Heads of Government were informed that experts from the Pan American Institute of Geography and History (PAIGH) have determined the precise coordinates of the reference markers at Gracias a Dios, Garbutt’s Falls and at the Mexican frontier in the north, the three points referred to in the 1859 “Convention between Great Britain and Guatemala relative to the Boundary of British Honduras”; and that they have drawn a line between these points on a map to show the line that divides the two countries.
They were pleased that at a meeting held between Belize and Guatemala at the OAS Headquarters in Washington on 5 to 7 February, 2001, both parties agreed to cooperate in the removal to Guatemala of settlers who were found by the PAIGH to be more than one kilometre inside of Belizean territory.
They welcomed the fact that the PAIGH has scientifically determined, and that both parties have accepted, the Line, which for purposes of the Agreement on Confidence Building Measures, is called “the Adjacency Line”, and that the Panel of Facilitators, after full consultation with both parties, clarified that the nationals of either country should refrain from going beyond that line except by mutual agreement.
They were disturbed by the recent statement by Guatemala, in a letter dated 12 February to the Facilitators, that it cannot agree to accept nor to implement that clarification by the Facilitators.
Heads of Government were concerned that since the meeting in Washington, yet another illegal settlement of Guatemalans has been found deep inside Belizean territory, despite the commitment made by Guatemala in the Agreement on Confidence Building Measures signed at the OAS Headquarters on November 8, 2000, and reaffirmed in Miami on 17 January 2001, that it would take effective measures to dissuade its nationals from crossing into Belize, and would provide lands in Guatemala for those who might otherwise be tempted to do so.
They were aware that the parties agreed on a procedure for addressing the substantive issues related to Guatemala’s claim to Belizean territory and urged Guatemala to abide by the interpretations and recommendations made by the Facilitators, especially since the Facilitators consult fully with both parties before making any determinations; and in particular urged Guatemala to accept, respect and implement the recommendation by the Facilitators, that their nationals should not cross the borderline without the authority of Belize.
Heads of Government called on both governments to implement fully and in good faith all agreements reached between them in the current process under the auspices of the OAS, and in particular the measures designed to avoid tension along their common border or in the territory of Belize caused by unauthorised settlers.
They called on Guatemala to live up to its agreement to dissuade its nationals from settling in Belize, and urged Guatemala to cooperate fully with Belize to effect the immediate removal of the newly discovered illegal settlers, and of all such settlers that may be found on Belizean territory in the future.
They reaffirmed their absolute support for the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Belize in accordance with the border agreed in the 1859 Convention; and urged both parties to implement the agreed procedures for Guatemala to present its territorial claim to Belize to the Facilitators and for Belize to rebut that claim, in accordance with the universally accepted principles of the peaceful settlement of disputes and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States; and Heads of Government expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the Organisation of American States and the Panel of Facilitators to assist the Parties in maintaining peaceful and harmonious relations between themselves and in arriving at a mutually satisfactory and definitive resolution to this centuries-old claim.
Bridgetown, Barbados
February 16, 2001
