FM Courtenay Reiterates Belize’s Position on Sapodilla Cayes

Arevalo’s visit also comes a few days after Guatemala applied to the International Court of Justice to join, as interested party, the claim involving Belize and Honduras over sovereignty of the Sapodilla Cayes.  Foreign Minister Courtenay reiterated government’s position in the latest development where that matter before the World Court is concerned.

Eamon Courtenay

Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“They have applied to join and so that matter is going to be determined by the court whether they will be allowed to join.  As I had said to the media before, we were not surprised by that, we had expected them.  The issue is overlapped and the main purpose for us bringing the case against Honduras was to have the sovereignty over those cayes and that area resolved finally by the court.  Now Guatemala wants to join that case.  They have applied, the court is going to make a determination.  At this stage, their application is going to be considered by our international lawyers and we expect next week to get some preliminary advice from them as to what position we should take and so that matter is being reviewed.”