Prime Minister Musa Meets Harold Pinter and Carlos Fuentes

Belmopan - 18 June, 2000.
Today, Sunday 18 June, 2000, Prime Minister Said Musa, who is at the end of an official visit to the United Kingdom, held a meeting with British playwright Harold Pinter.

Mr. Pinter is acknowledged as the greatest living British playwright, and has a world-wide renown as one of the greatest playwrights of all time. He is also known for supporting just causes around the world.

Mr. Musa gave Mr. Pinter a full briefing on the evolving situation with respect to Guatemala's revived claim to Belizean territory. Mr. Pinter expressed shock at the new demands being made by Guatemala, and undertook to study the case more thoroughly and to do whatever he could to support Belize's right to independence and territorial integrity.

Prime Minister Musa also invited Mr. Pinter to visit Belize soon and to consider the possibility of staging one of his plays to open the new Theatre of Belize that was about to be constructed through a refurbishing of the Bliss Institute.

At the beginning of his visit to London, Mr. Musa met with world-famous Mexican novelist Carlos Fuentes, who has been well aware of the situation facing Belize over the years, but who was surprised to hear that Guatemala has revived its unfounded territorial claim to Belize.

Mr. Fuentes expressed his full support for Belize's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and promised to help Belize to defend its rights.

Later on Sunday Mr. Musa gave an interview to a journalist representing dozens of Arabic-language newspapers and magazines that have a large circulation throughout the Arab world. He briefed him on the Guatemalan threats and also expressed interest in greater assistance and investment from the Arab world.

The Prime Minister leaves London later on Sunday for Rome, where he is scheduled to meet with the Pope on Monday.