PANAMA'S ROLE IS TO BE A LINK BETWEEN PEOPLES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 4, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received the Letters of Credence of the new Panamanian ambassador, Edda Martinelli de Dutari, to whom he expressed his happiness at the new government's intention to "continue" and "increase" relations between Panama and the Holy See.

Referring to a "moment of great importance for Panama, that is, the restoration, in the coming days, of sovereignty over the canal that bears its name, together with the surrounding land," the Holy Father said: "This event brings with it great consequences, both juridical and practical as well as economic and political. However, it also carries ... an emblematic significance, reaffirming the historical and geographical identity of your country, which is called to play an important role of communication and linkage between the peoples of the world.

"All of this," he continued, "seems to be an invitation for Panama to distinguish itself precisely because its people are welcoming, open to dialogue and have deep Christian roots." Consequently, with the restoration of sovereignty, it is necessary to avoid that "external interests or pressure end up detracting from the benefits that this magnificent historical opportunity can bring to citizens, favoring the development of projects that aim to: eradicate the poverty from which a part of the population suffers; ensure ever greater respect for the dignity of the various ethnic groups; improve education; speed up the exercise of judicial power and render more humane and just the situation of prisoners in order to facilitate their reinsertion into society and, in the final analysis, provide the means necessary for the integral development of the Panamanian people."

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