Panama

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República de Panamá  (Spanish) Republic of Panama
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Pro Mundi Beneficio"  (Latin) "For the Benefit of the World"
Anthem: Himno Istmeño  (Spanish)
Capital (and largest city)		Panama Cityspainsh spanish ??d 8°58′N 79°32′W / 8.967, -79.533
Official languages		Spanishand
Ethnic groups		70% Mestizo, 14% Afro-West Indian, 10% white, 6% Amerindian
Demonym		Panamanian
Government		Constitutional Democracy
-	President	Martín Torrijos
-	First Vice President	Samuel Lewis
-	Second Vice President	Rubén Arosemena
Independence
-	from Spain	28 November 1821
-	from Colombia	3 November 1903
Area
-	Total	75,517 km² (118th) 29,157 sq mi
-	Water (%)	2.9
Population
-	Dec 2006 estimate	3,320,000 (133rd)
-	May 2000 census	2,839,177
-	Density	43/km² (156th) 111/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2006 estimate
-	Total	$31.411 billion (103rd)
-	Per capita	$10,300 (83rd)
Gini (2002)		48.5
HDI (2007)		▲ 0.812 (high) (62nd)
Currency		Balboa, U.S. dollar (PAB, USD)
Time zone		(UTC-5)
-	Summer (DST)	(UTC-5)
Internet TLD		.pa
Calling code		+507

Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (Spanish: República de Panamá; Spanish pronunciation: []), is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on an isthmus, some categorize it as a transcontinental nation connecting the north and south part of America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the north-west, Colombia to the south-east, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. It is an international business center and is also a transit country. Although Panama is also the third largest economy in Central America, after Guatemala and Costa Rica, it has the largest expenditure on resource consumption, making the country the largest consumer in Central America.^[1]

Pre-Columbian heritage of native populations whose presence stretched back over 11,000 years.^{[citation needed]} The earliest traces of these indigenous peoples include fluted projectile points. This changed into significant populations that are best known through the spectacular burials of the Conte site (dating to c. AD 500–900) and the polychrome pottery of the Coclé style. The monumental monolithic sculptures at the Barriles (Chiriqui) site were another important clue of the ancient isthmian cultures. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, Panama was widely settled by Chibchan, Chocoan, and Cueva peoples, among whom the largest group were the Cueva. There is no accurate knowledge of size of the indigenous population of the isthmus at the time of the European conquest. Estimates range as high as two million people, but more recent studies place that number closer to 200,000.^{[citation needed]}

Contents 1 Colonial Panama: discovery, conquest and decay 2 Founding of Panama La Vieja 3 Founding of Casco Antiguo 3.1 Independence 3.2 Military dictators 3.3 United States invasion of Panama 3.4 Post-invasion 4 Politics 5 Provinces and regions 6 Geography 7 Economy 7.1 Globalization 7.2 Inflation 7.3 Real estate 7.4 Tourism 7.5 Bilateral Investment Treaty with the U.S. 7.6 Proposed Free Trade Agreement with the United States 8 Demographics 8.1 Religion 9 International rankings 10 Notes and references 11 Further reading 12 External links

[edit] Colonial Panama: discovery, conquest and decay

Christopher Columbus arrives to Panama at his fourth travel, which started in Nicaragua and ended in Panama. It is in this trip he discovers the Chagres river, which in the XX Century it would be the main resource to build the Panama Canal. He arrived to the Caribbean coast where he baptized the area with the name of Portobelo (in English, Beautiful Port). Columbus then explored Veraguas and founded Santa Maria de Belen, which would be the first Spanish settlement on the continent, leaving Bartolome, his brother, in charge.

Eventually, this settlement was destroyed by the local native population and the few surviving members returned to Spain.

[edit] Founding of Panama La Vieja

It wasn´t until 1519 when the Spanish decided to settle the new city. This time they chose a site in the Pacific ocean, which was discovered six years before by Vasco Nuñez de Balboa. The new city, today known as Panama La Vieja, was founded in August 15th, 1519 by orders of governor Pedrarias Davila and became an important port during the Spanish gold trade from Peru to the Caribbean islands and finally to Europe. The merchandise from all over South America would come into Panama and travel to Portobelo using the Camino de Cruces (old stone road) crossing the jungle and navigating the Chagres river. From Portobelo it would distribute to the islands and then to Spain.

