Gentler
New Face in Panama
By David Kilgour, Secretary of State (Latin
America and Africa)
This article
was published in the September-October 1999
issue of Diplomat & International Canada
I had the
honour of representing Canada at the inauguration
of Panama’s new President, Mireya Moscoso
on September 1, 1999, in Panama City.
The inauguration
ceremonies lasted for two days (August 31
- September 1, 1999) and consisted of an
impressive series of events commencing with
my presentation of credentials to the outgoing
Panamanian President, Ernesto Perez Balladares
at the majestic and historic Presidential
Palace. Later, in the National Assembly,
Perez Balladares thanked the people of Panama
for their support during his term in office
in a moving and enthusiastic address.
The colourful
inauguration and swearing-in ceremonies
for the new President began on the morning
of September 1, 1999, at the newly finished
National Stadium. Some 25,000 - 30,000 flag-waving
friends, colleagues and international dignitaries
attended the inauguration. The actual ceremony
had been preceded by an exciting series
of manoeuvres in the National Assembly where
Moscoso’s Arnulfista Party formed a
coalition which resulted in her minority
party’s being able to cobble together
a one seat majority in the legislature.
The final event of the inauguration was
a gala dinner which has hosted by Her Excellency,
President Mireya Moscoso.
Mireya Moscoso
is a charming and distinguished woman with
a long history of political activity. Her
political career began at the municipal
level but she rose to the rank of first
lady when her late husband, Dr. Arnulfo
Arias, was elected to the Panamanian Presidency
for three successive terms. Dr. Arnulfo
Arias was also the founder of the Arnulfista
Party which Moscoso now leads. Moscoso’s
electoral victory is an inspiration for
mothers, women and girls interested in politics
throughout our hemisphere.
Moscoso,
Panama’s first female President, is
not the only member of the new government
to set a first in Panamanian history. The
new Speaker, Mr. Enrique Garrido, is the
first indigenous person to win the office
in Panama. He was applauded wildly when
he entered the stadium during the swearing-in
ceremony.
Canada and
Panama currently enjoy excellent relations,
particularly in the commercial sector. I
am confident that our bilateral relations
will continue to improve under the current
government. In addition to considerable
investments in the commercial sector, Canada
has been involved in a number of sustainable
development projects related to the environment,
health and education. Canada’s new
Ambassador to Panama, Daniel Daley, has
already identified a number of new and exciting
socio-economic initiatives which will draw
our two nations even closer together.
Moscoso will
face a number of challenges over the next
few years, including the transfer of the
Panama Canal from the United States to Panama
in December this year. I look forward to
developing even closer ties to Panama over
the next five years and wish the new government
the best of success.
|
