MEXICAN AMBASSADOR SPEAKS ON BORDER NEGOTIATIONS

January 23, 2007

Despite reports in local and Mexican media, Mexico is not giving back land to Belize. Mexican Ambassador to Belize, Arturo Trejo says the two countries are currently in negotiations to correct a cartographical error that was made in 1883 when a border treaty was signed between Great Britain and Mexico.

Ambassador Arturo Trejo: Mexican Ambassador to Belize

“This treaty was passed over to Belize as an independent nation that happens with almost all treaties that have been signed by Great Britain concerning Belize as a colony. This treaty sits on coordinates for the limits especially the limits in the Bay of Chetumal. Unfortunately there are some cartographical errors that have to be corrected within a new treaty. So Mexico and Belize are negotiating and we have agreed in most parts of how to update the old treaty to the new technology. In order to be more specific of the find for trouble in the land boundary the treaty said that the land boarder shall be limited by the Rio Hondo. It happens that the Rio Hondo in some parts is not visible. Of course when you cross from Santa Elena to Chetumal you see the Rio Hondo and its big and deep as it name says in Spanish but if you go to West Lang ion and further you will see that the river become smaller and some ways back it goes under the earth. So we have to agree how to limit the boarder in that area.” 

Ambassador Trejo says that the two countries need only to agree on criteria on how to correct the cartographical errors and how to update the measurements using new technology.

Ambassador Arturo Trejo:Mexican Ambassador to Belize

“Initially we have already come close to an agreement without the message that Mexico gives back land to Belize not the other side that Belize have to give land to Mexico. We just have to agree on how to solve this cartographical error or some indefinitous or undefinitous of the boarder in some pieces.”

Arturo Trejo, Mexican Ambassador to Belize. Ambassador Trejo says that it is hoped that Mexico and Belize can agree on all points that are currently being discussed and that an updated border treaty can be signed between the two countries later this year.

|

|