Shoman explains facilitation process
After much anticipation and emotions that ran high, there was varied reaction to the proposals. We once again would like to join reporter Janelle Chanona and News Director Stewart Krohn at the Radisson.
Stewart Krohn
“Thank you Ernesto. Indeed there was no shortage of comments. Anyone who was in the room, because of the way the proposals were presented, in such a succinct fashion, it didn’t take long to formulate and opinion.
Janelle Chanona
“And of course we did manage to get some on camera comments from some of the people in the audience. Three people who at one point have been involved in trying to settle the Guatemalan claim to Belize’s territory, mainly Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, Assad Shoman, Former Leader in the United Democratic Party, Dean Lindo, and the Leader of the Opposition, Dean Barrow. Here’s what they had to say.”
Assad Shoman, Min. of Foreign Affairs/Chief Negotiator
“I think the most important thing that sticks in the minds of Belizeans is that we get security, this is agreed by both sides. Secure borders according to the constitution of Belize, which is based on the 1859 Treaty. So that’s fantastic, I think comfort for Belizeans. Another thing that wasn’t emphasized too much that I think is tremendously important is that a lot of Belizeans felt, especially after the Maritime Areas Act allowed that possibility, that we would not get the fullness of the territorial sea that international law allows us. Everybody expected we’d have to give up something there. The proposals do not suggest that. The proposals say everything that we could get under international law in territorial sea we should get. So that is a big plus, a big advance that a lot of people did not expect. And as you know, there have been a lot of rumours, that there would be a lease of the Santa Rosa, no such thing has been proposed. What the proposals are saying is that is totally Belizean land, anybody that is there is totally and in an unlimited way under Belizean law et cetera, et cetera.
Janelle Chanona
“Have you decided yet whether that area will be de-reserved or whether they will have that…
Assad Shoman
“Well if it becomes necessary, I guess it’s something that the government will have to consider. But as Sir Shridath explained, the new village that will be created in Guatemala will be so attractive, will have all the amenities that the people now in Santa Rosa do not have that you can reasonably expect that they will go there. And then the proposals even say that Belize government can ask them or invite them to live anywhere else in Belize as well. So I very much doubt that many people will want to stay there when they have other, better opportunities to go to.”
Janelle Chanona
“Now before today we spoke of when the proposals are in that we would have a date for the referendum in both Belize and Guatemala. Has that date been set, or who’s going to set that now?”
Assad Shoman
“What we have is a outside date, by the end of November. I hope that very soon, maybe by the meeting that we have in Washington on the thirtieth, to sort of celebrate this with our partners from the Americas and from the world, possible some agreement can be reached there to a specific date. But all we have right now is an outside date, which is the thirtieth of November.”
Janelle Chanona
“Now part of the focus in this press conference was obviously what’s happening in Melchor. Are you satisfied that that will be resolved?”
Assad Shoman
Yes I am, I am. Because I think the government of Guatemala wants to resolve it and wants to respect the situation of what they call now the adjacency zone. And the way to do it has been resolved now by the Secretary General of the OAS agreeing that this very day, we agreed it last night, that this very day we will arrange for the team to come to Belize to verify the situation and report that to the facilitators, who will immediately act and make recommendations that the Guatemalan Government will respect as much as the Belizean Government.”
Janelle Chanona
“Personally, Mr. Stewart and I were discussing before personally your involvement in this has been so long and tireless. What is today like in your eyes? Is it a milestone for this process and the end of this claim?
Assad Shoman
“It’s a milestone for the process, it’s not a milestone for me, I have a lot of other interests as well, and what is more important, a lot of other people have contributed to this, the negotiating team, a tremendous team. As you know, my counterpart from the Opposition, Fred Martinez, has been a fantastic force within the team, and as well as everybody else, Senator Courtenay and the others. So it’s a piece of teamwork that you’re seeing here, and of course, the work of Sir Shridath has been amazingly good in terms of helping us to come up with something that is acceptable to Belize, but hopefully also acceptable to the Guatemalan people.”
