have the opportunity to review a wide range of issues, including bilateral security and [...] |
2005-03-29 22:02:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AMGT ASEC MOPS OREP PGOV PM PREL |
| 05PANAMA702 |
PANAMA COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR PAIGH REPRESENTATIVE [...] Embassy grants country clearance for Ms. Jacqueline Klaver, Executive Secretary of the U.S. National Section, Pan American Institute of Geography and History (PAIGH), United States Geological Survey, who will visit Panama during April 4-8, 2005. The purpose of this visit is to represent the [...] |
2005-03-29 22:28:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC CS OTRA SOCI PM PAIGH |
| 05PANAMA778 |
PANAMA ATTORNEY GENERAL TESTS TORRIJOS [...] (C) Panama's independent Attorney General Ana Matilde Gomez may have put the government of Martin Torrijos in an uncomfortable position in March when she asked the Supreme Court to reopen two three-year-old bribery investigations into a government contract for Centro Multimodal, Industrial y d [...] |
2005-04-07 18:48:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PM POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 05PANAMA779 |
CODEL RENZI MEETS PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT MARTIN [...] (C) In a cordial April 1 meeting with President Martin Torrijos and Vice President Lewis, Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Arizona) said that the USG must get Panamanian government (GOP) concessions on Canal procurement and the right of U.S. citizens to engage in retail trade to bring the bilateral Free Trade A [...] |
2005-04-07 19:45:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ETRD PREL EPET PM VZ POL |