Belize-Guatemala Facilitators Installed

01 September, 2000 - Belmopan
Delegates from Belize and Guatemala have attended the installation of
the Panel of Facilitators at the headquarters of the Organization of
American States (OAS).

Facilitators Sir Shridath Ramphal will be acting on behalf of Belize
while Mr. Paul Reichler has been named as Guatemala's facilitator.

A meeting was also held to review the progress to date, and the future
steps of the dialogue aimed at a achieving a definitive solution.

The Defense Ministerial Meeting held August 12th 2000 and the first
session of the Mixed Commission, held August 28th, were the focus for
these discussions.

The delegates from both countries agreed, among other things, that both
parties will exercise caution and restraint in the treatment of all
issues related to the differendum; maintaining peace and finding a
solution to the diffendum are the supreme goal of both States; the Panel
of Facilitators will be responsible for guiding the process; both
parties will present the Panel of Facilitators with proposals for
measures designed to avoid incidents on the ground which could generate
tension between them.

During the week of September 18th to the 22nd, 2000, the Panel of
Facilitators will visit both countries to gain a broader understanding
of the issues.

The Belizean delegation is confident that with the participation of both
facilitators and the additional support of OAS Secretary-General Cesar
Gaviria, an agreement will be reached in the matter that has long
divided the two neighbours.

For a complete text of the Communique (in English & Spanish) click here