Belmopan - 21 June, 2002.

A team led by the Organization of American States and comprising of representatives of the Governments of Belize and Guatemala on Friday 21st June, 2002 completed a four day exercise to assess established settlements on the Belize side of the adjacency line between Belize and Guatemala and in the kilometre wide Adjacency Zone.

The purpose of the Mission was to determine the location and characteristics of Guatemalan settlers in the east side of the Adjacency line, in the Adjacency zone between Garbutt's falls in the Cayo District, and Gracias a Dios in Southern Belize.

The team first over flew the area to identify established settlements in the Zone and based on this made assessment visits to the villages of Jalacte, San Vicente, Santa Rosa and Arenal.

The OAS team leader, Mr. Christopher Hernandez Roy will submit his findings to the Facilitators of the Belize Guatemala Negotiation process, Sir Shridath Ramphal and Mr. Paul Reichler, Facilitators for Belize and Guatemala respectfully.

Belize's members of the assessment team included Ambassador Alfredo Martinez, General Allan Usher and Mr. Bartolo Teul, representative of the Toledo Mayan Council.

The Guatemala team comprised of Ambassador Efrain Aguilar, Mr. Carlos Morales of the Guatemala Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Carlos Avila of the Embassy of Guatemala in Belize.

The OAS participation also included Mr. Jorge Eastman, from the office of the OAS Secretary General, Dr. Kenrich Texel and Mr. Jose Felix Palma - OAS country representatives in Belize and Guatemala respectively.

End