P.M. at Guatemala inaugural, hopes high on both sides
It was not his first official visit to Guatemala, that distinction having come last year for the Central American Summit with US President Clinton, but it was clearly an important event. A new Guatemalan President was being inaugurated… and with the new man came a new chance to improve a relationship that lately has been suffering from not so benign neglect. For Prime Minister Said Musa the trip to Guatemala would provide an opportunity to raise Belize’s profile and his own. News Five’s Stewart Krohn and Rick Romero were waiting for the P.M. when he arrived in the Guatemalan capital.
Accompanied by Foreign Secretary David Gibson and joined by Ambassadors Mike Mena and Sal Figueroa, Prime Minister Musa was met at Aurora International Airport Thursday night by outgoing deputy foreign minister Gabriel Aguilera. During the last few months of the Arzu Administration Guatemala’s attitude toward Belize had grown somewhat cool, under the pressure of a hard fought election campaign. Now on the eve of a new president’s inauguration there was an attitude that the future was more important than the past.
On inauguration day on Friday the press, both local and international, was out in force. Coup d’etats and rule by the gun were a recent enough part of Guatemalan history that a democratic transition of power was still major news. A bit of parliamentary wrangling in the morning’s session of congress set the inaugural schedule back about four hours, leaving a theatre full of anxious VIP guests with little to do but face off with an equally frustrated pack of journalists.
As the official ceremonies began it was time for the introduction of visiting dignitaries. Vice Presidents from various South American republics were seated along with the popular young Prince of Spain. First among the heads of governments was the Prime Minister of Belize.
(Prime Minister Said Musa enters with loud applause)
The swearing in itself was a dignified affair with President Alfonso Portillo taking the oath of office from his political mentor and former president Efrain Rios Montt, now installed as Leader of Congress. In a marathon speech that not surprisingly promised the usual political grab bag of lower taxes and greater benefits, Potillo did extend a hand to the outside world… and singled out a small neighboring country for special recognition.
Alfonso Portillo, New Guatemalan President
“I would like to recognize the presence of the Prime Minister of Belize. We will make all the efforts necessary to maintain and perfect productive and fraternal relations between neighboring countries. Likewise my government will do all that is necessary to find a definitive solution as soon as possible to our territorial dispute, abiding by the principles, rules and established practices of international rights. Once we have overcome these obstacles, Guatemala is ready to extend the hand of friendship that will incorporate Belize in the brotherhood of Central American nations.”
Later that night at an official reception the new president and Prime Minister Musa took time out to meet privately. Exactly what was said remains in the memories of the diplomats but from all indications there is no shortage of optimism on both sides. The next few months will show if that goodwill can be converted into good deeds. Stewart Krohn for News Five.
On Tuesday’s newscast we’ll take a closer look at the Guatemalan situation and the prospects for settlement of the longstanding territorial claim.
