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OAS COMMEMORATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RATIFICATION OF THE TORRIJOS-CARTER TREATY THAT TRANSFERRED CONTROL OF CANAL TO PANAMA

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the ratification of the Torrijos-Carter treaty, a group of Panamanian representatives made a presentation to the members of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) during which they highlighted the ideals of independence and mutual respect embodied in the agreement. They also made a presentation of the Panama Canal expansion project that will be completed by 2014.

In his presentation, the Permanent Representative of Panama to the OAS, Ambassador Guillermo A. Cochez, stressed that his country has been a “key point for meeting, exchange, and transit for over five hundred years”, and stated that with the recovery of democracy, Panamanians were able to unite around “a superior ideal to develop the canal and its adjacent zones.”

Referring to the history of the signing of the Treaty that returned control of the Canal to Panama, Ambassador Cochez acknowledged the “unconditional support received from regional leaders”; among them he mentioned Venezuela, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Jamaica. He also stressed that the OAS “served as the setting for dialogue and fraternity among people”, upon being the place where the treaties were formalized.

The OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, took the opportunity to recognize “the capacity of Panamanian people to transform their cause from a bilateral cause between the United Sates and Panama to the Americas’ cause.” He affirmed that the return of the Canal to Panama was an achievement for all Latin-American people. “That willingness, that vision of the future and the unity of Latin Americans that characterize the fight for big causes might serve us today to face other challenges, and to use the example of those who had the ability to look at those challenges openly, with understanding and with a sense of unity,” Insulza stated.

The Minister for Canal Affairs, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Authority, Rómulo Roux, also spoke to the members of the OAS Council and reminded them of the ideological, economic and political relevance of having control over the Canal. He declared that, although there were doubts regarding the compliance of the commitments agreed upon at the end of the conflict between Panama and the United States, there were positive results and they were possible because of the “support and surveillance provided by the OAS for the fulfillment of the treaties, which speaks to the importance and relevance of the Organization.”

“On October 1 of 1979, when the Panamanian people entered the Canal, we became aware that the Canal area should benefit not only us but also the other countries of the Americas. In subsequent years, we prepared ourselves to make this zone a relevant area of logistical services, and a facility for international economic activities,” said Roux

The Administrator of the Panama Canal Authority, Alberto Aleman Zubieta, made the presentation of the Canal expansion project and explained the details of the initiative, which requires an investment of more than five billion dollars. Zubieta underscored the positive impact that the project will have not only for Panama, but also for the maritime industry, the environment and for creating greater connectivity in Latin America.

Reference: E-337/09