Panama Focuses on Future Naval Bases
Panama - An international cooperation
agreement to establish two naval bases in
Panama is currently focusing the attention
of the national society, which is waiting to
know the participants in that initiative.
Government and Justice Minister Jose Raul
Mulino said the country would implement the
mentioned agreement before October 30, to
establish the bases in Darien and Veraguas
provinces, although he did not mention the
countries involved in the initiative.
The official explained that the measure is
due to the need to establish greater control
at the Panamanian coasts to prevent drug
trafficking.
Faced with this situation, the Panamanian
National Front for Economic and Social
Rights Defense (FRENADESO) denounced that
the Republic's President Ricardo Martinelli
is seeking the US military bases' return to
the country.
In this reference, FRENADESO warned that
"living again in shame or the ignominy of
ceding their sovereignty to an imperialist
power," could be ever accepted under any
pretext.
With this decision, the Panamanian Executive
joins the Colombian administration, which
accepted US military bases that are "a
threat to regional peace and stability," the
front said.
The announcement confirmed FRENADESO's
denounciation about construction of a runway
in Meteti, Darien province, to be used by US
aircrafts.
Panamanian Foreign Minister Juan Carlos
Varela denied the establishment of US naval
bases in the Pacific coastal region to fight
drug trafficking.
The also Vice president of the Republic said
Mulino would give details of that initiative
later.
Varela said the Executive decided to protect
the area between Jaque, Darien province, and
Punta Coca, in Veraguas, to stop drug
smuggling drugs, using speed boats through
the country's territorial waters. |
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