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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Panama Canal dispute: Spain in talks to resolve row | Panama Canal dispute: Spain in talks to resolve row |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Spanish government is in talks with Panama to try and resolve a row over the expansion of the Panama Canal. | The Spanish government is in talks with Panama to try and resolve a row over the expansion of the Panama Canal. |
| Spain's public works minister Ana Pastor will fly to Panama this weekend, following a meeting between diplomats on Friday. | Spain's public works minister Ana Pastor will fly to Panama this weekend, following a meeting between diplomats on Friday. |
| Work began on the expansion of the shipping hub in 2009, but it has gone over-budget by $1.6bn (£1bn). | Work began on the expansion of the shipping hub in 2009, but it has gone over-budget by $1.6bn (£1bn). |
| The group behind the project, led by Spain's Sacyr, has threatened to halt work unless the extra money is paid. | The group behind the project, led by Spain's Sacyr, has threatened to halt work unless the extra money is paid. |
| Sacyr's chairman Manuel Manrique will also fly to Panama to join in the negotiations. | Sacyr's chairman Manuel Manrique will also fly to Panama to join in the negotiations. |
| The building group, known as the Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC), is made up of Spain's Sacyr, Italy's Salini Impreglio, Belgium's Jan De Nul, and Panama's Constructora Urbana. | The building group, known as the Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC), is made up of Spain's Sacyr, Italy's Salini Impreglio, Belgium's Jan De Nul, and Panama's Constructora Urbana. |
| It is in the process of constructing a third lock which will allow bigger ships to pass through. | It is in the process of constructing a third lock which will allow bigger ships to pass through. |
| It gave a 21 day deadline on 30 December to the Panama Canal Authority to make the extra $1.6 billion payment. If it doesn't, GUPC says it will stop work on the expansion plans. | It gave a 21 day deadline on 30 December to the Panama Canal Authority to make the extra $1.6 billion payment. If it doesn't, GUPC says it will stop work on the expansion plans. |
| A spokesperson for Spain's foreign ministry said: "Panama is a country that is close and friendly towards Spain, and we share the desire and interest to find a solution as soon as possible". | A spokesperson for Spain's foreign ministry said: "Panama is a country that is close and friendly towards Spain, and we share the desire and interest to find a solution as soon as possible". |
| Spain's ambassador to Panama, Jesus Silva, added that all stand to lose out if the contract fell through. | |
| On Thursday, Panama's President Richard Martinelli threatened to demand that the building consortium fulfil its contract to expand the canal. | On Thursday, Panama's President Richard Martinelli threatened to demand that the building consortium fulfil its contract to expand the canal. |
| The president said: "I will go to Spain and Italy to demand these governments take moral responsibility." | The president said: "I will go to Spain and Italy to demand these governments take moral responsibility." |
| Construction is due to be completed in June 2015, nine months behind schedule. The overall cost of the project now expected to be $5.2bn. | Construction is due to be completed in June 2015, nine months behind schedule. The overall cost of the project now expected to be $5.2bn. |
| Building work is now focused on the creation of a third set of locks to accommodate ships that can carry 12,000 containers. The largest ships currently able to navigate the Panama Canal carry 5,000. | Building work is now focused on the creation of a third set of locks to accommodate ships that can carry 12,000 containers. The largest ships currently able to navigate the Panama Canal carry 5,000. |
| The Panama Canal handles 5% of the world's maritime trade. | The Panama Canal handles 5% of the world's maritime trade. |