U.S. and Hong Kong (1999)

WorldNet Television Previews Panama Canal Transfer

Following is a transcript of the program:

(begin transcript)

WORLDNET "DIALOGUE"
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
OFFICE OF BROADCAST SERVICES

GUESTS: Ambassador Peter Romero, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. State Department (Speaks through interpreter)

Ambassador Guillermo Ford, Panamanian Ambassador to the U.S. (Speaks through interpreter)

Ambassador Sol Linowitz, Panama Canal Treaty Negotiator

TOPIC: Panama Canal
POSTS: Lima, Caracas, Santiago
HOST: Maria Delcarmen Siccardi

DATE: December 6, 1999
TIME: 15:00 - 16:00 EST

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

Q: Good afternoon, my name is Ricardo Israel (ph). I am director of the Institute for Political Science of the University of Chile. My question is for Mr. Linowitz. It is likely that he more than anyone will have heard many doubts that are still to be heard in the United States in journalistic circles and on the part of some congresspersons as to the situation of the canal and the control by the Panamanians. In parentheses, I an very pleased to be joining you today, and I Congratulate the Panamanian people. Indeed I feel this is an extremely important precedent that the United States has carried through on its word and on its responsibility. It's very encouraging. But in the U.S. press you see, and also in some members of Congress, that doubts persist.

My question is: Based on your experience, what problem do you think that Panama needs to solve in order to be considered a totally trustworthy partner by those who still have doubts in the United States?

AMB. LINOWITZ: I don't have any question but that Panama will be a reliable partner, that it will show that integrity in its relationship, and that some of these things we read about in our newspapers are made out of whole cloth and have really no basis in fact so far as we can tell.

Right now there are some things which are being talked about having to do with the relationship between Communist China and Panama. It can only be harmful to have these sorts of stories around, and I think it's necessary for the American people to sort out the truth from the gossip, and hopefully come up with a response which is consistent with what we all want.

MS. SICCARDI: Thank you, Chile, and we will return to you later for more questions and comments. But now we will hear a block of questions from Lima. Go ahead please.

Q: Good afternoon, my name is Eric Bareda (ph) from TVN, Lima, Peru. And I would like to know if within the U.S. Congress there are any restrictions or any opposition to the transfer of the canal to the government of Panama. Specifically my question goes to Ambassador Peter Romero.

AMB. ROMERO: Well, the reality is that one hears many criticisms from some members of both chambers of Congress, but the vast majority of both chambers of Congress fully support what we are trying to do, which is to carry out our duty with respect to the handover of the Panama Canal. But more importantly, we've analyzed the security situation in Panama, and specifically with respect to the canal. There were three visits by several missions from my government, including some from the Congress, particularly the Senate. And we have concluded that there is not a direct threat by China in terms of a bid by the Chinese company, Hutchinson Wampoa. It's purely a commercial matter. They have an obligation to load and unload shipping vessels and that's it. There is a U.S. company and a Taiwanese company. For many years the Panamanian government has maintained diplomatic relations with the government of Taiwan, and I imagine that the government of the People's Republic of China would like to expand its commercial interests in the area. But that doesn't necessarily mean that they want to do something more negative than that.

AMB. LINOWITZ: We have to acknowledge that there exists in the Congress a group of people who would like to undo the treaty. We had trouble when we were negotiating, and found that this was a very difficult challenge for us. We hear it again today. And some of the same voices are being heard now. That makes the job even harder than it otherwise would be. And therefore I think it means that both sides, both Panama and the United States, have to do everything possible to assure that in a cooperative spirit things will happen the way they should.

MS. SICCARDI: Thank you very much. We continue now with more questions from Santiago. Go ahead please.

Q: This is for Ambassador Guillermo Ford. Mr. Ambassador, I would like to know how the Panamanian people have assumed the transfer of the canal to Panama, and whether any -- whether there has been any opposition to this.

AMB. FORD: No, not at all. I believe the majority of the people of Panama, if not all the people of Panama, have publicly recognized the extraordinary fashion in which the United States has strictly complied with every aspect of the treaty. There may be one or two items pending at the end of this relationship on December 31st, but essentially the people of Panama have recognized that the United States has complied strictly and in a timely fashion with every item in the treaty, as has Panama.

And I would like to add a footnote to what Mr. Romero said. With regard to what some people have tried to do, which is to create some kind of veil of doubt with regard to the transfer, we have taken many different measures -- constitutional measures. Everything having to do with the Panama Canal is under the authority of the canal and not in the hands of any contractor that might have any access to the exploitation of areas adjacent to the canal.

So this attempt to bathe the situation in a strange light is useless, and I wanted to trace a parallel to what happened in Hong Kong when there was so much expectation as to what was going to happen when the British turned it over to China. Fortunately so far there has been no change, there has been no chaos. What Panama asks of the world is some kind of recognition for so many years of a good relationship with the United States. It comes to an end now, and we ask for a vote of confidence for Panama to operate this canal efficiently to benefit the world. But give us the chance as of January 1st to show that we can do this.

AMB. ROMERO: In addition, Maria Delcarmen, if I could say just one more word, the owner of the Chinese firm Hutchinson Wampoa is Ling Kashing (ph). He is one of the wealthiest businessmen in the world, and they offer services in ports worldwide. So its a commercial operation. It has nothing to do with security. And we view it basically in that light.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

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