Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06PANAMA36, EXIT INTERVIEW WITH FORMER PANAMANIAN PRESIDENTIAL

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06PANAMA36.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06PANAMA36 2006-01-06 19:27 2011-05-31 00:00 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Panama
VZCZCXYZ0022
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHZP #0036/01 0061927
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 061927Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7150
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2114
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0906
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 0581
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 0796
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL//J5/J2/POLAD//
C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000036

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV EAGR EFIN PM
SUBJECT: EXIT INTERVIEW WITH FORMER PANAMANIAN PRESIDENTIAL
SECRETARY FOR GOALS AND PLANNING EBRAHIM ASVAT

SIPDIS

Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION LUIS ARREAGA FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
 AND (D).

SUMMARY
-------
1.  (C) Former Secretary for Planning and Goals Ebrahim Asvat
commented on President Torrijos's leadership style, the
possibility of an early 2006 cabinet shakeup, and the timing
of a future Canal referendum in a December meeting with POL
Counselor.  Always outspoken and provocative, the bespeckled,
goateed Asvat termed cabinet meetings "chaotic," bemoaned the
lack of a chief of staff to impose order and to screen,
evaluate, and prioritize issues, and complained about the
slowness of Torrijos's decisionmaking.  Asvat pointed out
that Torrijos does not have adequate staff support or advice
and thus, paradoxically, has no "leisure" (despite his
slowness) to consider issues adequately before he must act.
But, as Asvat points out, Torrijos himself is the one who
imposes that style and that structure (or lack of structure).
 Apparently back in his old job as president/editor of the
news tabloid El Siglo, Asvat quit his unpaid post as
Secretary for Planning and Goals on November 21, complaining

SIPDIS
of lack of support from President Torrijos, an old gripe.
End summary.

Canal Referendum
----------------
2.  (C) In a December 2005 meeting with POL Counselor, Asvat
predicted a Canal referendum would not take place before
November or December 2006 or, more likely, sometime in 2007.
"This is not a group that likes to take decisions rapidly,"
he pointed out.

"My Friends, Right or Wrong"
----------------------------
3.  (C) Asvat summed up Torrijos's attitude to high
government appointments as "my friends right or wrong."
Torrijos wants his friends in government with him but he is
less concerned about paying attention to whether they are
doing a good job or potentially breaking the law, Asvat
asserted.  (Comment: Torrijos's remarkable, some would say
exaggerated, commitment to close, personal associates, who
include many U.S. educated technocrats, like himself, is a
two-edged sword.  It chips away at the credit he brought
himself by marginalizing the PRD "old guard."  End comment.)

Cabinet Shakeup?
----------------
4.  (C) Asvat said that he expects a cabinet shakeup early in
2006.  The likely victims: Minister of Economy and Finance
Catin Vasquez, Agriculture Minister Laurentino Cortizo, and
Tourism Minister Ruben Blades.  Asvat termed Ag Minister
Cortizo's expected departure "long overdue."  (Comment:
Cortizo has proved more inimical to U.S. agriculture exports
than any agriculture minister in living memory.  End
Comment.)  Asvat claimed that Torrijos had wanted to ax
Vasquez in September 2005 but the timing was inconvenient
because Vasquez then was lobbying hard for the Canal
Administrator job.  (Comment: Possibly the cabinet's most
brilliant technocrat if not its most adroit politician,
Vasquez took a lot of public heat, whether deserved or not,
in May-June 2005 for operating the "heartless computer" that
produced the now-rejected social security reform bill.
Vasquez followed that performance with a highly visible
lobbying campaign (that visibly annoyed Torrijos) to unseat
Canal Administrator Alberto Aleman.  Despite his efforts, the
ACP Board confirmed Aleman to a second seven-year term in
November 2005.  End Comment.)

Asvat To Tourism?
-----------------
5.  (C) Asvat claimed that Torrijos met with him after his
resignation and said that he might name him Tourism Minister,
at the expense of current Minister Ruben Blades.  Asvat has
clear ideas about what he would do as tourism minister.  A
Harvard grad, Asvat is keen to use market mechanisms to raise
Panama's standard of living.  He pushes the idea that
investment in mass tourism projects plays to Panama's natural
endowments of deserted coastlines and tens of thousands of
eager, unemployed or semi-employed workers.  Tourism is one
of the few potential mass job-creating engines available to
Panama, he claimed.  Asvat also underscored Panama's boom in
"residential tourism" -- as hundreds of U.S., Canadian, and
European snow birds are snapping up relatively cheap
(compared with U.S. prices) beach front and condo properties.

No Leisure, No Support
----------------------
6.  (C) Asvat claimed that President Torrijos does not have
the "leisure" to ponder important matters and he does not
have a staff to advise him on what decisions to make.  An
example was a call he got from Vice President/Foreign
Minister Samuel Lewis in early December asking for advice on
what to do about the revocation of Supreme Court magistrate
Winston Spadafora's U.S. visa.  There is no gate keeper at
the Presidency, Asvat continued, no official filtering
process, no chief of staff to impose order and discipline.
Ministerial meetings are (predictably) chaotic.  Anyone can
say or propose anything.  Nothing is vetted beforehand, so no
one can tell what interests underlie a particular proposal.
One example: a proposed casino in Santiago, two hours west of
Panama City, about the least touristy town imaginable, Asvat
said.  No one criticizes anyone else's proposals, to avoid
having their own ideas criticized.  On top of that, the
Presidency has no or almost no public relations/information
capability, no way to explain ideas to the public, Asvat
complained.  Asvat attributes the lack of structure to
Torrijos and his preferences for how he wants to organize (or
not) the Presidency.

Comment
-------
7.  (C) Asvat once predicted that Torrijos would make him his
public relations chief, which never happened.  Although
Asvat's predictions about a ministry for himself must be
viewed with caution, other Embassy sources have heard similar
rumors about Vasquez and Cortizo.  As for how Torrijos runs
(or fails to run) day-to-day operations at the Palace, his
habits by now probably are too ingrained to be susceptible to
change.  A January 1 La Prensa article quoted Asvat as saying
that the Panamanian people mainly would judge the Torrijos
government in three areas: job creation, security, and
fighting corruption.

EATON