Declaration of the Andean Presidential Council on the Panama Canal

The Presidents congratulated the people and government of Panama on the seriousness and responsibility with which they have carried out the process for the return of the Canal by the United States government to Panama. The imminent conclusion of this process will stand as a milestone in the history of Panama, for its assertion of its sovereignty over the inter-ocean canal, which is essential for world trade and international transport.

In emphasizing that the Andean Community of Nations are the Panama Canal's principal users from the western coast of South America, they pointed out that for them the ocean route is especially important because it is used for most of their foreign trade. They hailed Panama's important achievements in benefit of the progress, technification and administration of the Canal.

The Presidents were also pleased about the inclusion in the Organization Law of the Panama Canal Authority, of the provision regarding the creation of an Advisory Board to the Authority, in light of the international public service the inter-ocean canal provides. In line with the recommendations made by the Andean countries and others at the 1997 Universal Congress on the Panama Canal, the Presidents asked the Panamanian government to appoint to the Advisory Board to the Authority, official representatives of the most important clients or users of the canal in their trade. This will enable them to make recommendations to the Canal Authority with regard to the form and quality of the service and the conditions in which the users receive it.

Cartagena de Indias, May 27, 1999