Thursday, February 22, 2001, updated at 12:09(GMT+8)
World
Panama Demands US Clean All Shooting Ranges
Panama rejected a financial indemnification proposition from the United States and demanded a complete cleaning of all the shooting grounds contaminated by their army, said Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso in declarations released Wednesday by the press.
Moscoso said the US considered a financial proposition to end the controversy on shooting ranges, where there is a great amount of unexploded ordnance.
She said that she has sent notes to the US government on this issue, but received no reply at the moment.
According to the Torrijos-Carter Treaties signed in 1977, the US is obliged to clean areas used for military purposes along the Panama Canal.
Abandoned ordnance in the 3,750 hectares of shooting grounds is a source of environmental pollution and a threat to the local population, according to Panamanian authorities.
Panama rejected a financial indemnification proposition from the United States and demanded a complete cleaning of all the shooting grounds contaminated by their army, said Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso in declarations released Wednesday by the press.