IV

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 233

Urging the President to negotiate a new base rights agreement with the

Government of Panama in order for United States Armed Forces to

be stationed in Panama after December 31, 1999.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NOVEMBER 17, 1999

Mrs. MYRICK submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to

the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions

as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Urging the President to negotiate a new base rights agreement with the Government of Panama in order for

United States Armed Forces to be stationed in Panama

after December 31, 1999.

Whereas the Panama Canal remains a vital economic and

strategic asset to the United States, its allies, and the

world;

Whereas the United States has maintained a military presence in Panama since Panama gained its independence in

1903, ensuring the protection of the Canal and its unfettered operations;
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•HCON 233 IH

Whereas the United States Armed Forces have depended

upon the Panama Canal for rapid transit in times of

global conflict, including during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cuban Missile Crisis,

and the Persian Gulf War;

Whereas the 1977 Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal provides that

Panama and the United States have the joint responsibility to ensure that the Panama Canal will remain open

and secure, and provides that each signatory, in accordance with their constitutional processes, shall defend the

Canal against any threat to its neutrality and shall have

the right to act against threats against the peaceful transit of vessels through the Canal;

Whereas the Government of Panama, in the bilateral Protocol

of Exchange of instruments of ratification, agreed to consider negotiating future arrangements or agreements to

maintain military forces necessary to fulfill the responsibility of both signatories to maintain the neutrality of the

Canal;

Whereas the common interests of Panama and the United

States have produced close relations between the two nations and a shared interest in protecting the Canal and

its operations;

Whereas public opinion surveys in Panama consistently demonstrate that an estimated 70 percent of the people of

Panama support a continued United States military presence in Panama;

Whereas Panama and the United States are both confronting

growing problems with illegal drug trafficking, money

laundering, and narcoterrorism in the Western Hemi-
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sphere, and those problems threaten peace and security

in the region;

Whereas facilities now utilized by the United States Armed

Forces in Panama are essential to the coordination of

any counter-narcotic efforts in the region; and

Whereas the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia

(FARC), a narco-trafficking terrorist organization, is operating from Panamanian territory and poses a risk to

the security of Panama and to the stability of Latin

America: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—

3 (1) the President should negotiate a new base

4 rights agreement with the newly inaugurated Gov5 ernment of Panama—

6 (A) to permit stationing of United States

7 Armed Forces in Panama beyond December 31,

8 1999; and

9 (B) to ensure that the Panama Canal re10 mains open, secure, and neutral, consistent with

11 the Panama Canal Treaty, the Treaty Con12 cerning the Permanent Neutrality and Oper13 ation of the Panama Canal, and the resolutions

14 of ratification thereto;

15 (2) the President should ensure that United

16 States military facilities which could be utilized for

17 stationing of United States Armed Forces shall be
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1 fully maintained and secured if the Government of

2 Panama is willing to enter into good faith negotia3 tions for a continued United States military pres4 ence; and

5 (3) the President should consult with Congress

6 throughout the negotiations described in paragraph

7 (1).

8 SEC. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives

9 shall transmit a copy of this concurrent resolution to the

10 President.

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