Tags: gustave eiffel

Panama Demands Eiffel Tower from France

By The Editor on Mar 16, 2008 | In Important Global Newsbreak | 4 feedbacks »

"We paid for it, and now we want it back," said Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Lewis Navarro yesterday. Panama is suing France because it wants the Eiffel Tower moved from Paris to Panama City.

The Eiffel Tower was built with funds for the construction of the Panama Canal by the French. To get the famous designer Gustave Eiffel on board to design the giant locks, the latter demanded financing for the tower that still determines the Paris skyline and draws millions of tourists each year.

"We could finance the Canal expansion with what was stolen from us," alleged Minister of Public Works Comandante Colamarco.

"We're not lazy", added Tourism Minister Ruben Blades, playing with his guitar. "We will use the tower to attract real tourists and make enough money to propel our country into the first world".

Government sources say that President Torrijos might be willing to negotiate an exchange in which the French would get Noriega and Panama gets its Eiffel Tower.

The French embassy could not immediately be reached for comment.

Tags: eiffel tower, france, gustave eiffel, noriega, panama canal