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COMMUNIQUÉ BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
ON THE MINISTERIAL MEETING BETWEEN BELIZE AND GUATEMALA

  September 26, 2006



The Foreign Minister of Guatemala, Gert Rosenthal, and Ambassador Assad Shoman, Chief Negotiator, Senior Ambassador with Ministerial Rank of Belize, met at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) on September 26, 2006, to inform the Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, about the discussions and progress made in fulfilling the Agreement on a Framework for Negotiations and Confidence- Building Measures between Belize and Guatemala.

The Secretary General emphasized the importance of the confidence-building measures agreed upon by both countries, such as the recently signed trade agreement and the cooperation and border development processes. He encouraged the strengthening and expansion of these processes through the Joint Commission. In this regard, they reaffirmed the agreement reached in the Dominican Republic, in the context of the XXXVI Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly, that the OAS should proceed, with the support of the international community, toward a rapid resettlement of the settlers of the Santa Rosa Community, who have voluntarily expressed their desire to be resettled.

In a friendly and constructive spirit, the delegations of both countries referred to the maritime area negotiations, with the participation of Honduras. The Secretary General urged the Parties to continue with the process.

Finally, the Secretary General indicated that progress in all these aspects will allow the Parties to reach a definitive solution to the dispute utilizing the modalities agreed by them, through dialogue or juridical means within the framework of international law.

Reference: E-201/06