Belize and Guatemala have made progress in dealing with the illegal Guatemalan settlements in Belize

Belize and Guatemala have made progress in dealing with the illegal Guatemalan settlements in Belize but the two countries still have a long way to go in resolving their 150-year-old territorial dispute.

"We have made progress in dealing with illegal Guatemalan settlements in Belizean territory, but there are elements in Guatemala that are still talking about the recovery of Belize," said Prime Minister Said Musa.

He has informed that recently the Pan American Institute of Geography and History, based in Mexico City, has determined the coordinates of the disputed border. The Prime Minister added that the Institute's findings support Belize's position that the border between the two countries is that which was agreed to in 1859 between Guatemala and the United Kingdom.

The Prime Minister informed that Guatemala has given the settlers notice to leave Belize and return to Guatemala. Mr. Musa however, stated that there is evidence of at least two additional settlements since the order was given by the Guatemalan government. He revealed that the settlements are well within 1 kilometre in Belize.

"…For the first time we have been able to get Guatemala to acknowledge that a line divides Belize and Guatemala," said the Prime Minister.

However, Prime Minister Musa informed that Guatemala officials maintain that this development is without prejudice to their country's claim, and said there is yet to be a substantive discussion of their claim.

The Prime Minister stated that much of this discussion continues to take place on the diplomatic front and he credited the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for leading the charge in this regard. He stressed that Belize has grown to rely on the support of the CARICOM and his country looks forward to continued support Belize and Guatemala and their Central American neighbours have had uneasy relations over the territorial claim made by Guatemala on Belize.