THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 1, 1996 TAG: 9610010282
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: PANAMA CITY LENGTH: 19 lines
The United States today transfers control of one of its eight remaining military bases to Panama, part of a reduction of forces ahead of a full U.S. pullout in 1999.
Panamanian officials say they plan to use Fort Amador, a 398-acre site on the Pacific end of the canal, for a tourism complex.
The fort was built between 1911 and 1915 as an artillery installation to protect the canal.
Under a 1977 treaty, the United States will turn over all its military posts to Panama by the end of 1999. About 6,800 U.S. troops remain stationed in Panama. Several bases have already been turned over. by CNB