Ambassador Assad Shoman, Chief Negotiator with Guatemala and Senior Ambassador with Ministerial Rank, signed on behalf of the government of Belize, along with Guatemala’s Foreign Minister Jorge Briz and Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza.

The parties signed the agreement during a ceremony at OAS headquarters, with the understanding that it does not constitute a total or partial waiver of the rights or claims, and the Belize and Guatemala governments agree to respect and implement, with the help of the OAS, a series of measures on a framework of negotiation and Confidence Building Measures.

Minister Shoman hailed this “significant moment in the ongoing attempts by Guatemala and Belize to finally and honorably resolve a longstanding territorial dispute that exists between the two countries.” Asserting that neither country desires this dispute, Shoman recalled “significant” attempts over the past in particular, to settle the dispute. Today’s signing provides for meetings or negotiating sessions at least at 45 day intervals, with the OAS Secretary General or his appointee, accompanying. “It is really not good for Guatemala, for Belize, and for the countries of the Americas to have such a dispute continue into the 21st century.”

Minister Briz welcomed the milestone, noting that with the goodwill and involvements of the OAS Secretary General, “we will work together to move forward on projects as sister countries can cooperate to appreciate how two nations can work together to not only work out specific problems but also pursue progress and well-being for their citizens.”