The participants of the UK/Caribbean Forum, meeting in London on 11 and 12 May 2000, have been following events surrounding the Belize-Guatemala border dispute and the territorial claim by Venezuela to the Essequibo region of Guyana.

We are deeply disturbed by the emerging pattern of border incidents on Belize's border with Guatemala and its implications for Belize's security.

We urge Belize and Guatemala to implement confidence building measures and to continue genuine and serious political dialogue to find a definitive settlement to the long standing dispute in accordance with the principles of international law.

We welcome the progress being made under the High-level bilateral mechanism between Guyana and Venezuela and view this as a positive indication of the interest of both countries in promoting closer relations and enhanced functional co-operation.

We recall and reaffirm the strong support of the Commonwealth Heads of Government (Durban, November 1999) and of the CARICOM Heads of Government (St Kitts and Nevis, March 2000) for the territorial integrity, security and sovereignty of Belize and Guyana.