Because of its importance and its location the city was an easy target for pirates. However, protection from pirates was only one of its many problems, as it was settled in a site composed mainly by mangrove land, diseases and fires weakened their position, until it was finally destroyed by pirate Henry Morgan in 1671.

[edit] Founding of Casco Antiguo

In 1673 a new city of Panama was founded. This time, a rocky peninsula was chosen, still on the Pacific side. A healthier site with crossed winds and easier to defend from both land and ocean attacks. Called interchangeably Casco Viejo, San Felipe, Catedral or Casco Antiguo, it is from here where Panama would declare independece from Spain and later join and separate from Colombia. It will see the boom and bust of the Gold Rush, the French attempt to build a Canal and later its completion by the United States.

[edit] Independence

After about 320 years under the rule of the Spanish Empire, on 10 November 1821, independence from Spain was declared in the small town of La Villa, today known as La Heroica. On 28 November, presided by Colonel Jose de Fabrega, a National Assembly was convened and it officially declared the independence of the isthmus of Panama from Spain and its decision to join New Granada, Ecuador and Venezuela in Bolivar's recently founded Republic of Colombia.

In 1830, Venezuela, Ecuador and other territories left the Gran Colombia, but Panama remained as a province of this country, until July 1831 when the isthmus reiterated its independence, now under General Juan Eligio Alzuru as supreme military commander. In August, military forces under the command of Colonel Tomás Herrera defeated and executed Alzuru and reestablished ties with New Granada.

Ten years later, on November 1840, during a civil war that had begun as a religious conflict, the isthmus declared its independence under the leadership of the now General Tomás Herrera and became the 'Estado Libre del Istmo', or the Free State of the Isthmus. The new state established external political and economic ties and drew up a constitution which included the possibility for Panama to rejoin New Granada, but only as a federal district. On June 1841 Tomás Herrera became the President of the Estado Libre del Istmo. But the civil conflict ended and the government of New Granada and the government of the Isthmus negotiated the reincorporation of Panamá to Colombia on December 31, 1841.

In the end, the union between Panama and the Republic of Colombia was made possible by the active participation of the US under the 1846 Bidlack Mallarino Treaty, which lasted until 1903. The treaty granted the US rights to build railroads through Panama and to intervene militarily against revolt to guarantee New Granadine control of Panama. There were at least three attempts by Panamanian Liberals to seize control of Panama and potentially achieve full autonomy, including one led by Liberal guerrillas like Belisario Porras and Victoriano Lorenzo, each of which was suppressed by a collaboration of Conservative Colombian and US forces under the Bidlack Mallarino Treaty.

In 1902 US President Theodore Roosevelt decided to take on the abandoned works of the Panama Canal by the French but the Colombian government in Bogotá balked at the prospect of a US controlled canal under the terms that Roosevelt's administration was offering. Roosevelt was unwilling to alter its terms and quickly changed tactics, encouraging a minority of Conservative Panamanian landholding families to demand independence, offering military support. On November 3, 1903 Panama finally separated and Dr. Manuel Amador Guerrero, a prominent member of the Conservative political party, became the first constitutional President of the Republic of Panama.

In November 1903, Phillipe Bunau-Varilla—a French citizen who was not authorized to sign any treaties on behalf of Panama without the review of the Panamanians—unilaterally signed the Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty which granted rights to the US to build and administer indefinitely the Panama Canal, which was opened in 1914. This treaty became a contentious diplomatic issue between the two countries, reaching a boiling point on Martyr's Day (9 January 1964). The issues were resolved with the signing of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties in 1977 returning the former Canal Zone territories to Panama.

[edit] Military dictators

The second intent of the founding fathers was to bring peace and harmony between the two major political parties (Conservatives and Liberals). The Panamanian government went through periods of political instability and corruption, however, and at various times in its history, the mandate of an elected president terminated prematurely. In 1968, a coup toppled the government of the recently elected President Arnulfo Arias Madrid.

While never holding the position of President himself, General Omar Torrijos eventually became the de facto leader of Panama. As a military dictator, he was the leading power in the governing military junta and later became an autocratic strong man. Torrijos maintained his position of power until his death in an airplane accident in 1981.

