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BELIZE-GUATEMALA TERRITORIAL DIFFERENDUM: SECRETARY GENERAL PRESENTS COMPLETED PROPOSALS

  September 17, 2002



The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Belize and Guatemala, H.E. Assad Shoman and H.E. Gabriel Orellana Rojas, met late yesterday night at OAS Headquarters with the Secretary General , the Assistant Secretary General and the Facilitators, Sir Shridath Ramphal and Mr. Paul Reichler.

The Secretary General presented the Ministers of Foreign Affairs the completed proposals crafted by the Facilitators for achieving a just, equitable and definitive resolution of the territorial differendum between Belize and Guatemala.

The Facilitators had completed their consultations with the Parties two weeks ago, and deposited their work to date with the Secretary General on August 30, 2002, entrusting him to complete certain technical aspects before presenting the completed proposals to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

The Secretary General noted that the completed Proposals are the product of over two years’ worth of patient, deliberate effort, in which the Facilitators meticulously reviewed the arguments of both Parties and consulted extensively, not only with the Governments of Belize and Guatemala, but with the Secretary General, with the Inter-American Development Bank, the United Nations and with governments friendly to the Facilitation Process, in particular, the Government of Honduras.

“The completion of the Proposals constitutes a seminal moment for the secure development of both Belize and Guatemala and an example of peaceful resolution of conflict in the region”, said the Secretary General.

The Secretary General expressed his gratitude to the Facilitators and encouraged the Parties to accept the comprehensive set of proposals, which he commended to them as just, equitable and honorable.

Reference: E-182/02