Guatemala - On December 8, a special agreement or compromise between Guatemala and Belize was signed at the Organization of American States Headquarters in Washington D.C. The special agreement is the necessary first step for both countries to agree to take the matter of the Guatemala/Belize Dispute to the International Court of Justice. Following the signing, both Foreign Ministers delivered addresses in the presence of the president of the OAS Jose Miguel Insulza and other delegates.
The British and United States governments issued statements supporting the signing of the Special Agreement. UK Minister Gillian Merron calls the signing of the agreement "an important step that demonstrates a positive commitment by both governments to reach a mutually agreed solution." Noting that both countries will create a fund to contribute to the legal costs she announced that announce that the UK will make an initial contribution of £200,000 to this fund. The U.S. statement it says that country looks forward to continued cooperation and participation in the effort. And that support will be needed.
President of the OAS Jose Miguel Insulza congratulated Guatemala and Belize for the brilliant agreement reached. Insulza was the honor witness to the signing of the agreement. The signing is seen as a major diplomatic breakthrough, in fact it is considered by some to be the first treaty between Guatemala and Belize to resolve the border dispute. And while it is a triumph of diplomacy, it also marks the end of the diplomatic effort towards a settled resolution; the matter is now in the hands of the people and to some extent, the politicians in both countries who must decide whether or not to take it to a referendum.
Haroldo Rodas, Foreign Minister of Guatemala stated:
"Both governments have accepted the recommendations of the secretary general and have now begun a process of preparation and discussions which ended in the signing of this special agreement in search for a final solution to the claim. It is historic because we are taking a decision to settle our dispute with Belize and we are beginning a process that independently of the results the people of both countries will be on the same page at the beginning of the twenty-first century."
Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize:
"This marks a major milestone in the ongoing efforts to settle this aged dispute. Signing of this special agreement is a manifestation of a deep commitment on the part of the Government of Belize to put this claim behind us. We Belizeans have always maintained that Guatemalan claim in unjust and wrong but while having recognized Belize's independence and the right of its people to self-domination, refused to acknowledge Belize's territorial integrity and the inviolability of its border. We are not at that crossroad, having exhausted negotiation efforts, we are at that stage where we must contemplate submitting our case to legal scrutiny by the highest judicial order of the United Nations. Belize and Guatemala must first decide through a referendum whether they approve of this process. I have every confidence in my colleague, Minister Haroldo Rodas, when he assures me that his government likewise is also committed to this. We know that our people do not wish to live in hostility and resentment toward each other."
Photo: Press Office Foreign Ministry Guatemala