After Torrijos's death, several military strong men followed him as Panama's leader. Commander Florencio Flores Aguilar followed Torrijos. Colonel Rubén Darío Paredes followed Aguilar. Eventually, by 1983, power was concentrated in the hands of General Manuel Antonio Noriega.

Manuel Noriega came up through the ranks after serving in the Chiriquí province and in the city of Puerto Armuelles for a time. He was a former head of Panama's secret police and was an ex-informant of the CIA. But Noriega's implication in drug trafficking by the United States resulted in difficult relations by the end of the 1980s.

[edit] United States invasion of Panama

Main article: United States invasion of Panama

On 20 December 1989, 27,000 U.S. personnel invaded Panama in order to remove Manuel Noriega.^[2] A few hours before the invasion, in a ceremony that took place inside a U.S. military base in the former Panama Canal Zone, Guillermo Endara was sworn in as the new President of Panama. The invasion occurred ten years before the Panama Canal administration was to be turned over to Panamanian authorities, according to the timetable set up by the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. During the fighting, between two hundred ^{[3] [4]} and four thousand Panamanians,^[5][6] mostly civilians, were killed.

Noriega surrendered to the American military shortly after, and was taken to Florida to be formally extradited and charged by U.S. federal authorities on drug and racketeering charges. He became eligible for parole on September 9, 2007, but remained in custody while his lawyers fought an extradition request from France. Critics have pointed out that many of Noriega's former allies remain in power in Panama.

[edit] Post-invasion

Under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, the United States turned over all canal-related lands to Panama on 31 December 1999. Panama also gained control of canal-related buildings and infrastructure as well as full administration of the canal.

The people of Panama have already approved the widening of the canal which, after completion, will allow for post-Panamax vessels to travel through it, increasing the number of ships that currently use the canal.

[edit] Politics

Main article: Politics of Panama

Panama's politics takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Panama is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. All National elections are universal and mandatory to all citizens 18 years and older.

[edit] Provinces and regions

Main articles: Provinces and regions of Panama and List of cities in Panama

[edit] Geography

Main article: Geography of Panama

Panama is located in Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica. Its location on the Isthmus of Panama is strategic. By 2000, Panama controlled the Panama Canal that links the North Atlantic Ocean via the Caribbean Sea with the North Pacific Ocean.

The dominant feature of the country's landform is the central spine of mountains and hills that forms the continental divide. The divide does not form part of the great mountain chains of North America, and only near the Colombian border are there highlands related to the Andean system of South America. The spine that forms the divide is the highly eroded arch of an uplift from the sea bottom, in which peaks were formed by volcanic intrusions.

The mountain range of the divide is called the Cordillera de Talamanca near the Costa Rican border. Farther east it becomes the Serranía de Tabasará, and the portion of it closer to the lower saddle of the isthmus, where the canal is located, is often called the Sierra de Veraguas. As a whole, the range between Costa Rica and the canal is generally referred to by Panamanian geographers as the Cordillera Central.

The highest point in the country is the Volcán Barú (formerly known as the Volcán de Chiriquí), which rises to 3475 meters (11401 ft). A nearly impenetrable jungle forms the Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia. It creates a break in the Pan-American Highway, which otherwise forms a complete road from Alaska to Patagonia.

[edit] Economy

Main article: Economy of Panama

According to the CIA World Factbook, Panama has an unemployment rate of 6.4% and according to the ECLAC,^[7] the poverty rate is of 20% as of 2006, comparable to that of wealthier nations such as Argentina.^[8] However, the First World infrastructure and high standards of living shows Panama's strong and thriving economic growth.

Panama's economy is mainly service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, tourism, trading and private industries because of its key geographic location. The handover of the canal and military installations by the United States has given rise to new construction projects. The Martín Torrijos administration has undertaken controversial structural reforms, such as a fiscal reform and a very difficult Social Security Reform.^{[citation needed]} Furthermore, a referendum regarding the building of a third set of locks for the Panama Canal was approved overwhelmingly (though with low voter turnout) on 22 October 2006. The official estimate of the building of the third set of locks is US$5.25 billion.

The Panamanian currency is the balboa, fixed at parity with the United States dollar. In practice, however, the country is dollarized; Panama mints its own coinage but uses US dollars for all its paper currency. Panama was the first of the three countries in Latin America to have dollarized their economies, later followed by Ecuador and El Salvador.

