Panama continues to fight against the illegal
narcotics and arms trade. The country's proximity to major cocaine-producing nations and
its role as a commercial and financial crossroads make it a country of
special importance in this regard. The Panamanian Government has concluded
agreements with the U.S. on maritime law enforcement, counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics, and
stolen vehicles. A three-year
investigation by the Drug Prosecutors Office (DPO), the PTJ, and
several other law enforcement agencies in the region culminated in
the May 2006 arrest in Brazil of Pablo Rayo Montano, a
Colombian-born drug kingpin. Assets located in Panama
belonging to his criminal cartel were
among those seized by the Government of Panama following his
indictment by a U.S.
federal court in Miami. In March 2007 the U.S. Coast Guard in
cooperation with the Government of Panama seized over 38,000
pounds of cocaine off the coast of Panama, the largest drug seizure in the
eastern Pacific.
In
the economic investment arena, the Panamanian Government has been
successful in the enforcement of intellectual property rights and has
concluded a Bilateral Investment Treaty Amendment with the United States and an agreement with
the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. Although money laundering remains a
problem, Panama passed significant reforms in 2000 intended to strengthen
its cooperation against international financial crimes.
In January 2005,
Panama
sent election supervisors to Iraq
as
part of the International Mission for Iraqi Elections to monitor
the national elections
THE PANAMA CANAL
TREATIES
The 1977 Panama Canal Treaties entered
into force on October 1, 1979. They replaced the 1903 Hay/Bunau-Varilla
Treaty between the United States and Panama (modified in 1936 and 1955), and all other U.S.-Panama
agreements concerning the Panama Canal, which were in force on that date.
The treaties comprise a basic treaty governing the operation and defense
of the Canal from October 1, 1979 to December 31, 1999 (Panama Canal
Treaty) and a treaty guaranteeing the permanent neutrality of the Canal
(Neutrality Treaty).
The details of the arrangements for U.S.
operation and defense of the Canal under the Panama Canal Treaty are
spelled out in separate implementing agreements. The Canal Zone and its
government ceased to exist when the treaties entered into force [October
1, 1979] and Panama
assumed jurisdiction over Canal Zone territories and functions, a process
that was finalized on December 31, 1999.
PRINCIPAL U.S. EMBASSY
OFFICIALS
Ambassador--
Barbara Stephenson
Deputy Chief of Mission -- David
Gilmour
Counselor for Political Affairs --
Brian Naranjo
Counselor for Economic Affairs --
Joel Reifman
Counselor for Public Affairs -- Thomas
Mesa
Counselor for Management -- Mark
Perry
Consul General -- Mark Fry
NEW EMBASSY COMPLEX AT
CLAYTON
The new U.S. Embassy in Panama is
located at Edificio 783, Avenida Demetrio Basilio Lakas, on the
back side of Clayton (the
former U.S. Army post of Fort Clayton), Panama City. [The new
Embassy complex was inaugurated September 18, 2007 following
construction which began in early 2005 and houses the U.S. Embassy (previously on Balboa Boulevard in Panama City
since 1942) and other U.S. Government agencies in Panama City.]
For details go to Clayton-New
Uses.
Embassy Telephone: 507-207-7000. Personal and
official mail for the embassy and members of the mission may be sent to:
U.S. Embassy Panama, Unit 9100, DPO AA 34002. E-mail: Panamaweb@state.gov
.
_______________________________________
Source: U.S. Department of State,
Background Note: Panama, March 2009. Notations within brackets
in the text and in right column added by William Ormsbee, as appropriate.
All photos, right column
entries, and the following maps in
this section added by William Ormsbee.
SCROLL
[La Prensa, Sept 19, 2007]