Confidence building measures at the adjacency zone

The partial scope agreement has finally been ratified, but both countries are still grappling with a territorial claim. You would not have known, however, there is a dispute by Guatemala along the western border today. The OAS administered Adjacency Zone was exploding with cultural activities by both countries. The event marks the end of a six month project called “Promoting a Culture of Peace”. It featured presentations and performances from both sides of the border as well as a wide array of art on display. News Five spoke to Director of the OAS Adjacency Zone, Miguel Angel Trinidad, who told us the project was a part of their confidence building measures.

Miguel Angel Trinidad, Director, OAS Adjacency Zone
“Today we are closing the cultural event about the cultural peace project between Belize and Guatemala with the support of Germany and the OAS. The meaning is the following; the confidence building measures has several mandates for us under both government and is part of the development of cultural peace. One important point of the confidence building measures, especially with the children and the youth. That’s why today we can see the pictures and the paintings and theatre and poetry from Benque Viejo and Melchor De Mencos. Part of cultural aspect especially is beautification along the adjacency zone, adjacency line investigate any incidents that took place in the adjacency zone in permanent cooperation and coordination with the BDF and Guatemalan law forces and Minister of Foreign Affairs from Belize and Guatemala. These are the principal operations of our offices permanently.”

Delahnie Bain
“Why did the OAS feel that this was an important project to have had and to possibly have again?”

Manuel Angel Trinidad
“The human aspect is the most important. The agreement, the construction of the peace is a framework of the state but inside that framework is the human being. The daily activity, for example, at this point every morning there are hundreds of children passing to get an education in Belize and many people from Benque Viejo and Cayo crossing the line to get health assistance in the hospital in Melchor.”

Trinidad says they hope to launch another phase of the project next March.