Transition agreement signed with Guatemala

In different circumstances it’s a story that would have been headline news. But with the nation in the middle of a rough and tumble election campaign, and hopes for a quick settlement of the Guatemalan claim only a distant memory, bulletins from the Foreign Ministry no longer receive top billing. Perhaps, however, they should…as today Belize and Guatemala took a significant step forward when they signed an agreement at the O.A.S. in Washington. According to a press release, the document establishes a transition process and confidence building measures to be carried out by both countries, with the eventual goal of a comprehensive settlement. For now, however, the pact’s most immediate ambition will be to prevent misunderstandings along the border, which could otherwise result in violent conflict. Signing on behalf of Belize was Foreign Minister Assad Shoman, while his counterpart Edgar Gutierrez did the honours for Guatemala. A full text of the agreement has not yet been released to the media.