Panama on Tuesday celebrated the 25th anniversary of the handover of the Panama Canal, which has been under the control of the United States for nearly a century.
The United States inaugurated the canal in 1914 and operated the waterway until 31 December 1999. The Torrijos-Carter Treaties, signed in Washington on September 7, 1977 by Panamanian General Omar Torrijos and then U.S. President Jimmy Carter, ended the 85-year colonial enclave known as the Panama Canal Zone.
"These 25 years of the Panamanian administration...have worked toward a common goal: to fulfill the national commitment to safe and continuous operations for the entire world," said the Panamanian president José Raul Mulino.
"This canal must be and continue to be a canal for our Panamanians, for Panamanians, in the service of the world, but most importantly for Panamanians," Mulino said from the steps of the Panama Canal Authority building.
On 31 December 1999, the official handover of the Interoceanic Waterway from the United States to the Panamanian government led by then President Mireya Mosco took place in this building.
Panama Canal Authority Ricaurte Vasquez Morales highlighted the achievements made during the 25 years of Panama's administration, including the expansion of the canal and the construction of a third set of locks, which became operational in 2016.
During the ceremony, Miguel Guerra, the first Panamanian hired by the Panama Canal after its historic handover in 1999, received the Panamanian Order of Vasco Nunez de Balboa from Mulino.
CGTN/ gnews - RoZ
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