Facilitators will be ready soon
After a full week of meetings in Washington, D.C., Belize’s negotiating team has returned home, empty handed but not without hope. According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Assad Shoman, while the facilitators have asked for more time to prepare their recommendations, both Belize and Guatemala have been assured that the end of the O.A.S. sponsored process is near.
Assad Shoman, Min. of Foreign Affairs, Via Phone
“They were quite clear in saying that they will have proposals that they will present, but that they need a little more time to continue and finish their works and do all the technical work that needs to be done. And so they asked for an extension of no more than thirty days. But they did that really in terms of thirty days just to be on the safe side, but they certainly hope to be able to present their proposals perhaps within two weeks or so.”
Janelle Chanona
“Now you made mention of technical aspects that needed to be finalised. Is that some kind of hint that there is some maritime or land area that needs to be surveyed, or in that sort of light?”
Assad Shoman, Min. of Foreign Affairs
“I do not believe that it involves surveying at all. It would involve I do believe some mapping exercises, but not something that would require surveyors to go underground or undersea and do surveys. I think it’s something that they intend to do through maps. Making people working at the desk, not involving any survey work as far as I know.”
Janelle Chanona
“Are you now anxious now that you know that the proposals will be in hand the next time you are summoned to meet with the facilitators?”
Assad Shoman
“I wouldn’t say anxious, I am expectant, I am still hopeful that whatever they propose would have taken our views fully into account and looking forward to this. Because really the way I see it, what we will have now is an opportunity that the Belizean people have never had, which is to decide themselves whether they want to accept this or not as a solution to this problem that has been hanging over our heads for so long. I believe most Belizeans, if not all, really want to see the end of this claim and the end of the insecurity and the problems and costs that it has meant to us.”
“And again ask that the people listen without prejudice, not try to imagine what the facilitators might come up with and then build up prejudices to the proposals before they are published. But to keep an open mind and to know the need for a settlement, the need for security and peaceful relations with our neighbours and wait for the proposals with that frame of mind.”
According to Shoman, the presentation of the facilitators’ package of proposals would again be held in Washington, D.C. in the presence of O.A.S. Secretary General, Cesar Gaviria.
