Ambassador Martinez says no offensive map to be displayed at O.A.S. General Assembly in Guatemala

Fred Martinez

The forty-third regular assembly of the Organization of American States is being held in Antigua, Guatemala from June fourth to sixth. Guatemala had produced videos that show Belize and Guatemala as one country and those images had been presented at a previous O.A.S. General Assembly in Colombia and at an O.A.S. gathering in Washington. It caused a row of protests locally and now the neighboring country that claims part of our territory is to host to hemispheric nations including Belize to the meeting. Will the Guatemalans try to pull a fast one at the assembly next month? Ambassador Martinez indicated that Guatemala will have to be very careful not to aggravate the situation especially in the wake of the trial of one of its former dictators, Efrain Rios Montt who was convicted of genocide.

Jose Sanchez

“Has Guatemala continued to use the map that has Belize annexed to it? Has there been any bump in the road on the way to this meeting; this O.A.S. general assembly within the Guatemala’s capital?

Fred Martinez, Belize Ambassador to Guatemala

“It has withdrawn its videos; it has withdrawn the videos that showed the offensive map. Belize did a huge protest. O.A.S. member countries also spoke to Guatemala and showed them how imprudent it was. We have all assurances from the minister at his last meeting and from his delegation that this will not happen. They have withdrawn maps. There will have no offensive maps or portrayals as Belize as part of Guatemala in the general assembly; within the context of their advertising or whatever. And we’ve told them that it better not be. We are attending the general assembly; we are a member state. Our CARICOM countries are attending; our allies are attending the general assembly. But should there be anything that is cause for concern, there will be an appropriate response. And Guatemala has assures us that it will not happen. Twice already it was once a mistake; the second time was a disaster and the third time will be diplomatic suicide for them. In the context now, the Rios Montt trial. Well it’s major if you look at it because most leaders that have been charged for genocide have been done so in some international court—maybe a few African leaders and one or two leaders from the republic of Yugoslavia area. In this case, it is a situation where a national court has tried one of its own leaders and charged them for genocide, which is major. And therefore the stigma that goes along with it; that there was genocide in Guatemala according to the court is something that Guatemala will have a hard time living down and a hard time explaining internationally. So already they are cornered, already they are carrying this huge bad name. I don’t think that they would want to aggravate their situation any further. They will have to be very careful how they move.”