Belize and Guatemala talk while facilitators ask for more time
Officials from Belize and Guatemala gathered today for the long awaited report of the facilitators, those two distinguished gentlemen who, having listened long and hard to both sides, would pool their ample wisdom and come up with a set of suggestions on a way to put an end to Guatemala’s longstanding claim to our territory. Alas, while we will have to wait one more day to hear from Sir Shridath Ramphal and Paul Reichler, it doesn’t mean that all was quiet in Washington D.C. News Five’s Janelle Chanona reports from the OAS.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
The mood in Washington was optimistic even though the facilitators delayed the presentation of their recommendations until tomorrow.
Ambassador Assad Shoman, Leader of Belize Delegation
“We have not yet come to the substance of the issue and that we will do so tomorrow and the reason for that is that the facilitators needed more time together to fine tune a document that they propose to put before us as to what are their recommendations for the resolution of this dispute.”
Janelle Chanona
But when it came time for the Guatemalans to answer Belize’s questions regarding what exactly Guatemala is now claiming, the Belizean reaction was surprise.
Ambassador Assad Shoman
“They surprised us by saying “But we answered that in a letter that was circulated to you before now”, we said “We don’t know of any such letter”, so then they produced a copy. That copy of the letter is dated the eleventh of July, and we did not receive a copy of that, so we said “Well, please read the letter.” So he read it. And basically what it said was, in response to those questions asked by Belize our position was stated in letters to the government of such and such a date, was stated in our written submissions to the facilitators on such and such a date and so we need to say no more. Which is they took more than thirty days to say that, but that’s it, that is their reply.”
Janelle Chanona
Both delegations also sat down and discussed other issues. A confidence building measure such as the census on the adjacency zone, the International Organization for Migration that met in May has still not done the census and both sides are to reach an agreement sometime today and that report will be presented tomorrow. In terms of the mixed commission that had a mandate in April to meet and discuss what their terms of reference were going to be, they have still not come up with those terms of reference and now they’ve been given a deadline that they have to meet by the first of September. Ambassador Shoman did tell the press today that the reason why they said they have not been able to meet is because all the members of this commission have not been able to meet at the same time. Another issue discussed today was that the border cairn, these are in addition to the two monuments that mark the border with Guatemala. Guatemala did not recognize any of these cairns, but the Belizeans do. The facilitators have been given these arguments and they have asked for more time in coming up with a solution to that. In tomorrow’s plenary meeting both facilitators will be presenting their recommendations to the Belizean and Guatemalan delegations. Ambassador Assad Shoman said the tone of the Guatemalan delegation is positive and hopes the recommendations presented are ones both governments are able to live up to.
Members of the Guatemalan delegation did not make themselves available to the press for comment.
