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d Panamanian flags, a U-S Army colonel gave Panama's president a symbolic key to the final military base in the former Canal Zone. The handover comes one month before the canal itself becomes Panamanian property. Fort Clayton was the nerve centre of the American military operations in the region. Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso was on hand to see the Panamanian flag raised in the U-S flag's stead. Also present was Simon Ferro, U-S Ambassador to Panama. In Washington, President Bill Clinton said the United States has no second thoughts about relinquishing control of the Panama Canal and is confident Panama's government will do a good job of operating the waterway. This was echoed by a U-S Colonel on hand to present to Panama's president a symbolic key to the final military base in the former Canal Zone. SOUNDBITE: (English) "It is with the knowledge that what the United States has accomplished during the years, will be utilized to continue to build this great nation. Augment its growing economy and improve the quality of life for the people of Panama. Ladies and Gentlemen thank you, and on behalf of the United States Army, good bye." SUPER CAPTION: Colonel Schumann The base was handed over in accordance with the 1978 Panama Canal treaties requiring the United States to surrender control of the canal and to remove all U-S troops by December 31, 1999. There is a concluding handover ceremony taking place in Panama in mid-December. For many attending Tuesday's event, it marked a special occasion for relations between the two countries. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Certainly I feel sadness but that isn't out of a sense of regret or frustration that we are giving up all this area. The sense of loss I feel is that I am leaving part of my life, I am leaving the part of me that played when I played soccer in that field (points) or the part of me that worked with friends or ran miles in laps here. Or went to jungle school 18 years ago. So, the sadness is very simply that I am leaving a part of my life back here. By the same token I am taking some of it with me, my Panamanian wife." SUPER CAPTION: Lieutenant Colonel Byron Conover But Panama's President made it clear that this was the last time a U-S military presence would be allowed on Panama's soil. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "Many have speculated on the trip that a group of officials made to the U-S. I will make clear, categorically, that this government will not negotiate any deal that might mean the continuation of the U-S military presence here. " SUPER CAPTION: Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso The United States will be represented in Panama by former President Jimmy Carter, whose administration negotiated the treaties that established the framework for the handover. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will also be present for the main ceremony. It will mark the end of almost one hundred years of U-S presence in the area. U-S President Clinton said he wished the Panamanian's well. SOUNDBITE: "I supported it at the time and I still support it, I think that it's the right thing to do. I think that the new government of Panama is committed to governing the canal in an appropriate way and keeping it open and working with us to do so and having good relations." SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, US President The president said he would not personally attend the handover ceremony in mid-December. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/f2c64fdf29febe64242a7df3fccc0d32