III

104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 14

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

Government of Panama to permit United States Armed Forces to remain

in Panama beyond December 31, 1999.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MAY 17 (legislative day, MAY 15), 1995

Mr. HELMS (for himself, Mr. CRAIG, Mr. COVERDELL, Mr. MACK, Mr. THOMAS, Mr. SMITH, and Mr. D’AMATO) submitted the following concurrent

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Urging the President to negotiate a new base rights agreement with the Government of Panama to permit United

States Armed Forces to remain in Panama beyond December 31, 1999.

Whereas the Panama Canal is a vital strategic asset to the

United States, its allies, and the world;

Whereas the Treaty on the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal signed on September 7, 1977,

provides that Panama and the United States have the responsibility to assure that the Panama Canal will remain

open and secure;

Whereas such Treaty also provides that each of the two countries shall, in accordance with their respective constitu-
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•SCON 14 IS

tional processes, defend the Canal against any threat to

the regime of neutrality, and consequently shall have the

right to act against any aggression or threat directed

against the Canal or against the peaceful transit of vessels through the Canal;

Whereas the United States instrument of ratification of such

Treaty includes specific language that the two countries

should consider negotiating future arrangements or

agreements to maintain military forces necessary to fulfill

the responsibility of the two countries of maintaining the

neutrality of the Canal after 1999;

Whereas the Government of Panama, in the bilateral Protocol

of Exchange of instruments of ratification, expressly

‘‘agreed upon’’ such arrangements or agreements;

Whereas the Navy depends upon the Panama Canal for rapid

transit in times of emergency, as demonstrated during

World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam conflict, the

Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Persian Gulf conflict;

Whereas drug trafficking and money laundering has proliferated in the Western Hemisphere since the Treaty on

the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama

Canal was signed on September 7, 1977, and such trafficking and laundering poses a grave threat to peace and

security in the region;

Whereas certain facilities now utilized by the United States

Armed Forces in Panama are critical to combat the trade

in illegal drugs;

Whereas the United States and Panama share common policy

goals such as strengthening democracy, expanding economic trade, and combating illegal narcotics throughout

Latin America;
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•SCON 14 IS

Whereas the Government of Panama has dissolved its military forces and has maintained only a civilian police organization to defend the Panama Canal against aggression; and

Whereas certain public opinion polls in Panama suggest that

many Panamanians desire a continued United States

military presence in Panama: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives

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

3 (1) the President should negotiate a new base

4 rights agreement with the Government of Panama—

5 (A) to allow the stationing of United

6 States Armed Forces in Panama beyond De7 cember 31, 1999, and

8 (B) to ensure that the United States will

9 be able to act appropriately, consistent with the

10 Panama Canal Treaty, the Treaty Concerning

11 the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the

12 Panama Canal, and the resolutions of ratifica13 tion thereto, for the purpose of assuring that

14 the Panama Canal shall remain open, neutral,

15 secure, and accessible; and

16 (2) the President should consult with the Con17 gress throughout the negotiations described in para18 graph (1).
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1 SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit

2 a copy of this concurrent resolution to the President.

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