Foreign Minister discusses Haiti, Guatemala
In related news, we took the opportunity of the website launch to have the Minister of Foreign Affairs give us an update on recent developments in two ongoing issues: the crisis in Haiti and bi-lateral relations with Guatemala following national elections in that country.
Godfrey Smith
“Latest information is that the government of Jamaica, through a press statement issued by P.J. Patterson, has stated that they will be having former President Aristide as an official guest in Jamaica who is there for the reason stated as being to be close to two daughters who I believe were in the United States. So he aims on spending eight to ten weeks in Jamaica. It appears that the new government of Haiti is very displeased about that and have threatened to withdraw from CARICOM as well the issue of diplomatic relations with Jamaica.”
Janelle Chanona
“What will we do as far as putting forward a position on that situation to CARICOM?”
Godfrey Smith
“You mean Belize?”
Janelle Chanona
“Yes, Belize itself.”
Godfrey Smith
“Belize will not take an individual position. There will be another meeting of the CARICOM Heads this coming week in St. Kitts, Nevis. An the agenda will be Haiti, and if needed, the heads will continue to have emergency meetings to continue to flesh out their position in relation to Haiti as things develop there.”
Janelle Chanona
“Talk to me about the latest that’s happening in the Belize Guatemala situation.”
Godfrey Smith
“The very latest is the extension of the confidence building measures. You will recall that when we visited Guatemala for the inauguration of President Berger, we gave a diplomatic note to their foreign ministry inviting them to join Belize in asking the O.A.S. for an extension of the confidence building measures which expired on February seventh. They have agreed to that and we have therefore mutually agreed to a ninety-day extension. Why ninety-days, why three months? We think that’s a reasonably time within which a new government to grapple with what perspective they intend to take in relation to this matter.”
The Organization of American States has established an office on the border between Belize and Guatemala to ease tensions there and mediate any on the ground complaints between residents on both sides of the frontier.