[edit] Globalization

The high levels of Panamanian trade are in large part from the Colón Free Trade Zone, the largest free trade zone in the Western Hemisphere. Last year the zone accounted for 92% of Panama's exports and 64% of its imports, according to an analysis of figures from the Colon zone management and estimates of Panama's trade by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Panama's economy is also very much supported by the trade and exportation of coffee.

[edit] Inflation

According to the Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC, or CEPAL by its more-commonly used Spanish acronym), Panama's inflation as measured by weight CPI was 2.0 percent in 2006.^[9] Panama has traditionally experienced low inflation.

[edit] Real estate

Panama City is currently experiencing a real estate boom. Tourists and retirees are arriving in greater quantities and consequently helping the local real estate market. Close to thirty-thousand Americans will be choosing Panama as their retirement home in the upcoming years^[when?] and this will be key in the development for the country which already has about three million people. Attractive weather and low cost of living along with a firm economy serve as attraction points. The government of Panama has put together a very liberal package for the retirees offering tax exemptions, discounts on transportation and meals. ^[10]

Apart from the existing demand, future developments will also be helped by such factors as the planned expansion of the Panama Canal.

[edit] Tourism

Along with real estate, tourism is one of Panama´s rising economic activities. Small and amazingly diverse, Panama makes it possible for a traveler to visit not only two different oceans in one day, but be able to combine in less than a week a diversified natural experience (white sand beaches, cloud or rain forest, mountains or valleys) with a wide range of cultural experiences (seven Indian tribes, Afroantillian and Spanish Colonial culture, several historic monuments and a 300 year old World Heritage Site called Casco Antiguo (often referred as Casco Viejo, Panama Viejo, San Felipe or Catedral) [4]). In recent years the North Western and North Eastern regions of Panama have drawn increasing amounts of tourism to the beaches, rain forests and Caribbean areas all within easy reach of popular Costa Rica. Bocas Del Toro, Boquete, and the surfing areas of the west coast are now huge tourist draws. David has become a cross roads for backpacking international tourists and has seen an increase in backpacker hostels. In the city of Panama visitors can spot an interesting Native American group. this group usually includes older women covered in colorful beads and decorative paintings on their faces. Besides spotting the natives, there is a resort called Decameron that brings visitors from all around the world. This resort contains an open bar, and a few buffet-style dining areas. Aerobic and scuba classes can be taken while visiting the resort.

[edit] Bilateral Investment Treaty with the U.S.

The Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between the governments of the United States and Panama was signed on October 27, 1982. The treaty protects U.S. investment and assists Panama in its efforts to develop its economy by creating conditions more favorable for U.S. private investment and thereby strengthening the development of its private sector. The BIT with Panama was the first such treaty signed by the U.S. in the Western Hemisphere.^[11]

The importance of Panama to the U.S. stems from the Panama Canal which was built by the U.S. during the period of 1904–1914.^{[citation needed]} Previously, if ships wanted to pass through the Americas, they would have to go all the way around the most southern tip of South America, the Tierra del Fuego, and through the Drake Passage. The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans directly at the narrowest point in Panama^{[citation needed]}. When previously a ship going from New York to San Francisco would have to travel for 20,900 kilometers (13,000 miles), now that travel time would be reduced to 8370 km (5200 mi).

The canal is of economic importance since it provides millions of dollars from toll revenue^{[citation needed]} as well as a right to include and exclude any other nation or company from using it. The United States had complete monopoly over the Panama Canal for 85 years. However, the Torrijos-Carter Treaties signed in 1977 began the process of returning the canal to the Panamanian government in 1999 as long as they agreed to the neutrality of the canal, as well as allowing the U.S. to return at any time.

[edit] Proposed Free Trade Agreement with the United States

A Trade Promotion Agreement between the United States and Panama was signed by both governments in 2007, but neither country has yet approved or implemented the Agreement.^[12] While the U.S. Congress was initially favorably disposed to the Panama pact,^[13] the election of the anti-American Pedro González, and his possible link with to the assassination of US soldier Zak Hernández, to the presidency of the Panamanian legislature on September 1, 2007 has halted progress of the pact in that body.

