Panama wished to switch diplomatic relations from Taiwan to China after President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) took office in 2008, but decided against it partly because of signals from Beijing about its reluctance to undermine cross-strait relations, a diplomatic cable recently released by WikiLeaks shows.
The confidential diplomatic cable on Panama’s decision to maintain its relations with Taiwan was sent to the US Department of State, the US Department of Defense, the US National Security Council and the CIA from the US embassy in Panama City on Feb. 23 last year.
The cable showed that another factor that helped Taiwan maintain diplomatic relations with Panama was donations offered by Ma in January last year to the administration of Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, who had publicly talked about allying with China during his election campaign in 2009.
Then-US ambassador to Panama Barbara Stephenson said in the cable that the Panamanian government had renewed its commitment to Taiwan despite public statements by Martinelli in 2009 that the country would opt for formal diplomatic ties with the -People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Martinelli, who was inaugurated as president on July 1, 2009, has attempted to follow through with his plan to recognize the PRC, but was told to stop by Beijing, Stephenson said.
“Martinelli may have had in mind the type of cooperation that Costa Rica has been enjoying with the PRC since establishing formal ties in 2007,” the cable said.
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias on Feb. 1 informed a Colombian diplomat that Martinelli had told him that Panama wanted to follow Costa Rica’s lead, but that the Chinese had asked him to “remain calm” and that for the time being the PRC was not interested in furthering its diplomatic ties, the cable said.
Arias announced in June 2007 that his country would cut ties with Taiwan to recognize China.
The cable said Panamanian Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Varela told Stephenson on Feb. 18 last year he had been told by his Chinese counterpart during a visit to Asia the previous month that because of diplomatic overtures under way between Beijing and Taipei, it was not the right time for Panama to recognize the PRC.
Chinese diplomats relayed to political officers in Costa Rica that the PRC was concerned that diplomatic recognition from other Latin American countries might damage their recently improved relations with Taiwan, the cable showed.
Stephenson also attributed the continuity of relations between the Taiwan and Panama to donations offered by Taiwan to the Martinelli administration.
On Jan. 6 last year, Varela agreed to a “five-year cooperation” plan that included the donation of US$25 million for construction of a hospital on the outskirts of Panama City in Chilibre-Las Cumbres, and a US$22 million executive business jet.
The cable said Varela’s confirmation that ties with Taiwan would continue came shortly after Taiwan gave the Panamanian government an Embraer Legacy 600 executive business jet as a gift in December 2009.
The Taiwanese government has used financial incentives to sweeten its relationship with Panama. Political science professor Miguel Antonio Bernal estimated aid to be at US$125 million a year during the previous administration of Panamanian president Martin Torrijos, the cable said.
2011年5月10日 星期二
2011年5月5日 星期四
WikiLeaks: Aoun Said I Am Not in Love with Hizbullah, Hariri Tried to Destroy Me
A leaked U.S. Embassy cable published exclusively in Al-Jumhuriyah newspaper on Thursday revealed that Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun was keen on preserving his good alliance with Hizbullah, while he feared any close ties with Syria and Iran.
The WikiLeaks cable dated November 3, 2006 reported on a meeting between Aoun, an Iranian parliamentary delegation, and MPs Abbas Hashem and Ibrahim Kanaan in Rabieh during which FPM leader said he cannot form any political axis with Iran.
He insisted that there was no commitment between the Free Patriotic Movement and Syria where "none of FPM members have the authority to visit Damascus."
Moreover, he said that Hizbullah is earning its independence from Syrian authority day after day where it will never become "a toy in the hands of Syria".
"I am not in love with Hizbullah but if we isolate it, its reaction will be hostile and the country can no longer support any clashes," Aoun reportedly said.
Commenting on then U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffery Feltman's statement that Hizbullah was exploiting Aoun, the latter said that March 14 forces have done worse.
"Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri tried to destroy me in Lebanon, Arab countries and the United States," MP said.
"Hariri tried to form a lobby group to block my visit to Saudi Arabia and worked on distorting my reputation in Washington", the MP stressed.
The leaked cable also revealed that Aoun hated the March 14 camp because it would never help him reach the presidency, unlike Hizbullah, Syria, and Iran that would assist him in pursuing his goal.
The WikiLeaks cable dated November 3, 2006 reported on a meeting between Aoun, an Iranian parliamentary delegation, and MPs Abbas Hashem and Ibrahim Kanaan in Rabieh during which FPM leader said he cannot form any political axis with Iran.
