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Panama Farmers Oppose US
Accord
Panamanian farmers welcomed the
decision by a minister in Martin
Torrijos"s Cabinet to resign in
protest at negotiations to sign
a Free Trade Agreement with the
United States.
The National Farmers Association
(Onagro) said that whatever
happens in Washington, where
negotiations are currently being
held, "the country"s sovereignty
and food security is at stake
now."
Onagro president Enrique
Athanasiadis told press the
decision by Minister of
Agricultural Development
Laurentino Cortizo showed "a
courageous attitude".
We defend Panama"s food
sovereignty at all costs and
repudiate negotiations that may
put a main sector in danger,
Athanasiadis stressed.
Onagro joined other unions and
civic organizations in
expressing outrage, when they
learned of the overbearing
content of a letter addressed by
Washington to Panamanian
authorities about preconditions
regarding the free trade
agreement.
The group recalled that in 2005,
European authorities described
Panama as one of the world"s
best ten countries regarding
health control management, in
view of reported cases of Bovine
Spongiform Encephalopathy, or
mad cow disease.
In the wake of the mad cow
disease crisis, Panama cut off
beef imports from the US.
Cortizo"s resignation on Tuesday
marred ongoing negotiations in
Washington between delegations
from Panama and the US. However,
it seems the Panamanian
government gave the green light
to the agreement anyway.
In his letter of resignation,
Cortizo said he quit the post
due to concerns of foreign
pressure, in a direct reference
to the US, and because he is
worried that Panama may be
exposed to catastrophic
consequences of plagues in its
agricultural sector.
He added that his concern
stemmed from Washington´s
intention to impose US health
measures on Panama, despite both
countries previous agreement to
apply measures designed by the
World Trade Organization.
President of the Republic Martin
Torrijos made a brief statement
Tuesday appointing Guillermo
Salazar as new minister of
Agricultural Development.
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