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Panama reiterates
its willingness During the deliberations of the Council, the highest decision-making body of the Latin American Economic System (SELA), Panama's Special Mission Ambassador Nivea Castrellón explained to the other Member States the reasons why the Panamanian government has proposed to its neighbors in the hemisphere that it should become the permanent headquarters of the FTAA. She said that traditionally Panama had been a neutral country since its foundation as a nation-state. Because of its historical ties it is a South American country; geographically it is Central American and culturally it belongs to the Caribbean; it also has a close relationship with the United States. Its advantages include an
inter-oceanic canal that handles 5% of the world's trade, which has allowed it to become a
multi-modal transport and cargo center and to develop the most modern telecommunications
techniques to the point that it is a "digital country." For the FTAA's temporary
headquarters, the Panamanian government has made available an area of 1,200 square meters
for offices and conference rooms, it has given the Secretariat legal status while it is in
Panamanian territory and it has provided special treatment for the negotiators and
diplomatic status to the staff, among other benefits.
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