[edit] Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Panama

According to the CIA World Factbook, Panama has a population of 3,309,679. The majority of the population, 70% is mestizo. The rest is 14% Amerindian and mixed West Indian, 10% white and 6% Amerindian. The Amerindian population includes seven indigenous peoples, the Emberá, Wounaan, Guaymí, Buglé, Kuna, Naso and Bribri. More than half the population lives in the Panama City–Colón metropolitan corridor.

The culture, customs, and language of the Panamanians are predominantly Caribbean and Spanish. Spanish is the official and dominant language. About 20 percent of the population speak creole, mostly in Panama City and in the islands off the northeast coast.^[14] English is spoken widely on the Caribbean coast and by many in business and professional fields.

Panama, because of its historical reliance on commerce, is above all a melting pot. This is shown, for instance, by its considerable population of Chinese origin. Many Chinese immigrated to Panama from southern China to help build the Panama Railroad in the 19th century; their descendants number around 50,000. Starting in the 1970s, a further 80,000 have immigrated from other parts of mainland China as well.^[15][16]

The country is also the smallest in Spanish-speaking Latin America in terms of population (est. 3,232,000), with Uruguay as the second smallest (est. 3,463,000). However, since Panama has a higher birth rate, it is likely that in the coming years its population will surpass Uruguay's.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Religion

Main article: Religion in Panama

The overwhelming majority of Panamanians are Roman Catholic – various sources estimate that 75 to 85 percent of the population identifies itself as Roman Catholic and 15 to 25 percent as evangelical Christian.^[17] The Bahá'í Faith community of Panama is estimated at 2.00% of the national population, or about 60,000^[18] including about 10% of the Guaymí population^[19] and the Bahá'ís maintain one of the world's seven Baha'i Houses of Worship in Panama which is perched on a high hill facing the canal, and is constructed of local mud bricks laid in a pattern reminiscent of Native American fabric designs.^[17] Smaller religious groups include Jewish and Muslim communities with approximately 10,000 members each, and small groups of Hindus, Buddhists and Rastafarians.^[17] Indigenous religions include Ibeorgun (among Kuna) and Mamatata (among Ngobe).^[17]

The Jewish community in Panama, with over 10,000 members, is by far the biggest in the region (including Central America and the Caribbean). Jewish immigration began in the late 19th century, and at present there are synagogues in Panama City, as well as two Jewish schools. Within Latin America, Panama has one of the largest Jewish communities in proportion to its population, surpassed only by Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. Panama is also the first country in Latin America to have a Jewish president, Eric Arturo Delvalle.

[edit] International rankings

Index (Year)	Author / Editor / Source	Year of publication	Countries sampled	World Ranking (1)	Ranking L.A.(2)
Environmental Performance (2008)	Yale University[20]	2008	149	32º	5º
Democracy (2006)	The Economist[21]	2007	167	44º	5º
Global Peace (2008)	The Economist[22]	2008	140	48º	4º
Economic Freedom (2008)	The Wall Street Journal[23]	2008	157	46º	3º
Quality-of-life (2005)	The Economist[24]	2007	111	47º	7º
Travel and Tourism Competitiveness (2008)	World Economic Forum[25]	2008	130	50º	3º
Press Freedom (2007)	Reporters Without Borders[26]	2007	169	54º	5º
Global Competitiviness (2007)	World Economic Forum[27]	2007–08	131	59º	3º
Human Development (2005)	United Nations (UNDP)[28]	2007–08	177	62º	7º
Corruption Perception (2008)	Transparency International[29]	2008	180	85º	10º
Income inequality (1989–2007)(3)	United Nations (UNDP)[30]	2007–2008	126	115º	14º

⁽¹⁾ Worldwide ranking among countries evaluated.

⁽²⁾ Ranking among the 20 Latin American countries (Puerto Rico is not included).

⁽³⁾ Because the Gini coefficient used for the ranking corresponds to different years depending of the country, and the underlying household surveys differ in method and in the type of data collected, the distribution data are not strictly comparable across countries. The ranking therefore is only a proxy for reference purposes, and though the source is the same, the sample is smaller than for the HDI

[edit] Notes and references

• CIA World Factbook: Panama
• Panama Canal Expansion Takes Major Step Forward, RESOURCE CANADA BUSINESS NEWS NETWORK, 25-JUL-2006
• Cómo localizar a los grupos del ‘sí’ y ‘no’, 11 de agosto de 2006

[edit] Further reading

• Murillo, Luis E. (1995). The Noriega Mess: The Drugs, the Canal, and Why America Invaded. 1096 pages, illustrated. Berkeley: Video Books. ISBN 0-923444-02-5.
• Mellander, Gustavo A. (1971) The United States in Panamanian Politics: The Intriguing Formative Years. Danville, Ill.: Interstate Publishers, OCLC 138568
• Mellander, Gustavo A.; Nelly Maldonado Mellander (1999). Charles Edward Magoon: The Panama Years. Río Piedras, Puerto Rico: Editorial Plaza Mayor. ISBN 1563281554. OCLC 42970390.

