PressRelease

PROPOSALSFORRESOLVINGBELIZE‐GUATEMALATERRITORIALDISPUTEWINBROADINTERNATIONALSUPPORT

October1,2002TheinternationalcommunityhasstronglysupportedaseriesofproposalsaimedatresolvingtheBelize‐Guatemalaterritorialdispute.DrawnupbyFacilitatorsappointedbybothParties,theproposals,whichweresubmittedtotheMinisterofForeignAffairsofbothcountriesthispastSeptember16,seektoprovideanequitable,permanent,andhonorablesettlementtothecenturies‐olddispute.DuringaceremonyheldintheHalloftheAmericasoftheOrganizationofAmericanStates,theSecretaryofStateoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,ColinPowell,Mexico'sMinisterofForeignAffairs,JorgeCastañeda,andElSalvador'sForeignMinister,MaríaEugeniaBrizueladeAvilaalongwithBritain'sParliamentaryUnder‐SecretaryofStateforLatinAmerica,DenisMacShane,allexpressedtheirsupportfortheFacilitators’proposalsandurgedthepeopleofBelizeandGuatemalatoapprovethem.SecretaryPowellnotedthat“afinalagreementwillremoveachronicobstacletoeconomic,environmentalandsocialdevelopmentinBelize,Guatemalaandtheirneighbors.Itwillopenthewaytomoretrade,moretravel,morecooperationoneverythingfromfightingdrug‐traffickingtopreservingtheenvironment”.AccordingtotheMexicanForeignMinister,afirmbasishasnowbeenlaidforthedisputetoberesolvedaftermorethantwoyearsofpatientandenlightenedeffort.TheSalvadorianMinister,meanwhile,hailedtheFacilitators,sayingthattheirworkhasgivenreneweddynamismtotheprinciplesoftheCharteroftheOAS.TheBritishUnder‐SecretaryofStatestressedGreatBritain'sfirmsupportfortheeffortsbyBelizeandGuatemalatosettletheirlong‐standingdispute,addingthathisgovernmentintendstomakeasubstantialcontributiontowardstheDevelopmentTrustFund.Inhisopeningremarks,OASSecretaryGeneralCésarGaviriadescribedtheproposalsas"balanced,comprehensive,definitive,honorableandlasting,"andofferedtheOrganization'sfullsupporttoraiseawarenessoftheproposalssothatasuccessfulconclusiontotheprocesswoulddemonstratethepoliticalmaturityofthegovernmentsaswellasthepoliticalandsocialinstitutionsandcitizensofeachcountry.TheForeignMinistersofBelizeandGuatemala,alongwiththeForeignMinisterofHonduras,asaninterestedpartytothemaritimeaspectsoftheproposals,praisedtheculminationoftwoyearsofhardwork,notingthattherecommendationswouldnowbeputtoreferenduminbothcountries.TheBelizeanForeignAffairsMinister,AssadShoman,underscoredthespecialsignificanceof"thismomentinthehistoryofCentralAmerica"fromwhichGuatemalansandBelizeanswillbenefit"bycoexistinginpeace,harmonyandconfidence"astheyworktogethertowardsabetterfuture.Forhispart,ForeignMinisterGabrielOrellanaRojassaidtheGuatemalangovernmenthadinvestedintheOAS"thetrustitearnedasthehighestregionalforum,convincedthattheterritorialdisputewithBelizeshouldberesolvedbasedontheprinciplesofinternationallawinforceintheAmericas."ForeignMinisterGuillermoPérez‐CadalsoAriasofHonduras

praisedtheFacilitators'spiritof"professionalism,independenceandutmostintegrity,"describingtheirpackageofrecommendationsas"admirablefortheirimagination,creativityandbalance."Representativesofthesub‐regionsoftheAmericasaswellastheEuropeanUnionalsoaddressedtheceremony.Amongthem,firmsupportcamefromtheAmbassadorsofCostaRica,representingtheSecretariatpro‐temporeoftheCentralAmericanIntegrationSystem;Guyana,onbehalfoftheCaribbeanCommunity(CARICOM)group;aswellasCanada;Brazil,representingMERCOSUR;andColombia,representingtheAndeanCommunity.ThePermanentObserverofDenmark(onbehalfoftheEuropeanUnion)andSpainalsosupportedtheproposals.TheInter‐AmericanDevelopmentBank,meanwhile,announcedthattheBankwouldadministerandcontributetotheDevelopmentTrustFundprovidedforintheproposals.Intheclosingremarks,OASAssistantSecretaryGeneralAmbassadorLuigiR.EinaudisaidtheFacilitators'proposalsweredaring,creativeandvaluable.HealsothankedthememberandobserverstatesforfirmlysupportingtheFacilitationProcessbycontributingtotheOASFundforPeace,establishedtofacilitatethepeacefulresolutionofterritorialdisputesintheAmericas.Reference:E‐191/02