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JOINT
COMMUNIQUÉ
Government delegations
from Belize and Guatemala examined and noted with satisfaction
the progress achieved to date in the dialogue process aimed
at finding a solution to the territorial differendum. This
review was conducted during the ministerial meeting held
at the headquarters of the Organization of American States
(OAS) on April 24-25, 2001, in the presence of the two designated
facilitators in this process and the OAS Secretary General.
The delegations also agreed on detailed steps to take to
carry out the agreements reached in previous ministerial
meetings.
During the meeting,
which took place in a cordial and frank atmosphere, the
parties agreed to seek the support of the International
Organization for Migration (IOM) to begin, as soon as possible,
a census of the settlers in the Adjacency Zone and in the
settlement known as Edwards Central, located outside the
Adjacency Zone and not covered by the protections set forth
in the November 8, 2000 Agreement. .The IOM will also certify
whether there are other settlements of Guatemalan nationals
not covered by those protections.
In addition,
the two governments decided to renew the activities of the
Mixed Commission, which was created to promote mutual confidence
and rapprochement among the communities of both countries
in the Adjacency Zone.
The Facilitators
informed the two governments about the results of the recent
investigation, conducted by a special envoy of the OAS Secretary
General, of alleged incidents in the Adjacency Zone.
As to the debate
on the merits of the differendum, both parties agreed on
general guidelines for the oral presentation of arguments
before the Panel of Facilitators and the Secretary General,
based on the time frame adopted by both parties. These presentations
will be made at the OAS Headquarters on May 21-23, 2001.
Washington DC,
April 25, 2001
__________________________
______________________
Assad Shoman
Ramiro Ordóñez Jonama
Senior Ambassador with Ministerial Rank
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Belize
Guatemala
_________________________
______________________
Sir Shridath Ramphal
Mr.
Paul Reichler
Facilitator
Facilitator
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César Gaviria
Secretary General of the OAS
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