He insisted that there was no commitment between the Free Patriotic Movement and Syria where "none of FPM members have the authority to visit Damascus."
Moreover, he said that Hizbullah is earning its independence from Syrian authority day after day where it will never become "a toy in the hands of Syria".
"I am not in love with Hizbullah but if we isolate it, its reaction will be hostile and the country can no longer support any clashes," Aoun reportedly said.
Commenting on then U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffery Feltman's statement that Hizbullah was exploiting Aoun, the latter said that March 14 forces have done worse.
"Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri tried to destroy me in Lebanon, Arab countries and the United States," MP said.
"Hariri tried to form a lobby group to block my visit to Saudi Arabia and worked on distorting my reputation in Washington", the MP stressed.
The leaked cable also revealed that Aoun hated the March 14 camp because it would never help him reach the presidency, unlike Hizbullah, Syria, and Iran that would assist him in pursuing his goal.
2011年4月24日 星期日
Viacom's VH1 Gains Traction With Women
VH1's bid to draw young women with a line-up of flashy new reality shows is working—so far.
"Mob Wives," a provocative reality program about a group of women who were born into, or married into, reputed Mafia families, drew 1.4 million viewers when it premiered on the Viacom Inc. cable channel a week ago Sunday. About 68% of those viewers were women.
By comparison, the reality hit "Jersey Shore" drew about 1.38 million viewers when it debuted on VH1's sister channel, MTV, in December 2009.
The new show's audience represented a 32% increase from the average number of women 18- to 49-years-old who watched VH1 at 8 p.m. on Sundays during the first three months of 2011. On the Sunday of its debut, "Mob Wives" ranked No. 3 in Google searches.
After seeing its audience erode in recent years, VH1 recently overhauled its programming to target young women. "Mob Wives" is a cornerstone of the channel's new strategy as its executives turn away from dating-competition shows to programs that focus on more serious subjects, such as family, religion, and the Mafia.
—Lauren A.E. Schuker
CBS Aims to Name New Anchor Soon
The new brass at CBS Corp.'s CBS News hopes to name a new anchor and unveil other changes in the network's evening newscast as early as next week, regardless of whether current anchor Katie Couric has picked her next job, said people familiar with the matter.
Ms. Couric's contract at the network expires in early June, and she is still weighing offers, including one from CBS, to host a daytime talk show. She likely won't finalize her plans before CBS News announces its changes, one of the people familiar with the matter said. But Ms. Couric, who is going to London to cover the royal wedding this week, may publicly acknowledge that she is leaving her anchor seat in coming days, this person added.
CBS News is expected to name "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley as its "CBS Evening News" anchor, and make other behind-the-camera changes at the show, the people familiar with the matter said. CBS is hoping to improve the news broadcast's No. 3 ratings, in part by focusing on traditional news coverage, one of these people added.
—Sam Schechner
WNET Bids to Run New Jersey Network
WNET, the top public-television provider to the New York metropolitan area, has submitted a bid to manage New Jersey Network, one of the country's largest statewide public-broadcasting networks, and is expecting to hear back next week, according to people familiar with the situation.
Last year, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signaled his desire to sever ties with NJN, planning to eliminate its $11 million state subsidy. He is one of several public officials trying to extricate their states from the public-television business, which is undergoing a wave of consolidation in the face of cutbacks.
NJN, which has been on the air for more than 40 years, is a member of the Public Broadcasting Service television network and the National Public Radio network. It also broadcasts its own programming, mostly related to issues in New Jersey.
In addition to WNET, which runs public-television channels WNET13 and WLIW21, potential suitors for NJN are WHYY, a PBS member in Philadelphia, and local organizations such as WBGO, a public-radio station broadcast out of Newark.
—Lauren A. E. Schuker
Self-Publishing Leads to Literary Break-Up
Can literary agents survive in an era of self-publishing? A high-profile author-agent break-up is a cautionary tale.
A few weeks ago, thriller writer Barry Eisler parted ways with agent Dan Conaway, who had represented him since the summer of 2007.
Part of the reason: Mr. Eisler just didn't need him.
The author had recently rejected a $500,000, two-book deal from a leading publisher in favor of self-publishing "The Detachment," a thriller featuring his character John Rain, a Japanese-American assassin. He plans to publish the title this summer as an e-book and a physical book.
