Details released of Belize-Guatemala agreement
More details have become available on the agreement signed Wednesday between Belize and Guatemala. The twelve point document, signed at OAS headquarters in Washington D.C., deals solely with confidence building measures that will be undertaken by both countries along their common border.
Article one lays the groundwork by stipulating that the measures outlined in the document are temporary for the purpose of easing tensions and do not prejudice any claims to sovereignty by either country over any territory, now or in the future.
Article two states that unless extended by mutual agreement, these measures expire on August thirty-first, 2001.
Article three, while noting one and two, specifies recognition of what is called an “adjacency line.” Coincidentally, this adjacency line exactly follows the traditional borderline from Gracias a Dios in the south to Garbutt’s Falls and Aguas Turbias in the north. Use of the line, however, does not imply that it represents an international boundary.
Under article four, the parties agree to identify all existing markers and survey the line. They will also identify all settlements within one kilometre on each side.
Article five specifies that this two kilometre wide swath of land shall be called the “adjacency zone.”
Article six, the real meat of the agreement, deals with how things will be run in the adjacency zone, namely: all settlements which existed in the zone as of October first of this year shall remain undisturbed, save for marijuana farms. Those settlements established after October first and lie east of the line may be removed by the Belize Government, using a set procedure. All settlers in the zone prior to October first will be identified and their nationality documented. Any Guatemalans residing on the Belize side of the line and any Belizeans on the Guatemalan side will be issued a license to stay and are bound to respect the laws of the country on the particular side of the line where they reside. Additionally, Guatemala will undertake a campaign to dissuade its citizens from settling to the east of the adjacency line, and at the same time the two countries’ military forces will co-ordinate their activities in the area.
Articles seven through eleven obligate the two countries to promote community contacts across the line, facilitate traffic and meet regularly to avoid conflicts. These measures will include the prevention of incidents, which could cause tension, and the formulation of plans for a response to natural disasters.
Finally, article twelve asks the parties to monitor the confidence building measures and work together to resolve any problems. If that proves difficult, then any contentious issues should be referred to the two facilitators who may, if they wish, ask the OAS to appoint a fact-finding mission.
The facilitator for Belize is Sir Shridath Ramphal, while Guatemala has appointed Paul Reichler. The agreement was signed in Washington, D.C. by Belizean Ambassador Assad Shoman and Guatemalan Foreign Minister Gabriel Orellana.
