Guatemalan Foreign Minister Says “What Incidents?”
Carlos Raul Morales
But according to O.A.S. information, the incidents along the borders have been reduced by ninety percent. The Guatemalan Foreign Minister says any incidents that occur along the adjacency zone affect the bilateral relations of Belize and Guatemala. While he conceded that there have been pillaging in Belizean territory, due to poverty and the lack of opportunities within the communities alongside the border, Morales told William and I that there have been no incidents involving the Guatemalan military.
Carlos Raul Morales, Foreign Minister, Guatemala
“Marleni let me tell you something…do you know how many incursions I have every day from Mexico to Guatemala in the north part of Peten? And it doesn’t…”
Marleni Cuellar, Co-Host, OYE
“But there isn’t a territorial claim…”
Carlos Raul Morales
“No, no. And it doesn’t affect my bilateral relations with Mexico. It is a challenge we have to face together. We are working with these people and as a matter of fact we reduce already…incursion is for the army. Incursion is a very strong word. This is not an incursion; it is people that get inside the protected areas.”
William Neal, Co-Host, OYE
“We are talking about the control of citizens who may be leaving for other reasons, but there are also incidents that have occurred down south that include the Guatemalan military and people see where the engagement with citizens and even the coastguard for example. They see the military as an extension of the state and in yesterday’s conversation that we had with the O.A.S., they talk about the exchange of diplomatic notes, which is something that always happens when an incident happens. But in terms of sharing with the population how that issue is dealt with. When we talk for example that issues are happening and that we have a situation where it is being resolved and our foreign minister has talked about preventative diplomacy and you also mention about the separation of bilateral agenda from the differendum. In terms of getting people to understand why that is important or how that can work to diffuse some of the issues when you have Belizeans being taken into Guatemala by the military for example.”
Carlos Raul Morales
“Livingston…let me tell you that this is not an incident. What happen is some Belizean people from PG, from Punta Gorda, dehn visit this beautiful caye at the Sarstoon end and get into the sea. It happened in March. The boat was overloaded, there were a lot of persons inside the boat and the sea was very rough. My authorities helped these people and took them to Livingston for the security of these people. Next day, they cannot come back to PG because the sea was very rough. They did an overnight in Livingston and next day Alexis Rosado visit the place and talk to the people and the people came back to Punta Gorda. This is not an incident. Again, if we are not positive….if this is an incident, you know how many incidents I have with Honduras every day? We need to be positive about our bilateral relation. There is not an incursion of Guatemalan army into Belize. My army and the B.D.F. are working together…are trying to do our best.”
Don’t forget that the forum starts at eight o’clock tonight right here on Channel Five.