[edit] External links

Find more about Panama on Wikipedia's sister projects:
	Dictionary definitions
	Textbooks
	Quotations
	Source texts
	Images and media
	News stories
	Learning resources

Government and Diplomacy

• (Spanish) The President of Panama
• (Spanish) List of Panamanian Government Agencies
• (Spanish) Ministry of External Relations
• Embassy of Panama in the U.S.
• National Directorate of Immigration and Naturalization

Tourism and Travel

• Official Site of the Panama Tourism Bureau
• Photos Of Panama
• Official Site of the Panama Canal Authority

Economy and Business

• (Spanish) Ministry of Economics and Finance
• (Spanish) Bolsa de Valores (Panama Stock Exchange)
• (Spanish) Comisión Nacional de Valores (Panama SEC)
• American Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Panama
• List of all Panama Banks

Nature conservation

• [5] reforestation for the endemic Squirrel Monkey

Media and Discussion

• (Spanish) La Prensa
• (Spanish) Mi Diario

Geographic locale
v • d • e Provinces and regions of Panama Provinces Bocas del Toro · Chiriquí · Coclé · Colón · Darién · Herrera · Los Santos · Panamá · Veraguas Comarcas indígenas ("Indigenous regions") Emberá · Kuna de Madugandí · Kuna de Wargandí · Kuna Yala · Ngöbe-Buglé v • d • e Countries of Central America Belize · Costa Rica · El Salvador · Guatemala · Honduras · Nicaragua · Panama v • d • e Countries and dependencies of North America Several nations listed here straddle both North and South America or can also be considered Caribbean. Sovereign states Antigua and Barbuda · Bahamas · Barbados · Belize · Canada · Costa Rica · Cuba · Dominica · Dominican Republic · El Salvador · Grenada · Guatemala · Haiti · Honduras · Jamaica · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · St. Kitts and Nevis · St. Lucia · St. Vincent and the Grenadines · Trinidad and Tobago · United States Dependencies Denmark Greenland France Guadeloupe · Martinique · Saint Barthélemy · Saint Martin · Saint Pierre and Miquelon · Clipperton Netherlands Aruba · Netherlands Antilles United Kingdom Anguilla · Bermuda · British Virgin Islands · Cayman Islands · Montserrat · Turks and Caicos Islands United States Navassa Island · Petrel Islands · Puerto Rico · Serranilla Bank · U.S. Virgin Islands v • d • e Countries of South America Countries and territories also in or commonly reckoned to be elsewhere in the Americas shown in italics Sovereign states Argentina · Bolivia · Brazil · Chile · Colombia · Ecuador · Guyana · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Uruguay · Venezuela Dependencies Falkland Islands / South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (UK) · Aruba / Netherlands Antilles (Netherlands) Overseas department French Guiana (France)

International membership
v • d • e Members of the United Nations Security Council Permanent members China · France · Russia · United Kingdom · United States Term ends December 31, 2008 Belgium · Indonesia · Italy · Panama · South Africa Term ends December 31, 2009 Burkina Faso · Costa Rica · Croatia · Libya · Vietnam v • d • e Latin Union Member Nations Andorra · Angola · Bolivia · Brazil · Cape Verde · Chile · Colombia · Costa Rica · Côte d'Ivoire · Cuba · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · El Salvador · France · Guatemala · Guinea-Bissau · Haiti · Honduras · Italy · Mexico · Moldova · Monaco · Mozambique · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Philippines · Portugal · Romania · San Marino · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Spain · East Timor · Uruguay · Venezuela Permanent Observers Argentina · Holy See · Sovereign Military Order of Malta Official languages: Catalan · French · Italian · Portuguese · Romanian · Spanish