Magda Sakowska, Polsat News, Interia: There are many accusations from Donald Trump. They are about Panama and Panama Canal. The first sound -channel is no longer neutral. Because China controls it.
Former administrator of the Panama Canal Jorge Louis Kojano: -It’s wrong to lie. I have been working on the Panama Canal for 44 years, of which I was the administrator for seven years. I have to emphasize that Panaman has fulfilled their contract, and we are completely independent and completely neutral.
-In the same conditions, we hand over the ship from all countries that we want to cross, and no one has a favor. Our fees are the same in each country, depending on the segment. In the case of passenger ships, the commission is different from the case of a container ship. However, the flag is not a problem, just as the ship does not matter where and where it goes.
-The Chinese do not affect the control of the Panama Canal. Hong Kong company is operating on a channel today, dating in 1997, when Hong Kong was still a British colony and the canal was managed by Americans. Hutchinson -Whampoa Company, founded around 1880, has obtained a license in Panama, two ports, Atlantic -Christical and Pacific -Balbore.
-As all of them, based on this license from the end of the 20th century, is a port service for internal charges. This is the only range of their activities. If someone is controlled, the channel is in the channel area, so control these two ports. As a Panama channel, we decide when the ship will enter the port and when it will leave.
-The ships cannot flow to the channel if they do not receive the administrator’s consent and not get the Panamziku pilot, the Panama Canal pilot. He was approved by marine traffic management, and the Panama Canal pilot is on board and cannot raise the anchor from the captain of the unit to take over the ship control.
-In these ports for more than 27 years. I am surprised that they have become President Trump now. Because during his first term, he did not mention that the United States had a problem.
What has changed so much about the recovery of the Panama Canal?
-I think Mr. Trump is telling the people who chose him, to his supporters to make the United States great again. He really likes the happiness he creates, and he says he regains American channels. However, the Panama Canal’s neutral treaty has been very clear, and we are in accordance with its records. Thus, it is Panama that manages the Panama Channel, and do not change the fact that only Panama can have a defensive facility and military staff in the Panama Republic.
-Donald Trump has some tension with China. Perhaps he is worried that Panama is neutral and all allow everyone to flow through the Panama Canal, and is worried that most of his luggage to the United States will come from China. Therefore, this is not actually Panama’s issue, but it is a trade agreement and the exchange between China and the United States. Panama has five major channelports. The mentioned FRIMA HUTCHINSON-WHAMPOA manages two ports. One is managed by American Company SSA Marine Mit based in Seattle, Washington. Another person manages Singapore dogs, and the last Taiwanese company Evergreen is closely related to the United States. But I emphasize it again: These companies handle the port, do not affect the management of intersections, and do not affect the entire Panama Canal.
He also understands that Panama uses the United States and calls Donald Trump’s statement that he is enforcing American ships to pay higher prices than other countries.
-This is not true either. This is because our rates are open to the public and all are equally applied to different segments. There are segments such as containers, tanker segments, LNG and LPG segments, and these ships are not actually US property. Most of these ships have Panama flags. And when Bandela Panama flows through Panama Channel, she does not discount like a boat under the United States.
-There are no discounts or support. No one has a decrease in tariffs. There is no promotion of Panama or American ships. This clearly proves that Panama channel is completely neutral. In this issue, it is not possible to be neutral rather than ordering the unit as long as other people pay. This is a proof of true neutrality.
Panama also modernized the channel and paid it. Now you can accept big, larger and larger ships. How much did you take?
– it’s true. We invested, and it was a long -term strategic plan. When we saw what we had to develop, we started studying opportunities. Expansion was performed between 2006 and 2016. It took almost 10 years. We took out the loan for this purpose and repaid them. The repayment must be terminated by 2029.
-However, it was our own strategic decision and the Panama Canal’s decision to do this. Cost-$ 5.3 billion, all from the Panama Canal resources. Currently, expansion income accounts for 55 %. Total income. Thus, old channels built by the United States bring 45 %. Total income.
How do you recognize the threat of Donald Trump as a former channel administrator? Does he take them seriously?
-The not just Panama. Everyone should take such a commentary seriously to the US President. We are talking about the most powerful countries in the world where not only military resources but also economic resources have many resources. We take these threats seriously. But being seriously treating them does not mean we accept him. Threat is a threat.
-The US Army has more advantages than other units in accordance with Article 6 of the Neutrality Convention. This part of the treaty is not actually neutral, but it must be obeyed because it is saved by the treaty. When I was in charge of the Panama Canal (1999-2007) overall operation, I also dealt with these military transportation.
-I went to no fork. There is a Navy base to determine how to work on the passing of these ships. And we always had a very good relationship with the US Army. I am really surprised that the problem occurred. That’s a really big problem. Let’s go back for four years just a few years ago. Donald Trump was the president, and he had never signaled that he did not like couples for intersection or something. He didn’t send it to us, he didn’t send the ambassador he wanted to talk to us about it.
How important is a channel in Panama’s economy, and how important is a channel for Panama’s national identity?
-Exposed it is very important. Even if the channel is about 5 % of GDP, it is the top of the logistics sector. About 31 % of the other things around him, that is, the port we have, all the large ports we have, a railway that ties the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean, and is used for transships and all together. There is. GDP.
How important is Panama Channel?
-From the 1903 French treaty signature, it was 8 km east, 8 km, 8 km, and 8 kilometers, because Panama did not participate and the control of the channel zone was taken over. Except for the Panama City area, it is west to the west, but you cannot accept this solution.
-Tor many years have discussed the need to integrate Panama. Panama was divided into two parts. Panama is said to have been hurt, must create a new treaty and sign by Panama. In 1963, an agreement was concluded if the Panama flag was adjacent to the US flag in the US management zone. One year after the end of the agreement, this was not one of the American zone high schools.
-There was only one flag, it was a US flag. Panama’s school student came to this school and hung our Panama next to the American flag. The flag of Panama was torn. She was never stopped.
Who was he invited to?
-In Americans. This immediately caused the riot of the 21st Panama, most of which were students, forcing President Roberto Chiari to break diplomatic relations with the United States at the time. It was a turning point. There was always a plan that the United States had to fundamentally change something and the United States had to start occupying Panama territory.
-So Jimmy Carter becomes the President, recovered Panama’s justice, and eventually moved to 1977, which promises to return the channel in 1999. It wasn’t a simple change, but that was the case. The territory sovereignty was returned almost immediately in 1979, but the process passed under the channel’s Panama administration last 20 years and three months.
-In the case of Panama, the channel is very symbolic and is associated with the acquisition of completely independence in the sense of independence. It connects all Panama through its history, our history, and the story of Panama.
Magda Sakoska spoke
