E-045/00
March 7, 2000

PHOTO

Honduras and Nicaragua Sign Agreement

 

The Foreign Ministers of Honduras and Nicaragua, Roberto Flores Bermúdez and Eduardo Montealegre Rivas, today signed a memorandum of understanding on the implementation of measures to prevent actions that could affect peace in the region.

During their fourth round of talks with Luigi Einaudi, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), the foreign ministers defined the mechanisms needed to implement their agreements on confidence-building measures reached in December and February.

"In these last two days, we have given force to the guidelines agreed to earlier by Honduras and Nicaragua to maintain peace," Ambassador Einaudi said at the conclusion of negotiations at OAS headquarters in Washington. "Despite undeniable differences, both countries have shown respect for the points of view of the other and a willingness to seek peaceful solutions."

Today’s memorandum is the third agreement signed by the foreign ministers in the last three months, and the first that establishes detailed mechanisms for reducing tensions. The last joint meeting was held in San Salvador, El Salvador, February 6-7, at the headquarters of the Central American Integration System.

The substance of the Caribbean Sea boundary issue that has led to tensions between the two countries will be decided by the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The two countries have been working out how to maintain peaceful relations while the parties wait for a decision from the International Court.

 

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