STATEMENT ON THE BELIZE/GUATEMALA DISPUTE ISSUED BY THE TENTH MEETING OF THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (COTED), 11 JANUARY 2001

The Tenth Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development [COTED] of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) received information from the Minister representing Belize on recent developments in the Belize-Guatemala border dispute.

The Meeting recalled that last year both sides had agreed to engage in confidence-building measures to ease tension along the common border and to appoint a Panel of Facilitators to assist the Government in the search for a definitive solution to the dispute. The Meeting also noted that on 8 November 2000 Belize and Guatemala, along with the Panel of Facilitators agreed on the establishment of an Adjacency Zone lying one kilometer east and one kilometer west of the line or border between the two countries.

Ministers were therefore deeply concerned to learn of recent incidents of incursions upon Belize's territory by elements from Guatemala, in contravention to the agreements already reached in the confidence-building process.

Ministers were particularly concerned that these incidents can have a negative impact on the economic and social development of Belize.

Ministers recalled United Nations General Assembly Resolution 35/20 of 11 November 1980, which reaffirmed the inalienable right of the people of Belize to self-determination, independence and territorial integrity and called on all parties concerned to respect that right. They further recalled that in 1991 the Republic of Guatemala recognised the independence and sovereignty of Belize, and further, that the government of Guatemala has stated that it will not resort to the use or threat of use of force to pursue its claim.

Ministers reaffirmed the Community's unequivocal support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Belize in accordance with its long established and internationally recognised borders and urged both parties to continue genuine and serious political dialogue to arrive at a definitive settlement to the long standing dispute, in accordance with the principles and practices of the United Nations and with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Belize.