Compromis before Guatemalan government, says A.G.

Belize is awaiting word from the Guatemalans for the signing of the compromis which sets out the question to be asked in the referendum in respect of the Guatemala claim to Belizean territory. That is the latest from Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington. According to Elrington, once the Guatemalan version of the Cabinet gives permission, a date will be set for the joint signing of the document. On October twenty-first, Elrington received the nod from Belize’s Cabinet to sign the compromis which is required before going to the International Court of Justice, as well as the procedure to go to the I.C.J. After the signing, the compromis will be made public and a date for the referendum will be set. According to Elrington, if any country says no, that will be the end of the matter with regards to the I.C.J. route, but he adds that in the interest of peace, we will have to settle the claim and as such we’ve got to be proactive and take a stand. Taking the Guatemalan Claim to Belize to the I.C.J. was proposed back in November by the Organization of American States after years of negotiations failed to settle the matter.