Panama Demands US Clean All Shooting RangesPanama 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. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |