The conference entitled “Panama Canal: 25 Years of Panamanian Management” was held on 12 February 2026 at 16:30 at Ankara University Faculty of Law Mahmut Esat Hall, hosted by Ankara University National Research Center for Maritime Law (DEHUKAM) in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Panama in Ankara.
The opening remarks were delivered by the H.E. Ms. Karina Cecilia Arias Fonseca de Giannotti, Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to Ankara, CEO of DEHUKAM Dr. Mustafa Başkara, and Mr. Juan Jaime Del Valle Vega, Consul of the Republic of Panama in Istanbul. Following the opening remarks, the conference continued with the keynote speech of H.E. Mr. Carlos Guevara Mann, Deputy Minister of Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Panama. In his address, Mr. Guevara Mann shared recent developments and experiences regarding the governance of the Panama Canal.
The conference program, hosted by DEHUKAM, was attended by H.E. Mr. Gustavo Campos Fallas, Ambassador of Costa Rica to Ankara; H.E. Mr. Hector Henrique Jaime Calderon, Ambassador of El Salvador to Ankara; H.E. Mr. Pedro Vintimilla Vega, Ambassador of Ecuador to Ankara; H.E. Mr. Federico Carreno, Ambassador of Uruguay to Ankara; H.E. Mr. Julio Anibal Riano, Ambassador of Colombia to Ankara; H.E. Mr. Guillermo Sosa, Ambassador of Paraguay to Ankara; H.E. Mr. Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef, Ambassador of the Maldives to Ankara; Ms. Arantxa Rios Echeverria, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Chile in Ankara and representatives from six different embassies; as well as representatives of public institutions and organizations.
The conference comprehensively addressed the strategic importance of the Panama Canal in global maritime transportation and international trade, as well as the experiences gained during the period of Panamanian administration. The program concluded following a question-and-answer session with the participants.