The Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community learnt with great dismay that Guatemala has reactivated its claim to more than 12,000 square kilometres of Belize’s territory, which is more than half of the country.
The Heads of Government recalled that Guatemala had categorically stated that it will not resort to the use or threat of force to pursue its claim. They were therefore deeply disturbed at the report of the incident which occurred on 24 February, 2000 to the effect that certain elements of the Guatemalan Armed Forces violated the territorial integrity of Belize, unlawfully entered Belizean territory and forced three members of the Belize Defense Force and one member of the Belize Police Department at gunpoint, to cross over into Guatemalan territory where they illegally held them prisoner for over a week.
The CARICOM Heads of Government were incensed by the fact that this incident occurred even as delegates of both Governments were gathered in Miami in preparation for a meeting to chart the course for the amicable settlement of their differences.
The Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community deplored the action of the Guatemalan Armed Forces in invading Belize’s territory and kidnapping four members of Belize’s security forces.
The Conference also expressed its grave concern at the action of the Guatemalan Government in expelling the Belizean Special Envoy and Charge d’Affaires from Guatemala on 7 March, 2000, alleging that he had unlawfully removed Belizean Security personnel from Guatemala, despite the fact that the Foreign Minister of Guatemala had confirmed to the Secretary-General of the Organisation of American States, that the security officials in question had been judicially processed and granted their freedom.
The Conference reaffirmed its unequivocal support for the Independence, Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Belize in accordance with its long-established and internationally recognised borders.
The Conference welcomed the decision of both Governments to reconvene their discussions to put into effect measures that will diffuse the tension along their border and to establish a process for the peaceful, early and definitive settlement of their differences in accordance with the principles and practices of the Untied Nations.
