O.A.S. official to visit Belize, Guatemala

Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Luigi Enaudi, is this week on a working visit to Belize and Guatemala. Ambassador Enaudi will hold talks with high-ranking government officials from both countries, in an effort to restart the stalled facilitation process, aimed at ending the Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory. The first leg of the visit took the O.A.S. diplomat to Guatemala today, where he was scheduled to meet with President Oscar Berger and Foreign Minister Jorge Briz. The Guatemalan officials are also expected to accompany Enaudi on a visit to Peten to meet with residents along the Guatemalan side of the border. According to the online edition of the Guatemalan daily Prensa Libre, President Oscar Berger has indicated that he is prepared to submit the Ramphal-Reichler proposals to a referendum in order to give the Guatemalan people a chance to either accept or reject them. When, however, he did not say. Enaudi is due in Belize on Wednesday for talks with Belizean officials, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Godfrey Smith. A visit to the Belize side of the border area is also planned.