1.
LV and CU airport with sign "welcome General Torrijos" and guard of honour (2 shots)
0.06

2.
LV ZOOM IN President Lopez (White suit) and wife walk forward and greet President Torrijos and wife
0.16

3.
LV Three nations flags
0.17

4.
SV PAN Torrijos (dark suit) and Lopez inspect guard of honour (2 shots)
0.30

5.
LV and CU Band
0.35

6.
TV Official wearing dark suit walks forward and greets President Perez (blue suit and balding) before Cardinal Palma greets President Perez
0.48

7.
TV Guard of honour
0.50

8.
STV PAN and GV Perez (nearest camera) and Lopez (white suit) inspect guard of honour (2 shots)
0.59

9.
SV PAN FROM flags TO military parade in streets of Santa Marta City
1.15

10.
SV L. to R. Perez (in glasses) Torrijos (dark suit) and officer talk? salute on rostrum as troops march past (2 shots)
1.26

11.
CU PAN seated Perez, Lopez and Torrijos and their wives and army officer
1.34

12.
LV PAN march past continues PAN UP TO Crowds on balconies
1.44



Initials OS/2330 OS/2220-2345



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: On Monday (28 July) the leaders of Venezuela, Panama and Colombia met in the Colombia city of Santa Marta to discuss Latin American issues of common concern.

The host, Colombian President Alfonao Lopaz Michelsenn, first met General Omar Torrijos of Panama at the airport. General Torrijos was greeted by a military ceremony and inspected an honour guard with President Lopez Michelsen
About one hour and thirty minutes later, President Carlos Andres Perez of Venezuela arrived and was greeted in the same way.

Santa Marta was chosen as the site of the meeting because it is marking its 450th anniversary and the three chiefs of state took part on some of the commemorative ceremonies.

Very little has been revealed about the nature of their discussions by they are believed to have been wide ranging and to have included discussions of the Andes Pact which links six Latin American countries in industrial and economic development plans. Included among the industries in which the Andean Group is jointly interested are petrochemicals, automobiles, fertilizers, glass, steel, pulp and paper, pharmaceutical and electronics.

The three nations also share a keen interest in the rights to the Venezuelan Gulf. President Lopez Michelsenn has proposed co-ownership for the Gulf but Venezuela has not commented on the proposal.

It is also believed that they discussed the recent formation of the Latin American Economic System (SELA), established with the goal of protecting and integrating the economies of Latin American countries.

Unlike the organisation of American States (OAS), SELA includes Cuba but does not include the United States. Many view it as a major step along the road to Latin American economic Independence from the U.S. as well as a means of reintegrating Cuba into Latin American affairs. President Perez Michelsen has been one of the principal backers of SELA.

During their visit to Santa Marta, the three chiefs of state also talked with the new Secretary General of the O.A.S., Alejandro Orfila of Argentina.