"The thing that has enabled agents to take their 15% cut is brokering the deal and managing the relationship that results from the deal," said Mr. Eisler. "In a self-published world, those things don't apply."
To survive, agents need to morph into business managers who also handle the traditional publishing roles such as copy-editing, proof-reading, and jacket design. "That will be their value proposition," he said.
Mr. Conaway declined to comment, except to confirm that he no longer represents Mr. Eisler.
Mr. Eisler may not have slammed the door shut on traditional publishing, however. "If circumstances change, and I decide I'd be better off in the legacy world again, I could always go back," he said. "If there's anything to go back to."
"Mob Wives," a provocative reality program about a group of women who were born into, or married into, reputed Mafia families, drew 1.4 million viewers when it premiered on the Viacom Inc. cable channel a week ago Sunday. About 68% of those viewers were women.
By comparison, the reality hit "Jersey Shore" drew about 1.38 million viewers when it debuted on VH1's sister channel, MTV, in December 2009.
The new show's audience represented a 32% increase from the average number of women 18- to 49-years-old who watched VH1 at 8 p.m. on Sundays during the first three months of 2011. On the Sunday of its debut, "Mob Wives" ranked No. 3 in Google searches.
After seeing its audience erode in recent years, VH1 recently overhauled its programming to target young women. "Mob Wives" is a cornerstone of the channel's new strategy as its executives turn away from dating-competition shows to programs that focus on more serious subjects, such as family, religion, and the Mafia.
—Lauren A.E. Schuker
CBS Aims to Name New Anchor Soon
The new brass at CBS Corp.'s CBS News hopes to name a new anchor and unveil other changes in the network's evening newscast as early as next week, regardless of whether current anchor Katie Couric has picked her next job, said people familiar with the matter.
Ms. Couric's contract at the network expires in early June, and she is still weighing offers, including one from CBS, to host a daytime talk show. She likely won't finalize her plans before CBS News announces its changes, one of the people familiar with the matter said. But Ms. Couric, who is going to London to cover the royal wedding this week, may publicly acknowledge that she is leaving her anchor seat in coming days, this person added.
CBS News is expected to name "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley as its "CBS Evening News" anchor, and make other behind-the-camera changes at the show, the people familiar with the matter said. CBS is hoping to improve the news broadcast's No. 3 ratings, in part by focusing on traditional news coverage, one of these people added.
—Sam Schechner
WNET Bids to Run New Jersey Network
WNET, the top public-television provider to the New York metropolitan area, has submitted a bid to manage New Jersey Network, one of the country's largest statewide public-broadcasting networks, and is expecting to hear back next week, according to people familiar with the situation.
Last year, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signaled his desire to sever ties with NJN, planning to eliminate its $11 million state subsidy. He is one of several public officials trying to extricate their states from the public-television business, which is undergoing a wave of consolidation in the face of cutbacks.
NJN, which has been on the air for more than 40 years, is a member of the Public Broadcasting Service television network and the National Public Radio network. It also broadcasts its own programming, mostly related to issues in New Jersey.
In addition to WNET, which runs public-television channels WNET13 and WLIW21, potential suitors for NJN are WHYY, a PBS member in Philadelphia, and local organizations such as WBGO, a public-radio station broadcast out of Newark.
—Lauren A. E. Schuker
Self-Publishing Leads to Literary Break-Up
Can literary agents survive in an era of self-publishing? A high-profile author-agent break-up is a cautionary tale.
A few weeks ago, thriller writer Barry Eisler parted ways with agent Dan Conaway, who had represented him since the summer of 2007.
Part of the reason: Mr. Eisler just didn't need him.
The author had recently rejected a $500,000, two-book deal from a leading publisher in favor of self-publishing "The Detachment," a thriller featuring his character John Rain, a Japanese-American assassin. He plans to publish the title this summer as an e-book and a physical book.
"The thing that has enabled agents to take their 15% cut is brokering the deal and managing the relationship that results from the deal," said Mr. Eisler. "In a self-published world, those things don't apply."
To survive, agents need to morph into business managers who also handle the traditional publishing roles such as copy-editing, proof-reading, and jacket design. "That will be their value proposition," he said.
Mr. Conaway declined to comment, except to confirm that he no longer represents Mr. Eisler.
Mr. Eisler may not have slammed the door shut on traditional publishing, however. "If circumstances change, and I decide I'd be better off in the legacy world again, I could always go back," he said. "If there's anything to go back to."
訂閱：
文章 (Atom)