Guatemalan Foreign Minister speaks on offensive documents and maps

Another sticky issue is the consistent appearance of Guatemalan documents which cast some doubt, at least on that nation’s part, of Belize’s territorial integrity. Just recently, a Belizean delegation to an event in Australia came across a Guatemalan map which included the territory of Belize. It has caused some consternation and raised the ire of Belizeans who find these documents offensive…in fact, there is the distinct mood here at home that Guatemala appears to be acting in bad faith, failing to honour its stated intention to find a real, peaceful resolution to the territorial dispute. Today Carrera told News Five that officially, that matter has been clarified…As to those pesky, offensive documents and maps…

FOR VIDEO LINK CLICK HERE: CARRERA ON OFFENSIVE MAPS

Fernando Carrera, Guatemalan Foreign Minister

“What we have already clarified last year is that, the government of Guatemala has never had any intention to include Belize within the map of Guatemala. We have an official map that is accepted for Guatemalan purposes and our passports indicate that and we have never done that, we never colored the territory of Belize within the territory of Guatemala. That is usual practice for several years; we have continued to do it. So I think it was a mal-intention for those who were saying we were doing that. Officially we haven’t done anything like that and unofficially there is no map that includes Belize within the Guatemalan territory.”

Reporter

Fernando Carrera

“But in Flores, I recently flew through Flores and right at the immigration check point, there is the map right there on the wall.”

Fernando Carrera

“Tell the immigration office it is not official map.”

Reporter

“Well I would hope you’d tell them because if I do, I may end up behind bars.’

Fernando Carrera

“Yes, sure. I can tell them.”

Foreign Minister Carrera flew out of the country this afternoon.