Panama’s president says there will be no negotiation of ownership of Canal

Panama City (AP) – Panama -President José Raúl Mulino said Thursday that there will be no negotiation with the United States over Ownership of the Panama CanalAnd he hopes that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s upcoming visit allows them to focus on common interests, including migration and combating drug trafficking.

Being destination for the first overseas visit of the top US diplomat would in any case have been great for Panama US President Donald Trump, Who has repeatedly suggested that the United States re -take the Panama Canal.

On the day of his initiation claimed Trump that the American ships were staying “Very over -charged And not treated fairly in any way, form or form, “notes that” above all, China drives the Panama Canal. “He had previously said the US could demand the channel will be returned.

Mulino tried to neglect the excitement of his weekly press conference on Thursday. He talked about wanting to clarify confusion about China’s role in the channel – a Hong Kong Consortium administers ports at both ends, but Panama controls the channel – and accuses a predecessor of establishing diplomatic relations with China.

“It’s impossible, I can’t negotiate,” Mulino said when asked to return the channel to US control. “It’s done. The channel belongs to Panama. “

The United States built the canal in the early 1900s as it was looking for ways of facilitating transit of commercial and military ships between its coasts. Washington gave up control of the waterway to Panama on December 31, 1999 during a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter.

“The only thing I want is to clear all the waste from the path, clean the table and be able to talk to the United States and very honestly” about issues, including immigration, security and the fight against drug trafficking, Mulino said.

Rubio is scheduled to meet with Mulino on Sunday and visit the channel.

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