Belmopan - 31 July, 2002.

On Monday, July 29th 2002, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State to His Holiness John Paul II, received the Foreign Ministers of Belize and Guatemala, their Excellencies, Messrs. Assad Shoman and Gabriel Orrellana, respectively at the Headquarters of the Apostolic Nunciature in Guatemala City.

During the conversation, the Ministers informed the Cardinal of the current state of the process undertaken to solve the territorial differendum between the two countries.

The Cardinal - Secretary of State assured the Ministers of the Holy Father's interest that an equitable, definitive, and satisfactory solution be reached by both parties. After expressing the Holy See's satisfaction over the advances already reached. Cardinal Sodano emphasized that eventual concessions by both parties will be necessary and will certainly contribute to reaching the superior goal of peace.

The Holy See and the Bishops of both countries will continue to work so that the ideals of peace and reconciliation prevail in the relations between the peoples of Belize and Guatemala, and thus favour the social and material development of these Nations and of the Region.

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