BELIZE AND GUATEMALA SIGN SPECIAL AGREEMENT

December 08, 2008

A special agreement or compromis between Belize and Guatemala was signed this morning 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 Belize /Guatemala Dispute to the International Court of Justice. Following the signing this morning both Foreign Ministers delivered addresses in the presence of the president of the OAS Jose Miguel Insulza and other delegates. Belize’s Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington signed the agreement on our behalf.

Wilfred Elrington; Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade

“The signing of this special agreement is a manifestation of the deep commitment on the part of the Government of Belize to put this claim behind us. While we in Government have agreed that the matter should go to the International Court of Justice, both our Governments, the Government of Belize and Guatemala have determined and agreed that it is the right of our people to make the final decision on this matter. Therefore it is our responsibility to put the question to them by way of referendum to set the date for that to be held and for us to provide them with as much information as possible so that they can make an intelligent decision when the time comes for them to do the signing and this is the process which we are now contemplating and embarking upon immediately after the signing of these two historic documents.”

While it seems that both countries have exhausted the measures of negotiations, Minister Elrington believes that more can be achieved by both countries once the claim has been put to rest.

Wilfred Elrington; Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade

“Negotiators on both sides over the years had no easy ride but they learned to work together.  They had to. Negotiations were sometimes difficult, relations strained but both sides persevere. Since discussions started under the auspices of the OAS there have been so many developments in our region and around the world. Belize and Guatemala have implemented a relatively successful set of Confidence Building Measures that have reduced tensions and ensured peace on the ground. Belize is now a full member of the Central American Integration System SICA, we have negotiated a partial scope trade agreement with Guatemala that is pending ratification. Meetings between CARICOM and SICA have been held at the highest levels to engage in collaborative efforts. Imagine how much more can be achieved if the territorial claim over my country were set aside and cast in the dust bin of history.”

Love News also spoke with Belize's leading negotiator Ambassador Alfredo Martinez who explained the process leading up to today's signing.

Ambassador Fred Martinez; Chief Negotiator for Belize

“Over the past 40, 50 years we have been negotiating with Guatemala for them to drop their claim on our territory and those negotiations have obviously led nowhere. We ended up here at the Organization of American States in the year 2000 when we had a number of problems at the border. We then started the facilitation process where both of us appointed a facilitator who looked at our case and then came up with a set of proposals for the solution of the dispute. Those solutions were totally favorable to Belize but Guatemala felt that it had not been listened to properly and so they rejected going to referenda to deal with those proposals. We ended up back here again at the Organization of the American States in the year 2005 to restart the negotiations, give it one more try but with a caution by the Secretary General of the OAS, who said that look all of these negotiations have led nowhere and will lead nowhere, so I reserved the right to stop them whenever I feel like they were being unfruitful and to give a recommendation that a juridical solution be found. So that was enshrined in the 2005 agreement and clearly the negotiations failed again in October last year and in November, it’s almost one year ago that the secretary general recommended to us, consider going to court and so this was my recommendation. So since we were tied to the process here at the OAS, both countries had to listen to that recommendation and to give it a try also. But then we had two new Governments take office, one in Guatemala in January and one in Belize in February and once the governments were settled in they looked, both of them carefully at the recommendation, and decided that that was the way to go always knowing that the final decision and I always repeat that over and over that the final decision rest with the people of both nations whether or not to go to court.”

We also spoke with Ambassador Eamon Courtenay who represents the Opposition, People's United party on the negotiating team.

Ambassador Eamon Courtney; Opposition Representative

“I agree that it is a very historic moment for Belize and for Guatemala and particularly for the Belizean people we have to accept that we re now at the end of the negotiations and the two ministers signed an agreement to commence formally the path to a judicial determination of the claim by Guatemala to Belize. This new phase is going to be characterized by a fundamental difference that is the work of the negotiators is over and now it is the work of the people.  The people will ultimately decide whether or not they wish to have this matter resolved by way of judicial determination. And therefore the work shifts, it changes and we have to commence the education and information sharing process which will conclude with the referendum in Belize and the referendum in Guatemala where the people will ultimately have their say and so it’s a very big difference for us.”

Ava Diaz; Love FM News Director

“What do you say to people who figure we should not be here and we should not be having these types of discussions.”

Ambassador Eamon Courtney; Opposition Representative

“Well I would underline first of all that you use the word discussion and the discussions now is over and it is now for the people to decide. When somebody makes a claim to your property you have to defend it and likewise when somebody makes a claim to your country you have to defend it. And we try to resolve that claim by way of negotiations and that did not work. We want the claim resolve and the only option now is to go to the court. If we don’t want it resolved then we can decide not to go to court. But we have to accept that all efforts to negotiate have failed and so the only choice is to go to the court. It is up to the people we either want it solved or we don’t and that is a very important decision, decision which has to be taken with a very careful analysis, with very sober judgment and I think it is a decision that has to be taken at the right time as well so that it is not influenced by other factors that can affect the outcome of the referendum.”

Minister Elrington also spoke of the significance of ending the dispute and the benefits it could bring to both countries.

Wilfred Elrington; Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade

“These disputes are costly and are a burden to societies and nations. They tax our resources and detract from our primary goals of achieving sustainable development and growth. The well being and improved livelihoods to which our people rightfully aspire are postponed or ignored because of the vexing problems associated with these disputes. Border and territorial problem and robbed people across this great continent of peace, security and hope. People of Belize and Guatemala have for too long been divided by resentment, suspicion and fear. Over the years Guatemala’s territorial claim has cast a shadow of insecurity on the entire Belizean society. The longer these differences linger the greater the sense of distrust will prevail. Neighborly relationship of friendship and cooperation cannot be sustained in such an atmosphere. That is why it is with great hope and expectation that the process under the OAS seek a final and lasting solution to our differences which started in 2000.”

Following the address by Minister Elrington, Foreign Minster of Guatemala, Roger Haroldo Rodas Melgar, who signed the agreement on his countries behalf, made a presentation. Secretary General of the OAS Jose Miguel Insulza also delivered an address. The Belize delegation is expected back in the country tomorrow. A press briefing to outline the next step after the signing will be held at the Radisson Fort George Hotel beginning at 4pm.

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